COMMENTS of sexism in the surfing industry and media have been taken on board by Tracks surfing magazine.
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In a letter levelled at “The Surfer’s Bible”, but first printed in Melbourne’s The Age, 13-year-old Olive Bowers criticised the lack of representation for women’s surfing in the magazine.
“I urge you to give much more coverage to the exciting women surfers out there, not just scantily clad women (who may be great on the waves, but we'll never know),” Olive said in her letter.
Tracks magazine writers are in Margaret River for the 2014 Drug Aware Margaret River Pro, and editor Luke Kennedy told the Mail they have not taken the comments lightly, and will seek to act on them.
“She’s suggesting we don’t advocate women’s surfing content as highly as men’s,” Mr Kennedy said.
“There are more girls than ever in the water free surfing and competing. Women’s surfing has taken giant leaps and bounds in the last few years.”
Mr Kennedy said their magazine has always reflected the ever-evolving surf culture.
“As that brings competitive women’s surfing into prominence we will reflect that accordingly.”
Gracetown surfer Laura Macaulay, who received a wildcard entry into the event, said there are fantastic role models in women’s surfing.
“The girls are all really professional and great surfers... but everyone is just trying to do their own thing,” Ms Macaulay said.
Mr Kennedy said he believed female surfers often do a better job at promoting themselves and their sponsors than the men, and if that involved a modelling aspect that was their decision, he didn’t have a problem with it.
“It is a very delicate academic debate. There are feminists who would say women should embrace their sexuality, while others would say they are doing themselves a disservice.
“Just by its very nature there is a certain sensuality to [surfing].”
