Sitting there with my water-filled sinus cavity and my salty mouth, I am just another surfer in the lineup. My sea sisters and I joke about how “sexy” it is when our g-bombs look less than Alana perfect while blowing out our noses in the water and getting totally waded on the last set. Women. Surfing. Truth is…we aren’t posing for the magazines and photographers, or looking towards the onlookers for their approval- no, we are staring into that big blue ocean, not easily distracted from the next set that awaits. Media can turn any raw-and-beautiful sea soul into this hot, sensual, dreamy, sexual, always-perfect surf babe.
I present to you: “It Ain’t Pretty,” a documentary made by Dayla Soul, who wants to show the other side of women surfing with a focus on hard-ass chicas surfing this 30 ft big waves. These ladies featured include: Andrea Moller, Keala Kennelly, Paige Alms, Emi Erickson, Sarah Gerhardt, Jamilah Starr, and Bianca Valenti’s journey from childhood gromette to a world class big wave charger. The film takes place in the waters of Mavericks, San Francisco, and Ocean Beach. Dayla Soul is a Kauai native that is currently living in San Francisco, where she charges a 6-foot long period swell (NUTS) in Ocean Beach. When asked about the start and direction of this film, she said,”I didn’t have some agenda about sexism in the industry, it just evolved, because I think that’s a big topic right now. That’s what the women ended up discussing” says Soul. This film takes you around the broader image of womens surfing, how it is reflected in the media and industry, and the push for “The Women’s Big Wave Movement.”
IT AIN’T PRETTY Film Trailer: will be released to Amazon and iTunes on February 7th.
Recently in the surfing world there has been some need for change in contests at Mavericks for women and the organizers of the Titans of Mavericks have finally created a women’s heat starting this winter of 2017-2018! Check out the story here, covered by our very own Chica Brava team.
In the United States and stretching to the ends of the earth, many women recently participated in the Women’s March and protests. There were about 100 international women’s marches with estimated attendance of more than 260,000 as well as about 3.7 million Americans protesting this past Saturday. It’s a beautiful time to be alive and to be a woman! Voices cried out and were heard in all of the corners of the Earth- and very importantly, we held hands with our sisters, mothers, friends, strangers, women….united and strong. Let’s challenge the stereotypes, inequality, and sexism in and out of the water!
Thanks for taking the time and making the connections.
– Your Sea Sister and Friend,
Allie Hayser
Surf Instructor