New wave of female surfers break into male-dominated sport at Bondi Beach

FEMALES filled the waves at Bondi Beach on Sunday for the 23rd annual Girls Go Surfing Day.

Lara Murphy, Avonlea Cannone

FEMALES filled the waves at Bondi Beach on Sunday for the 23rd annual Girls Go Surfing Day.

The initiative, organised by Surfing Australia, is designed to introduce more young women to a sport often dominated by men.

Let's Go Surfing Bondi surf school hosted girl-only classes over the weekend, with many sessions led by female instructors.

Let's Go Surfing founder Brenda Miley said the girl-only classes were a great way to help even the gender imbalance in the surf.

"The concept started out years ago because there was a big inequality between men and women in the surf and while that is still there a bit, women's surfing is growing quickly," she said.

"When I first started surfing in the early '80s I would usually be the only girl out in the whole of Maroubra and back then you couldn't even get a girl's wetsuit.

"You either had to wear a boy's wetsuit or, like me, borrowed your sister's diving suit.

"But it's changing. Today girls' surfing gear is a huge seller and with lessons girls are getting more confident in the waves.

"And besides that, surfing is the perfect sport for girls. It's an adventure, you're out in nature, it's a little bit spiritual and you're keeping fit.

"Plus it gives you really great arms."