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No butts about it - times are changing in elite world of surfing

No butts about it this time. The times are changing in the world of women’s surfing.

Sydney to Hobart, Brett Costello shows us a bird's eye view of the race

NO butts about it. The times are changing in surfing.

Mick Fanning isn’t the only thing set to disappear from the world tour - so too are close-up shots of women’s derrière’s.

Hot on the heels of the first woman being appointed to run the World Surf League in Sophie Goldschmidt, comes news from the world tour opener that camera men and photographers working for the WSL have apparently been asked to use discretion when filming female surfers with scantily clad bottoms during specific manoevers — duck dives or bottom turns - in competition.

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Tyler Wright competing at the Roxy Pro before being knocked out in the quarter-finals.
Tyler Wright competing at the Roxy Pro before being knocked out in the quarter-finals.

“All cinematographers have been instructed to exercise discretion while shooting the women’s heats. Cinematographers must be careful to be zoomed out during bottom turns or duck dives,’’ Stab magazine wrote.

When asked for a response to the story the WSL simply said it “regularly trains its staff in code of conduct and employee enhancement programs. We hold our staff, content, and organisation to high standards across the board.’’

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While the likes of Sally Fitzgibbons and Steph Gilmore have been competing in boardies at the Roxy Pro, other surfers, including world champion Tyler Wright, have been surfing in bikinis.

Lakey Peterson at the Roxy Pro.
Lakey Peterson at the Roxy Pro.
Malia Manuel at Snapper Rocks.
Malia Manuel at Snapper Rocks.

The choice of clothing is the surfers and what they find most comfortable.

Teen star Caroline Marks, the youngest on tour at just 16, opted for wetsuit shorts.

“The World Surf League met on the Gold Coast during the Quiksilver Pro and sexual harassment was the number one topic for their human resource department. The meeting was a refresher on the rules and responsibilities of all WSL employees, a scenario taking place at big businesses around the world,’’ Stab magazine has reported in its story.

Our top female surfers are considered among Australia’s leading athletes.

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/swoop/no-butts-about-it-times-are-changing-in-elite-world-of-surfing/news-story/7a6d65dab86b5396a4c949b54e90620a