Girl in the Curl: A Century of Women's Surfing

"Girl in the Curl is the book we have all been waiting for-whether we know it yet or not. Never before has such a comprehensive history of the women who have impacted surfing been put together.Gabbard, the author of the Greg Noll biography, Da Bull, weaves together the women of surfing through insightful interviews of those who have shaped the sport. Starting with the ancient Hawaiian waterwomen, continuing through the likes of Marge Calhoun, Gidget, Mary Setterholm, Frieda Zamba, Lisa Anderson, Layne Beachley, Sofia Mulanovich, and Kirstin Quizon, I think one would be hard pressed to find a woman surfer who has made an impact on the sport of surfing not mentioned.Girl in the Curl is organized in a series of short, easy to read chapters that explain the hardships and brilliance of each woman. Gabbard does not shy away from the dark side of women's surfing. She presents the chilling inequality of prize money and sponsorship. "The total prize money for the men's 2000 World Championship Tour is $2.1 million; for women, it's just under $500,000." The book does not turn into a man-bashing why aren't things better book. Gabbard simply presents the truths of all aspects of the sport as told by the athletes themselves. Gabbard also does a wonderful job of presenting unusual facts, such as mentioning Pam Burridge recorded a hit single in 1984 called "Summertime all Round the World." The highlight of the book, and very well surfing itself, is the chapter on Rell Sun. Rell's life is celebrated through her wonderful accomplishments for women, children, and surfing.From the timeline at the start of the book, to the brief biographies of the professional surfers, and those surfers making a career in the industry, to the glossary and index of resources, I can't think of anything the book is missing. I have been wishing someone would write this book for years-I am thrilled my wish has been fulfilled!Girl in the Curl is a beautifully written and illustrated book of women's surfing. Photographs are mainly the work of Jim Russi and are no doubt some of the best women's shots available today. This book will not only inspire the reader, but also fill wahines everywhere with pride. Women surfers who did not have the advantage of being there for the events of the past century will finally be able to learn of and feel what has happened, and further appreciate their mothers, grandmothers, and sisters of the sea. I would recommend every surfer buy this book and read it again and again. Girl in the Curl is the centurybook of women's surfing. I know I will keep this book with me at all times in hopes of having it signed by all the heroes of women's surfing." --Sunshine Makarow, Editor of Girls Surf Life Magazine

"'Despite the organization of a pro tour and the advent offinancial sponsors, professional women surfers have always suffered afate similar to that of other female athletes, pursuing their sportwith far less promotion, prize money, and media coverage.' -Fromthe IntroWhile the above statement is inescapably true, I mustadmit I was a little worried that Girl in the Curl was going to be nomore than a feminist tirade on the unfair nature of sexism insurfing-a worthy argument, to be sure, but a battle that needs tobe fought in the water and on the beach, not in a coffee-table book.Fortunately, author Andrea Gabbard understands that a history ofwomen's surfing deserves more than a hundred pages of pettywhining.The introductory timeline chronicling the major milestonesof women's surfing could give a few folks (men and women alike) a bitof a shock as to the sweeping presence of the Y chromosome in thewater. It ain't just Gidget to Lisa Andersen, dude. While it'sfairly widely known that the first Australian surfer was a woman(Isobel Letham, 1915), not many are aware that Marge Calhoun won theMakaha International Surfing Championships in 1958 or Margo (Godfrey)Oberg won her first world title at age 15. Rich stuff, even for thenon-history-philes.What follows is essentially a series ofwell-written and relevant profiles on women who've made majorcontributions to the sport. It's put together more like an organicherstory told by the participants than a consecutive series of eventswritten by some third-party narrator up in the sky. From MargeCalhoun to Rell Sunn to Joyce Hoffman to Pam Burridge to LayneBeachley and the rest of the 21st century pros, it's obvious Gabbardhas done her homework.Each woman profiled has a slightly differenttake on what it means to be a woman surfer, and while some may have alittle bitterness about lack of exposure or unfair financialcompensation, the whole picture is bigger than its parts and if Girlin the Curl is accurate-which I suspect it is-it's worth a hellof a lot more than a thousand words." --Marcus Sanders...

"There have probably been hundreds of books written about surfing, but not one...has been written about women in the sport. Until now, 'Girl In The Curl - a Century of Women in Surfing' by Andrea Gabbard, finally fills the substantial void. 'I could have gone on and on and on,' Gabbard says of her experience writing 'Girl In The Curl,' which begins with a note on the ancient Hawaiian legend of Pele learning to surf, and takes us through the early days at the Makaha International contests, to the 'Gidget' phenomenon, to the birth of the pro circuit, and on through the `90s, when surf culture was changed forever by a clothing company (Roxy), a new magazine (in your hands), a surf shop (Water Girl) and a battalion of courageous women like Izzy 'Surf Diva' Tihanyi who dare live there surfing dreams. Along the way we meet Marge Calhoun (in a rare interview), Linda Benson, Lynne Boyer, Frieda Zamba and others who give historical context to all the rising stars on the WCT today. The book is graced by the likes of Rell Sunn, whom Gabbard never met but of whom a poignant tribute is included, by Robin 'Zeuf' Janiszeufski. Like Rell, Zeuf was diagnosed with breast cancer. She communicates the thing all surfers know, certainly Rell: 'Surfing removes the need to close my eyes and seek the voice inside.' Gabbard, author of 'No Mountain Too High: A Triumph over Breast Cancer' (1998), 'Da Bull: Life over the edge' (1990) and others, began writing this book just a year ago at the urging of her publisher, the feminist Seal Press....'I got back in the water when I began writing this book.' Much of her research was culled from sources like Wahine, 'tons of old surfer mags,' and the vast collection of surf memorabilia amassed by Randy Hild at Roxy/Quicksilver. Along the continuum of women's surfing, 'Girl in the Curl' is an historical moment in itself. It arrives in bookstores around Thanksgiving. --Elizabeth Glazner, Wahine Magazine

I grew up on the beaches of Southern California. How I envied the surfersÑtheir freedom, their agility, their inherent rebellion. But just as "people on Ôludes should not drive," chicks did not surf. "Girl in the Curl," Andrea GabbardÕs stunning pictorial documentation of a century of women in surfing, proves that is BUNK. In glorious Technicolor, Gabbard displays women surfers as ballsy as their male counterparts. In addition to the gorgeous photosÑjust put-Ôem-on-your-wall-and-sigh gorgeousÑGabbard can really write! Her essays are short and compelling, taking us from the dawn of womenÕs surfing (ancient Hawaiian waterwomen) to present-day champions. Along the way, she lets you in on interesting little-known-ers. If you didnÕt know that Pam Burridge recorded a hit single in 1984, you need this book. If like me, you didnÕt even know who Pam Burridge was, you REALLY need this book.