Herstory

Let’s take a look back with Jonnie Mead…

“It is very special to “belong” to AWSA and all that it represents. I am constantly in awe of where this organisation sits in the cultural surfing mix, bridging the learner, competent, “cool”, competitor, international surf travelers and the free-surfer crews. AWSA sits right there as a nurturing and safe place for women who surf to learn, flourish and share.

The early days of surfing in Aotearoa were about sharing – sharing waves, finding out about wetsuits, board designs and surfing maneuvers. In 1963 there were no surf movies or magazines to give us photos to learn from. We didn’t know it, but the collective “we”, the early surfers, were helping to start the creation of the “cool” surfing image marketers so desperately desired to sell their product.

To have AWSA representing women who surf is a precious light in a very image-aware sport. It celebrates ANY woman who surfs, wants to surf or used to surf. I am the latter. But always a surfer in my heart and soul.

Get out there, surf til it hurts, be your own “cool” image, whatever that looks like. Celebrate and share your power, strength and creativity that is manifested through surfing.”

Photo: Jonnie Mead, Whangamata, 1966/77