National Scholastic Surfing Assoc. advertises upcoming airshow with women getting half as much prize money as men, boys; surf feminist hero Lucy Small swings into action: “You love progression, what about progression on gender equality!”

Cha-ching.

The National Scholastic Surfing Association, or NSSA, stepped right in it yesterday by advertising an upcoming “airshow” for men, women, children in Huntington Beach, California to take place today. The post, on Instagram, was captioned “we love progression! Let’s go kids!”

All not great though the real kicker was the boldly announced prize purse. The winner of the men’s division set to receive $1000. Winner to the “juniors” or boys division also $1000. Winner of the women’s $500, exactly half as much, enough to cover dinner for 10 at the local Olive Garden.

“Cha-ching” was written above and adorned with rocket ship emojis and flying stacks of cash.

One might imagine how this bald-faced show of inequality might be ill-advised in this day and age. One might also imagine how this sort of business easily slides under the radar.

Thankfully, we have surf feminist hero Lucy Small.

You will certainly recall how she bravely called contest organizers out from the stage after winning half as much as the men in an Australian longboarding competition. You should also remember how she bathed Dirty Water with her charm and wit.

And into the NSSA comments she swung, declaring, “Equal pay for equal play is written into California State law! You love progression, what about progress on gender equality?”

The NSSA, of course, quickly deleted the post leading Small to wonder if it was disappeared because the situation is going to be rectified or simply because the association did not want the scrutiny.

Very fine point and I believe the scrutiny is well-deserved.

NSSA?

Equal pay or will the 1950s continue to guide decision making?

More as the story develops.