“This is women’s surfing! We’re doing it!”
It seems like for every passing day a new milestone in women’s surfing is created. Australian Molly Picklum’s ten-pointer at Pipe and give-em-hell closeout hit at Sunset; teen sensation Erin Brooks’ ten-point ride at Snapper Rocks; Caity Simmers whenever she paddles out.
And, today, in six-to-eight-foot waves at Teahupoo, site of the Paris Games in a couple of months, there was the steady thud of explosions as spectators in the channel flotilla banged and screamed while Tahitian local Vahine Fierro, Hawaiian-Brazilian Tatiana Weston-Webb and Costa Rica’s Brisa Hennessy consistently buried their muzzles in barrels that were long considered to be beyond the skill of women.
Tatiana created history when she became the first woman to score a perfect ten at the Tahiti Pro, although that number wasn’t enough to get past local surfer and eventual winer Vahine Fierro, whose post-contest quotes were almost as delightful as her bold approach to the barrel.
“Thank you to Jessi (Myley Dyer) for trusting the women because we were more than capable out there,” she said. “It’s just insane. Thank you Teahupo’o, you’re so special, and thank you for sending me the best waves of my life… Teahupo’o is for the women after all.”
As for Tatiana’s barrel,
“I knew I needed to go and get a good score to try and make the heat and when I was paddling and looking down, I was [thinking] ‘just make the drop and then you can barrel’. I caught a little edge and then from there I was just like ‘stay calm’ and all of a sudden it was just a little tunnel. When I came out I couldn’t believe it. I was just beyond myself screaming… This is women’s surfing. We’re doing it. I feel like I won the contest but obviously I didn’t.”
Click here to watch the day’s highlights.
And, tomoz, more juice in the waves and the men get down to the biz end of the Tahiti Pro.
Gonna be good.
(And, swing back tomoz for Jen See’s take on today’s theatrics.)
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Was watching the wrap up when my girlfriend walked in. Tati’s wave popped on screen and she quickly commented: “that was a 10?”
And she doesn’t even surf.
Sick barrel no doubt, but there is obviously a different judging criteria for the men and women.
I love the women’s movement, especially when walking behind it.
Shano shoulda sent Carissa on a couple insiders or West Bowl…poor effort really not to get score.
Now they should have the confidence to run their own tour!?! But, they need Men to carry them……but you all look cute. (patting you on the butts) Don’t worry, they’ll let you keep on playing little sister…..
The only thing from calling Dez the Joe Turpel of BeachGrit these days, “Vahine Fierro, whose post-contest quotes were almost as delightful as her bold approach to the barrel.”
Piss pore effort by Rissa.
Who’d have fucking thought
Women can walk, talk and swim
And ride the barrel!
I’m ok with them talking just not too much.
Felipe* couldn’t even win the women’s draw.
If he put his mind to it maybe he could improve as much as Brissa has done this year. She definitely gets most improved in my book.
Didn’t that paradise turn to a shithole after ice arrive?
Everywhere turns to shit with that crap.
Families, communities…. everything.
They should be paid more than the men!
Better to watch in and out of the water!
They should at least have the same number of competitors as the men. It’s ridiculous only ten women can make the mid season cut and only 5 can qualify up from the Challenger Series every year.
There should be less men on tour, not more women.
Ten spots isn’t enough for men or women. I’d split the difference, add a few women and subtract a few men. Personally, I don’t want shorter contests. I don’t want to see less heats. I don’t want to see JJF vs Medina early round eliminations. I want to see the best surfers surf, so a few lesser competitors giving the top dogs more heats works for me.
very impressive.
I only wish we’d had the opportunity to see Caity throwing it over the ledge today as well……but good surfing by all the women.
Vahine is so graceful, in and out of the water.
refreshing.
They should have gone elimination to finish for Women’s yesterday. JMD strikes again.
See feminists, chicks are rad!!
Ha, you’ve always been a closet feminist
Femanist
Best thing about the day after that semi was David Silva
Are the men surfing tomorrow?
Great wave and a deserved 10. But for tube bending skill, I prefer Molly at Pipe, Caity at mysto right and Erin Brooks at snapper. Tati just held a line right through it.
Ain’t it great to be spoiled for choice.
12 months ago Tati’s wave would’ve been best tube ever. Women’s progression is very exciting.
Vahine’s wave right after Tati’s 10 was right up there in terms of skill — pumping inside the barrel to make it out, super impressive
The waves are the stars.
To ride the barrel is human, to dodge is Toledo.