Rochelle looks back at those early years and reflects on how it helped today’s surfers.
Interview by Corinne Evans
Our generation had so many adversities to deal with, and yet we were having the time of our lives – travelling and searching for waves and new horizons through surfing. It was an amazing time in women’s surfing. I thought we had the best of it; as hard as it was at times, it was absolutely incredible and the best ride of my life!
Very few women surfed when I was growing up surfing in the late 80s – I was mainly surfing with the boys. Today, there are so many more women surfing. It has been a huge gender bender and the approach, value and respect for female surfers in the line-up has changed. My generation sparked women’s surf wear and true surf culture that was focused on surfing and its lifestyle. Like the generations before us, we had to pave our own way; pioneering so many unexplored waves, opportunities, and possibilities in surfing and sport. When I was growing up and even on tour, riding barrels and exploring bigger, explosive lines, it was truly our Blue Crush! We were so excited and passionate about surfing and our love for the ocean; it became contagious. We dreamt and envisioned what it is today.
“The game has upped its ante and the women surfing today are so absolutely amazing to watch in the sport.”
Today it’s at a whole new level of performance and game. It’s not just about the love for surfing and the ocean, and is proving it to be a real sport – with real prize money and a lot more on the line! It has become very professional with high-level training, coaching, and equipment. Back then we would quietly make fun of Layne Beachley and Ken Bradshaw, being all serious, getting all the coaching and separating herself from us. Now I look back and realise how on it Layne was, and how she was so much better at the mind game of sport because she was coached and focused. It all played the biggest role in her winning so many titles!
The game has upped its ante and the women surfing today are so absolutely amazing to watch in the sport. They push themselves so hard in and out of the water! The level of professionalism, and mind and body performance in surfing is incredible. I believe the best change that makes all the difference between my generation and today’s generation is the support. It’s fantastic to see how much support they are all receiving in and out of the water, and when women are supported, they are very powerful!
What stands out as the most monumental moment in surfing?
For me, it would be the announcement of equal prize money for men and women. All things lead up to that moment.
Was there anything you had to fight for?
It’s funny, I think back at times to how hard I fought for women’s rights, value and respect in women’s surfing – at board level and in the media. It took me away from focusing on my surfing. We put up the biggest, most passionate fight for women’s surfing! It wasn’t until l when I heard the announcement of equal prize money that I instantly cried with joy! We did it! It takes work from generations before, today and tomorrow, to do great things in the sport.
How has equality within the sport changed?
When I was on tour, it was a battle for women events to even exist on the World Tour! In the 90s, one of the guys on tour said in a surfer’s meeting: “How do we get the women off of our tour?” I did girls surf camps with my sponsors (O’Neill and Reef) during the early 2000s to inspire more girls to surf, and to explore the different possibilities in surfing and the surf industry, and to get to know each other and support each other. I wish I had an all-girls surf camp when I was growing up. When we as women find the courage to do what we really want to do and feel support, it goes a long way. Today, that support for women is across the board at all levels.
Do you think social media has helped increase participation in surfing?
Most definitely! It’s easy to follow, and the outreach from one person to the next is incredible in its capacity to share and view.
Was there anything you had to fight for?
It’s funny, I think back at times to how hard I fought for women’s rights, value and respect in women’s surfing – at board level and in the media. It took me away from focusing on my surfing. We put up the biggest, most passionate fight for women’s surfing! It wasn’t until l when I heard the announcement of equal prize money that I instantly cried with joy! We did it! It takes work from generations before, today and tomorrow, to do great things in the sport.
How has equality within the sport changed?
When I was on tour, it was a battle for women events to even exist on the World Tour! In the 90s, one of the guys on tour said in a surfer’s meeting: “How do we get the women off of our tour?” I did girls surf camps with my sponsors (O’Neill and Reef) during the early 2000s to inspire more girls to surf, and to explore the different possibilities in surfing and the surf industry, and to get to know each other and support each other. I wish I had an all-girls surf camp when I was growing up. When we as women find the courage to do what we really want to do and feel support, it goes a long way. Today, that support for women is across the board at all levels.
Do you think social media has helped increase participation in surfing?
Most definitely! It’s easy to follow, and the outreach from one person to the next is incredible in its capacity to share and view.
Where has surfing taken in your life? Has it opened up doors you didn’t think existed?
Surfing has been my lifeline – from the beginning of my success in my surfing career, to the feature film Blue Crush, and travelling the world 20 times over. I can’t imagine my life without it. I have gained a great deal of wisdom that the ocean has taught me, as well as realised how little I know and how much more there is to learn. Through years of surfing and travelling I’ve learned a great deal about biomechanics, the mind and the wellness of the human body. It has given me the opportunity to create my wellness and coaching business, Surf Into Yoga, where I continue to meet people from all over the world, inspiring people through surfing and wellness – its amazing!
Is there a moment in your surfing career that stands out amongst the rest?
Gosh, I can’t say one. I feel the day I scored two perfect 10s against Layne and beat Lisa in the final at Burleigh heads was the first great moment that always stands out to me. And the special event with Surfer Magazine and the Op Pro Boat Challenge in the Mentawais was spectacular: We scored the most amazing waves, with the top males and females in the Surfer Poll, competing for the biggest prize winnings at that time, and I won. We all shared the prize money because we were so stoked to be surfing tougher in such amazing waves. That’s the passion that our generation had. We surfed hard, played hard, partied hard and lived with a lot of passion
Follow Rochelle @rochelleballard
