Women on Waves

We’ve entered the dawn of a thrilling new era in women’s surfing. Our stoked female surfers are riding the sponsorship wave like never before and finally receiving equal recognition on the big stage. With the World Surf League stepping up to match prize money and contest venues on both the Challenger Series and the elite Championship Tour,  women can now earn some serious coin – and the respect they deserve.

These changes, combined with evolving attitudes about women’s place in lineups around the world, have propelled the level of women’s surfing to new heights. Just watch five-time world champ Carissa Moore threading an overhead tube at Backdoor Pipeline or Bianca Valenti nailing an airdrop at maxed-out Mavericks. They are truly narrowing the gap.

This is thrilling news, especially for long-time surfers like contest organizer Aylana Zanville, who had to fight tooth-and-nail for respect in male-dominated lineups in and around Santa Cruz during her formative years.

“I’ve been in surf contests for a long time,” says the big-wave-charging owner of the female surf brand Ola Chica surfwear.  “I feel like women were always treated as second-class citizens when it came to competition. We got the worst tides and the worst time slots. They kinda squeezed us in when they could.”

So, when the opportunity arose two years ago to get involved in one of the first female-centric surf events, Women On Waves in Capitola, she jumped on it. The Women on Waves surf competition started in 1996 to bring competitive women’s surfing into the limelight. 

The event has gained popularity over the years, and this year was no exception. On October 22nd and 23rd, competitors and their support crews gathered at 2nd Jetty in the heart of Capitola Village, where the conditions were superb. With 10 divisions representing all age groups and surfing levels, these surf-stoked ladies gracefully walked the nose, switched stances, and expressed themselves in front of a packed beach.

The beach atmosphere was electric, with tents showcasing locally-owned businesses, such as Unfurling Clothing, owned by 1st place Masters Division winner Ashley Lloyd.

“The kids are stoked, and sometimes the adults are even more stoked than the kids because they’re still groms at heart,” beamed the ever-smiling East Side local.

“I love that about contests with different age groups; being an all-women’s contest, it provides more space for everyone to shine. It’s a place for everyone to come together and celebrate life,” she said.

This is precisely what Zanville had in mind when she organized the event two years ago.

“This event is significant because it’s all about giving women’s surfing the spotlight for two days. We’re striving to create a female-oriented, community-building experience, and this weekend has been full of positive vibes!”