More than 160 females of all ages and abilities ventured to Shelly Beach to compete in the Her Wave Teams Classic surfing event over the weekend March 11 and 12.
Not only was surf action fierce in the water but the Surfing NSW event was a huge success with numerous free workshops for competitors and plenty of action for spectators and beachgoers.
Teams from as far as Cronulla and Newcastle contested this first 2023 Her Wave event, with some surfers as young as seven being pushed onto waves by parents and women in their 60s carving their way back to shore, enjoying the sport they’ve loved for decades.
Shelly Beach produced small yet clean swell all weekend, accommodating all board disciplines and surfing abilities including Para Surfing World Title runner-up Sarah Gibson of Macmasters Beach, a vision-impaired surfer who carved it up with the assistance of her “spotter” and husband Brett Gibson.
The couple also joined the commentary panel to discuss their experiences, challenges and triumphs.
Other local and interstate legends participating included Surfing NSW lifetime member and 16-time Australian and World Masters title holder, Sandra English of Norah Head, who led two teams.
Professional surfer and big wave rider Felicity Palmateer of Western Australia was on the ground to support, encourage and provide tips to teams, as was professional surfer Nikki Dijk of Victoria, who also took to the waves for a free surf with many of the competitors.
Although the event was not judged like a traditional surf competition, Merewether Surfboard Club was the stand out, scooping up the highest number of points and with one of their youngest members, Ava Robertson, awarded the Her Wave of the Weekend award with a 9.33 score.
Throughout the weekend there was a great range of workshops to upskill and learn something new including ocean photography, short and long board techniques, and a course in Surfers Rescue 24/7 and TacMed trauma response.
In the lead-up to the Her Wave Teams Classic event, more than 50 under-18 female surfers took part in a performance coaching session hosted by Surfing NSW on Friday, March 10.
Surf coaches such as Glenn “Micro” Hall, Amee Donohue, Tru Starling and Felicity Palmateer assisted the session by dividing the young surfers into groups to imitate the same structure as the weekend’s tag team event.
To align with the Her Wave ethos of providing more opportunity and career pathways to females, the weekend saw an all-female judging panel, beach and media crew and many workshops were conducted by females or female-owned businesses.
Source:
Surfing NSW