A WOMANERA’s mission is to inspire.
Inspire a grom to take her first kiteboarding lesson.
Inspire a young woman to surf her first wave.
Join the WOMANERAS and get out there.
“Being part of this story with so many
amazing and inspiring women motivates me
to want more and more.”
– Marcela Witt
JULIETTE LACOME
I find that women in surfing, or indeed in any water sport, have taken on a much more important role than they did a few years ago.
Before, looks were one of the most important factors if you wanted to succeed as a woman.Now, performance is much more significant.
There’s a lot more respect and opportunities opening up for us. In fact, it should be normal for everyone to be considered in sports. Past generations and even still today’s have had to fight to get the same Prize Money and recognition as men. It’s not perfect yet, and there’s room for improvement, but it’s a good start.
MÔ CHAUVIN
In the water, we’re all united by the same passion, the same energy that drives us to surpass ourselves and live each moment to the fullest.
Women bring a certain finesse and creativity that enriches the riding world. I’m convinced that the future will be increasingly inclusive, with great opportunities for all those who dare. It’s the woman era!
SANNA HORVALLIUS
It took me a while to confidently believe that I belonged in the water. Once I did, it influenced how I held myself on land more than I could have ever imagined.
Our oceans hold a lot of space for anyone who is willing to invest time, no matter how you do it. It’s common ground. For me, it is not so much about what gender you are, but rather what attitude you have.
As a woman, it’s for sure challenging sometimes. But the top woman in the world is doing such a great job pushing the limits and changing the narrative on what women surfers are. So rather than focusing on what men think about us, I choose to focus on how hard we, women of the seas, are working to push women surfing forward. What the women did at pipeline earlier this year has inspired me so much and expanded the thoughts I had for myself!
I’d rather focus on the positives and the opportunities ahead. More and more communities are created by women for women, with the purpose of believing in our place in our oceans. That just fills my soul so much! It is so inspiring.
JUSTINE DUPONT
For me it isn’t a question of men or women, it’s more a question of will.
To perform, it’s more about striking a balance between motivation, technique, strength, flexibility, experience, mindset, being well-surrounded, etc. The important thing is to feel like you belong and to feel good there. As far as I am concerned, I belong on the wave.
MIA MCMAHON
Being a woman in surfing has meant constantly proving I belong.
Early on, I had to fight for waves, for respect, and for space in a lineup that wasn’t always welcoming. I’ve had moments of frustration—getting overlooked, underestimated, or dismissed—but those moments also made me stronger.
Women in action sports bring more than just talent. We bring resilience. We bring community. We bring change. We push through the doubts, support each other, and demand the same respect and opportunities as men.
But beyond strength, there’s something undeniably beautiful about the way women move in sport. There’s a grace, a flow, an artistry that is uniquely ours. Whether it’s the way we draw lines on a wave, the way we navigate risk with instinct and intuition, or the way we balance power with elegance—femininity in sport is not a weakness, it’s a force.
The future is ours to take. More women are charging bigger waves, claiming more space, and rewriting the rules. We’re not asking to be included anymore—we’re already here, and we’re not going anywhere.
MARCELA WITT
Passion, dedication, persistence, emotional balance, patience … These are some of the qualities an athlete needs to strive for.
But what about being a woman in this sport? Sometimes, I wonder if it is harder to get on the podium or to be respected. We are not only judged on our performances, but also on our clothes, our bodies, the way we talk, with whom we socialize, our sexual choices, and even how we spend our money.
We are a minority in this sport, although not for being more fragile or because we chose different sports than people expected when we were children. The first marathon took place in 1896, but no women were allowed to participate. It took almost a hundred years for that to happen. The first woman only participated in a marathon in 1967, but she did not mention her gender when she signed up. It is only in 1972 that women were allowed to take part in the marathon events.
Like Athenian women who were forbidden to participate in any sporting event as competitors or spectators (under death penalty), we were supposed to dedicate ourselves to our household, husband, and children.
In 2021, we are still far from equality in sports, from being respected to getting paid equally, and that is because of our gender. We have progressed a lot lately, and we are slowly but surely making room for ourselves. Several sports already offer the same prize money, like in tennis or surfing.
I have seen more and more women in the water. I feel we are breaking down many barriers, but we still have a long way to go.
This sport made me a much stronger and more independent person. I have travelled around the world as a kiteboarder, and I feel the joy and pain of being a woman in the water. And in the end, after all, it’s beautiful!
This is just the beginning and being part of this story with so many amazing and inspiring women motivates me to want more and more.
CHARLOTTE CONSORTI
Women are just as committed. They ride the same storm, the same waves, the same gusts, but they will always set themselves apart with this hint of softness that emanates from them.
Women in the riding world bring aesthetics into the sport. Often less physical but more technical, their tricks are more fluid and prettier.
