Is it better to be a man or a woman in surfing? Part 2.

In Part 1, we brought up the question of whether it’s better to be a man or a woman in surfing, and we most definitely made it sound like being a woman in the lineup sucks and can potentially get you killed. Part 2 will be more cheerful, we promise.

a very short history of women in surfing

In case you didn’t know the history of women in surfing, it goes roughly like this: women surfed and competed in ancient Hawaiʻi, then surfing was nearly wiped out by religious pressure, and hardly anyone surfed for a while. By the mid-1930s, a few women were surfing—reportedly including Agatha Christie—and then Gidget happened in the late 1950s, which brought many more women into the sport.

But it wasn’t until the ’70s that surfers like Margo Oberg finally helped legitimize women’s professional competition. And it was only in 2018 that top-tier pro surfing announced equal prize money for men and women at championship events—a historic shift for the sport that came ridiculously late. Even now, we have 36 men and only 24 women competing on the Championship Tour. But that’s a topic for another pod.

participation numbers and ratios

Over the years, men have outnumbered women in surfing. We’re talking roughly 65–75% men versus 25–35% women—about a 2:1 ratio globally.

You could call that progress, given that 20–30 years ago women were often estimated at under 15%. That is, of course, if you assume it’s better to participate in a sport dominated by your own sex rather than being in the minority. I’m yet to find a universal upside to being in the minority in general.

Wait—I did another quick bit of research and found that some female surfers actually prefer surfing with dudes. For them, being the rarity in the lineup is an advantage. We’re not diving into the whole “stick to the sisterhood” debate—but yes, being in the minority can sometimes work in your favor.

physical differences in the water

Physically, men have had some advantages. On average, they have more upper-body paddling power, and boards were historically designed around male weight ranges. And when it comes to size and weight, it’s long been easier to find a large men’s wetsuit than a women’s.

Then again, women benefit from a lower center of gravity, which helps with balance, and girls are typically more flexible.

Aesthetics-wise, you could argue women look waaaay better cross-stepping on longboards. But men often bring the physicality—and the clowning energy—to land certain surfboard tricks.

lineup culture and behavior

The lineup—depending on the surf spot—can be challenging for both sexes.

Men, like in broader society, often win out by being more aggressive and assertive. At the same time, women often contribute strongly on the community side, making many lineups more chill and welcoming. And this extends beyond the lineup.

How many male-only surf retreats or local meetups are you aware of? Men are missing out.

We’ve heard rumors that women can get away with more in the lineup—dropping in, wasting waves, the works. But we’ll gently refer you back to Part 1 and let you form your own opinion on that one.

so is it better to be a man or a woman in surfing?

The truest answer to our question—and I’m sorry, it’s a bit of a cop-out—is that surfing is not better for one or the other. It’s different for each person and depends on several factors: where you surf and with whom, how skilled and confident you are, and whether you surf professionally.

I’d still bet that if you ask many women whether it’s better to be a dude or a dudette in surfing, they’ll say: a dude. Just like—you guessed it—in society.