The standard has improved in leaps and bounds over the years, but I reckon until girls have big enough numbers and presense in the water, which would then have a noticable affect or influence on the commercial market, eg: as much as guys, the money will be less.
Seems company's aren't interested in investing, nothing to do with how good they surf.
There are several girls on Oahu who surf with the same power and intensity as the better guys. Lip blasts, floaters, cutbacks they can do it all and their style looks like guys out there. Makes me think of Lisa Anderson.
But there’s far more female surfers who aren’t quite there yet. I think I’m seeing about a 2 to 3 ratio of girls to guys these days. Out of that there’s always one who surfs really good.
MooneeMick, yes I went to Bells this arvo. There were a lot of people, but with some patience I got myself a good viewing spot for Rincon (high tide Bells point) and watched Sally Fitzgibbons win the womens event. As Wildly said they have lifted their performance in leaps and bounds over the last few years - I watched them the year before last too. I think a lot of it has to do with that the physique of the women competitors is now mostly comprising of shorter than average women and this gives them power advantages over the longer legged female frame. In comparison the men are of medium height and at least average in height.
The women are really good to watch nowadays - speed, power - they have both those qualities.
In Hawaii girls can rip! Back in the mid-70's when I was a regular at Ala Mona Bowls, both Cherie Gross and Lynn Boyer came down and just put on a clinic. The regular bowl rats like me were to ashamed to take off on the same waves as these two surf queens. The girls dominated the break that day and the sets were double overhead too. It was great to watch them.
In every era there has always been a few standout girls who surfed well . The 70’s with Boyer ,Oberg , Poppler and Rell Sunn etc was when their performances in solid surf was finally recognised by the surf media.
Now so many rip in all conditions , how’s this turn of Sally Fitzgibbons.