Text: Hugo Rocha Pereira | Photography: Ericeira Surf Clube
“There are women who bring the sea in their eyes
Not for the color / But for the vastness of the soul”
Adelina Barradas de Oliveira
If Bodyboarding is considered an underground sport, how can we face the role played by women? In addition to the essential aspect for both sexes, which is to enjoy some waves, of course…
A journalist friend told me, when I went to cover the Nazaré Special Edition for Vert, that Bodyboard (or BB, for short) is much more Punk than Surf – and this statement makes perfect sense, whether because of the “edgy” attitude as well as by the do-it-yourself spirit fostered by the chronic investment deficit… And when you’re not spoon-fed, you can only get to work with art and ingenuity.
women are huge examples of overcoming that should inspire us as a community
Now, if BB is Punk, the female bodyboarders will be authentic Anarchicks – may the Portuguese band forgive me for this brazen statement! In a still largely patriarchal society, neither sport nor lineups are exceptions, with widespread dominance by men. And even at a time when gender equality is the watchword, just as bodyboarders have to spend twice as much effort as surfers to achieve recognition that allows for professionalism or obtaining sponsorships, the respective female practitioners also need to pierce many more waves to conquer the opportunity to catch the “queen” of the session on a classic day. Let us be clear and fair: the difficulties for women bodyboarders (whether they are competitors or free surfers) are invariably greater, in and out of the water, and they prove to be true warriors in both environments.
That is why we must regard female athletes with the utmost appreciation and pay due tribute to their references, be they Portuguese or international: of the Brazilian women who have dominated the sport (who doesn’t know names like Stephanie Pettersen or Glenda Kozlowski, whose images have filled so many pages of the mythical Fluir Bodyboard?!) to the Portuguese, who have raised high the flag of our country, going through the phenomenon seen in the Country of the Rising Sun – in Japan, where it will even be assumed that Surf is for men and BB for women, they constitute one of the greatest world forces.
The female pioneers played such an important role that BB was connoted, globally, with an activity “for women” – in Portugal, a champion like Dora Gomes (the first professional in this country to have accumulated 6 national titles, 4 Europeans and one world cup) even had some exclusively female sponsorships, such as brands of hygienic tampons… And nowadays there are women with a technical level that far surpasses the most daring dreams of the majority (the example of Isabela Sousa comes to mind, but there are others that stand out to glide on the water surface and invade the airspace) or who face waves of real consequences with a fearless attitude, demonstrating how testosterone does not explain where courage comes from – see yourself as Chilean Valentina Diaz combines beauty and race in a unique way. And in our country we also have cases like these, like Joana Schenker: the 2017 world champion has already featured magazine covers in productions that make many international models jealous.
Trying to answer the initial question, roughly the role of women on Bodyboard is, in everything, similar to that of men, although women face many more barriers along the way. We cannot reduce all of their contributions to just one word or concept, but I think they are huge examples of overcoming – physical and mental – that should inspire us all as a community. Just two illustrative cases: they give great lessons in professionalism to men and female encounters, such as those promoted by Boogie Chicks, spread the sport and strengthen ties between practitioners.
Unfortunately, and despite everything written on these lines, female bodyboarders remain a minority in the water. When sharing the lineup with them, do not rehearse laps or drop ins – show respect and encourage them, they deserve this and much more!
Esta publicação também está disponível em | This article is also available in: Portuguese (Portugal)
