The WSL has added a Women’s Championship event to the 2016/2017 Big Wave Tour for the very first time.
The event will run between October 15, 2016 and February 28, 2017, and will take place alongside the men’s event at either Jaws or Todos Santos, depending on what spot throws up the best swell.

The invites to who will be competing in this event will be up to the WSL commissioner for this first year event. Next year and each successive year after, the women will be selected from the finishing positions of 2016/17’s inaugural event.

This is a massive step for women’s big wave surfing, with Mavericks charger Bianca Valenti saying:

“We got a little taste of big-wave competition in 2014, but it just fizzled out, so this is great. I actually started crying when I found out. Being a part of a big-wave event isn’t just something I’ve been thinking about for a year or two. It’s been a dream for a long time. I talked to Gary Linden earlier this year, and he told me that the best way to start a tour is to have one event, just like they did in Biarritz for the Women’s Longboarding Tour, and then it’ll be easier to build a following and gain sponsors for more events.”

This could lead to more women hunting out the thrill of big wave surfing by having the leading female big wave chargers on a public platform, inspiring female groms to go for it to.
Bianca Valenti added:
“I think competition gives you a great platform to progress. It’ll be great to have that media coverage to show other young girls and women that anything is possible. This will give them something to identify with, and more role models. Hopefully it’ll result in more women in waves of consequence.”

If you want to push yourself into some bigger waves, we offer fantastic surfing holidays in some big wave paradises such as the lava slabs of Fuerteventura and the sand-bottomed drainers of Puerto Escondido.  

In the meantime check out the video below to see some of the top female surfers pulling in to massive and perfect waves.



Other articles you may find interesting:
Wave Profile: Aileens
Surf guide to Fuerteventura  
Photo by: Photo by: Maya