Madame Slash
Just quietly, would rather watch that than Fanning's hunched, anxious and frantic style at J Bay.
This clip is ten years old ,but timeless.
Shame this lady is forgotten ( world champ ! ) but some drug addict from a prominent family from the US surf industry scene is still lauded , regardless of the fact that he she had more natural talent in her little toe than he possessed in his whole body.
Pure, unfettered style.
One chick that doesn't need to bare her cheeks to get noticed.
That's what women's surfing needs more of.
Good stuff.
Couldn't agree more with regards to cheek baring, I feel violated watching anything with Alana Blanchard, it makes my skin crawl.
I haven't surfed with many top level women but Helen Lambert (Ewing) was phenomenal, smooth and powerful, she was so fit and strong.
The way she drove through forehand cutties was a pleasure to watch.
Shit I feel guilty had forgotten all about Chelsea ...what a ripper
Laura Blears Ching....surfed well....and bared her bush
Yes.
Surfing is an activity that is uniquely appropriate to each individual and it's ridiculous to compare one life path or journey to another.
Having said that ....Christian : the second coming has just occurred for a fella born and bred to surf that had the style of an unruly burrow and was about as far out of his comfort zone in his surfing life as your average infant is cuddled up to its mothers breast, yet he is still celebrated and regarded as an icon .
Chelsea : began surfing of her own volition and became noticed through talent alone. Won a world title, had a child then returned to the elite level and never once reduced herself to the gutter level soft porn that some falsely believe is the glass ceiling to the appeal of women's surfing.
And for that she's semi forgotten.
I didn't need to round on Fletcher to make my point for the lack of appreciation for people like Chelsea.
But it sure makes it easier.
Chelsea Hedges! I once wrote a whole article about this bottom turn of hers. Just read it back and it's kinda shit, but really, the turn speaks for itself.
I crossed paths with Jodie Cooper a few times out at the movie studios on the Gold Coast - she certainly had some presence and didn't suffer fools gladly.
Would've been intimidating to surf against her in her prime, no wonder she dominated in Hawaii.
To go out on a hollow, rotting bough again, I sometimes wish that "feminists" (inverted commas because the meaning seems to have been lost these days) would take notes on the real strong women out there.
Sick shot of Chelsea, pretty much perfect.
Jodie Cooper did really well to reach elite level from a base such as Albany, it's like a more remote, sharkier version of Victoria yet even further from the self perpetuating media myth machine of the East coast.
Such a credit to her determination and talent.
I'm hearing you about the feminism Andy....though I don't believe it's always the case and the deck is stacked against the type of demure people that women often are, surfing like the women I've mentioned is hard to ignore and even harder to deny respect .
But I have just been lamenting the lack of acknowledgement of a deserving world champ from the recent past . That tells me something.
Good thread can i have to mention Sally Fits? met her once and just seeing her smile made my day. surf was good too but the smile was the best thing that happened all week. She was ripping too. True fan here and its not just because shes hot. Style through some turns maybe not as good as some others mentioned but i would marry her if i had the chance.
Wow wee great to see the female surfers getting some applause from the gallery. Its hard not to admire Tyler Wright the way she surfs hope she wins a title or two. Have crossed paths with Nikki Van Dijk at Torquay a couple of times over the years just said gday she always smiles and says hello seems like a nice young lady have heard she is pretty good to surf with too.
Have to give a special mention to Keala Kennelly, Maya Gabeira and other female big wave surfers keep it up.
My favourite women surfers ?
I thought you'd never ask.
Lisa Anderson - The starting point.
Smooth, aggressive, innovative . Basically the first women I saw surfing that made me really appreciate her ability as a surfer full stop rather than as merely a female surfer.
Chelsea Georgeson ( Hedges ? ) - That backhand is unbelievable.
Stephanie Gilmore - The golden child. Perfect style. Flow, power and grace all with an attitude that exudes a love of surfing for the sake of surfing alone.
Sylvana Lima - Saw her attacking solid G Land , no fear with ability to back it up.
Carrissa Moore - The best ever? Maybe.
Tyler Wright - Blazing power surfer with guts.
Beth Hamilton - See that air she pulled at Padang between pits ? Jaws ? One arm or two, the lady rips.
People rave about Rell Sun, before my time unfortunately, but word is she killed it.