Surfing Divas to be honoured at SurfWorld Gold Coast
by Karen ~ March 16th, 2010. Filed under: Events, Media Release, Uncategorized.Two special events honouring legendary women surfers will be held at Surf World Gold Coast this month.
The Divas of Surfing exhibition will be officially opened on Thursday, 18 March from 10.30am and a special Divas of Surfing evening will be held on Wednesday, 24 March from 6.00pm.
Both events focus on four women who had pivotal places in surfing history: Kathy Kohner Zuckerman, Phyllis O’Donell, Layne Beachley and Stephanie Gilmore.
Kathy Kohner Zuckerman was the original Gidget surfer girl and was once named the seventh most influential surfer in history. Her fictionalised life on the beach at Malibu was the subject of the classic 1957 book “Gidget” and the first ever Hollywood surf movie. Subsequent Gidget movies, musicals and TV series heralded the rise of surfing into popular culture.
Born in Sydney, Phyllis O’Donell began surfing at age 23 and was the surprise winner of the first ever World Surfing Championships in 1964. For her efforts, she was rewarded with $250, a surfboard and numerous packets of cigarettes. Nevertheless, at a time when the sport was dominated by men, Phyllis was a trailblazer for future generations of female surfers.
Since becoming a professional surfer at the age of 16, Layne Beachley has achieved a record-breaking career. Layne has won a record seven world titles, including an amazing six titles in a row from 1998-2003. She has also appeared in numerous surf movies, and since 2006 has staged the richest event on the women’s surfing tour at Sydney’s Manly Beach.
The first rookie to win an ASP world title in 2007, Stephanie Gilmore has become the dominant force in women’s surfing. She has won the last three world championships and is probably the most recognisable female surfer in the world today.
“Women’s surfing often does not get the recognition it deserves and the Divas exhibition and Divas evening will focus attention on some fantastic female surfing achievers,” said Surf Word Gold Coast Chairman Mal Sutherland.
The Divas exhibition features a rare collection of trophies, photos, rash shirts and surfboards. Additionally, profiles of all 13 Australian women who have been world champions since Phyllis O’Donell in 1964 are included (full list appended to this release).
The Divas of Surfing evening will feature addresses from all four surfing divas as well as canapés and refreshments.
“This is a really historic event that brings together two pioneers of women’s surfing with two current legends of the sport,” said Sutherland. “It should provide a real insight into the past and future of women’s surfing.”
Supported by Southern Cross University, Darcy Surfboards Currumbin, Connecting Southern Gold Coast, Gold Coast City Council and Australia’s Surfing Life magazine, the Divas evening promises to be an unforgettable event for surfing buffs. Tickets must be pre-purchased and are available for $35 from Surf World Gold Coast at Tomewin Street, Currumbin or by phoning (07) 5525 6380.