"We take pride in our efforts to promote equality and inclusion."
Yesterday, an explosive rumor floated from a fine source that Bethany Hamilton had been axed from the World Surf League’s second annual International Women’s Day celebration. Oh, you’ll certainly recall last year when Championship Tour surfers donned competition singlets adorned with the names of inspirational women during the MEO Rip Curl Portugal Pro. A wonderful gesture and, of course, Hamilton’s name was chosen not once but thrice.
Deservedly so.
The Kauai native burst onto the scene after a devastating shark strike stole her arm as a young teen. But did she give up? No. She persevered and wow’d the world. Not a bad word could ever be said.
Fast forward a decade or two and Hamilton may be the most well-known surfer on earth though became frustrated by the WSL’s new trans-inclusionary policy. She voiced her opposition, vowed a boycott and received much support with even Chief of Executives Erik Logan saying he “respected her views.”
But did he really? For according to the aforementioned source, professional surfers had asked to wear her name and were told, pointedly, “not allowed.”
Well, the complete list has been released today and let us review.
2023 WSL International Women’s Day Honoree Selections:
Kolohe Andino (USA): Sydney McLaughlin
Jadson Andre (BRA): Victoria Barros
Jackson Baker (AUS): Carissa Moore
Teresa Bonvalot (POR): Patrícia Mamona
Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR): Nawal El Moutawakel
Gabriela Bryan (HAW): Haven Shepherd
Macy Callaghan (AUS): Emma McKeon
Ryan Callinan (AUS): Poppy Starr Olsen
Joao Chianca (BRA): Tatiana Weston-Webb
Griffin Colapinto (USA): Janice Aragon
Courtney Conlogue (USA): Lisa Andersen
Johanne Defay (FRA): Laure Manaudou
Yago Dora (BRA): Hortência Marcari
Ethan Ewing (AUS): Helen Ewing
Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA): Teresa Bonvalot
Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS): Layne Beachley
John John Florence (HAW): Alex Florence
Ian Gentil (HAW): Amanda Nunes
Stephanie Gilmore (AUS): Susie O’Neill
Brisa Hennessy (CRC): Jimena Ruiz
Maxime Huscenot (FRA): Serena Williams
Caio Ibelli (BRA): Taliê Hanada
Kanoa Igarashi (JPN): Naomi Osaka
Ezekiel Lau (HAW): Melanie Bartels
Barron Mamiya (HAW): Moana Jones Wong
Caroline Marks (USA): Katie Ledecky
Matthew McGillivray (RSA): Bianca Buitendag
Sophie McCulloch (AUS): Jessica Watson
Jake Marshall (USA): Alyssa Spencer
Gabriel Medina (BRA): Marta
Seth Moniz (HAW): Kelia Moniz
Carissa Moore (HAW): Megan Abubo
Carlos Munoz (CRC): Frieda Zamba
Isabella Nichols (AUS): Rhiannan Iffland
Liam O’Brien (AUS): Pauline Menczer
Connor O’Leary (AUS): Akemi Karasawa
Lakey Peterson (USA): Venus Williams
Molly Picklum (AUS): Ash Barty
Miguel Pupo (BRA): Luisa Stefani
Samuel Pupo (BRA): Rayssa Leal
Jack Robinson (AUS): Amanda Nunes
Callum Robson (AUS): Cathy Freeman
Michael Rodrigues (BRA): Tita Tavares
Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW): Rell Sunn
Caitlin Simmers (USA): Nora Vasconcellos
Kelly Slater (USA): Margo Oberg
Jordy Smith (RSA): Natalie Du Toit
Filipe Toledo (BRA): Stephanie Gilmore
Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA): Beatriz Haddad Maia
Rio Waida (INA): Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu
Tyler Wright (AUS): Sam Kerr
Nat Young (USA): Kerri Walsh Jennings
Alex Florence 1 Bethany Hamilton 0.
Now, while I understand why the World Surf League’s various chiefs might feel sad about Hamilton’s view re. them, but doesn’t cancellation smell vindictive?
Chief of Executives Logan said, “We take pride in our efforts to promote equality and inclusion, not only as a global organization, but also as a sport and community. Our commitment to equal prize money and combined Tour schedules is a holistic approach that propels our sport forward and sends a strong message to up-and-coming surfers worldwide. As a league, we strive to set an example for other sports and act as a channel for ongoing transformation.”
What about the equality and inclusion, though, of surf and TERFs?
An unprotected class?
Chief of Sport Jessi Miley-Dyer added, “We are deeply committed to equality and the progression of women’s surfing. Our athletes and the WSL recognize the importance of using our platform to celebrate the values that make us unique in the sporting world. It is with great pleasure that we celebrate International Women’s Day and honor the trailblazers who have paved the way for women. I am thrilled that our athletes have embraced this opportunity to use their voices to champion women’s sports.”
Notably missing from the entire list are any trans athletes.
Much mess in messaging.
No?
Bethany is an amazing, legendary woman Surfer. Her commitment to surfing and her ability to raise above an injury that made her participation in surfing, much less surfing competitively, is inspiring beyond words. Her view in this instance is worth viewing as both reasonable, and sane.
There are, in fact, two divisions in WSL/CT professional surfing events:
Men’s & Women’s, and…
Men and Women are defined genetically at birth.
If you are Male genetically, then you surf in the Male Division. If you remove your male sexual organ things (does that really happen?), or grow your hair long (—), or wear lipstick (Robert Smith!), or get breast implants (Hangover 3 stylie?), you are still a Male dude, or a Male* — you are NOT a Woman. You no gonna get preggy. Ur just not.
Not sure how ELO and Jessi Miley-Dyer can even begin to think otherwise, but they are wrong. This isn’t about sexual PREFERENCE. It’s about Male/Female Athleticism in Professional surfing events, and Bethany is solidly correct in her view, just as she is solidly in a professional Surfing talent level — despite the severity of her injury that she has risen above — that neither ELO nor JMD will ever approach. They should defer to her view of reality and science:
Gay peeps, and Tranz peeps can compete, but only in their GENETICALLY defined division.
There.
It’s all straightened out.
If you don’t like it find or start a different association. It’s a free country and you should be glad it is.
Aren’t these pervy biological men actually taking performance enhancing drugs in order to compete as “women” ensuring they are physically superior to biological women?
No one said they know what they’re doing.
No love for Mother Theresa?
We are one ocean
You mean Megan Abubo , one of the best ever Hawaiian female surfers .
Says more about you that doesn’t know who she is
Elo just doesn’t know what to do with women it seems…
Oh the irony in these comments… A bunch of dudes pretending to care about women’s surfing and fairness all while dissing and shitting on women.
Like I’ve always said, the outrage was never about protecting women’s surfing.
What’s it about then?
It’s all about calling transwomen mentally ill wannabees, which they certainly are.
Legit what’s up. Mad
I didn’t see Sasha Jane’s name, Lola of Kinks fame, Sweet Jane or Sugar Plum Fairy of Lou Reed fame…so sad!
No virgin Mary, no Yoko Ono, no Marie Curie, no Oprah?????
No lady Chatterley?
No Linda lovelace
Well this should be a sane and logical comment section….
Pickles chose Ash Barty. I knew I liked that girl.
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Shes a proper mong
I’d go with Eva Bruan on my rashie, ps they are not jerseys you fucktards they are rashies Jerseys are for players of soccer and other types of jock ball sports.
Bethany getting a better barrel with one arm than JMD can do with two.
Stick to the buffet bar JMD you couldn’t carry bethanys bags.
Woke ass
90% of your comments are just bagging on Women. Did Mommy not tuck you in at night?
You agree with banning Bethany? You agree with Men who had surgery to “become” a woman being allowed to compete in WSL Womens events?
Ummm, I said 90% of his comments are bagging Women.
Don’t worry Negs, TOW has no reading comprehension.
And, he thinks Jacinda is hot.
Won’t say it publicly, but spilled those beans in a drunken phone call I should have never picked up.
I actually prefer women who don’t resemble Mr Ed thank you.
Especially ones in bed with Klaus Schwab and the globalists in the Who and the U.N.
Negs prob worships at the alter of Jacinda.
Actually not bagging Bethany, just JMD as the second worst thing to happen to pro surfing administration. Behind ELO the of course
No Wendy Botha jerseys!
jessi vs jimbo… at the buffet lol
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