I would wager that you could poll surfer’s young and old, surfers deeply in the know and they would confirm my sense that the California Surf Museum was graced by the single most amazing gathering of the Women of surfing ever assembled.Linda Benson, Jenifer Smith, Julie Cox, Keala Kennelly, Kathy “Gidget” Zuckerman, Donna Matson, Courtney Conologue, Maya Gabeira, Eve Fletcher, Indy Callaway, Jane Schmauss, Lisa Anderson, Kassia Meador, Cori Schumacher, Prue Jefferies, Jeanette Schumacher-Prince, Dessa Kirk, Cher Pendarvis, Frieda Zamba and so many others.

Sure we missed a few friends and notable legends as well as future legends missing from the party but some of us just walked around for a while almost with our mouths open at who was smiling back at us. Women from all generation hugging and laughing, taking photos in front of their exhibits, taking photos in front of their heroes' exhibits. Legends meeting legends, today’s famous girls getting to talk to the women that inspired them and paved the way for what Women’s surfing is today. Today’s surfers getting to look these women in the eye and letting them know they will carry the torch with honor and have a ton of fun doing.

The crazy thing was the vibe; so happy, no egos, no posturing; well it’s women, not the typical crazed XXL type of event with boisterous drunks saying insane things over the microphone and giving all surfers such an embarrassing step backwards. No none of that. These women, The Women of Surfing, were brought together by the geniuses at the California Surf Museum to honor Women’s surfing, honor each other and guide attention to one of the most incredible and well-done exhibits I have seen at Any type of museum. WOW, The event, was a classy gathering for a gracious group of people.

I had such a great time seeing all these ladies. I saw women I marveled over as a kid in the pages of Surf Magazines and of course many of the gals that define women’s surfing today.

Support the companies that support women’s surfing and sponsor the women of today. Support the companies that support the museums that chronicle and archive our history. Get yourself down to the Surf Museum and check out the WOW exhibit before it’s gone.

www.surfmuseum.org


words by Lou Niles
Photos by Lou Niles and Tara Tarburn