Surf’s pay parity praised by Stephanie Gilmore, Billie Jean King, Kelly Slater
ONCE a ’sideshow’, female surfers have achieved prizemoney equality on a day multiple world champion Stephanie Gilmore says she did not think she would see in her lifetime and in a decision praised by Hollywood superstars and sport legends.
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ONCE a “sideshow”, female surfers have achieved prizemoney equality on a day multiple world champion Stephanie Gilmore says she did not think she would see in her lifetime and in a decision praised by Hollywood superstars and sporting icons.
Women will be paid the same prize money as men across all World Surf League events from 2019 in a historic move hailed by six time world champion Stephanie Gilmore as “unreal”, “unbelievable” and “emotional”.
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The announcement caused an international stir with the likes of tennis legend Billie Jean King and Hollywood actor Charlize Theron taking to social media to applaud it.
“Cheers to the @wsl for their commitment to gender pay equality. Progress is happening! #equalpay,’’ King wrote on Twitter.
“Some news that got me pretty damn excited today - surfing has just become the first US-based sport to achieve gender pay equality. There’s still a lot of work to do, but kudos to the @wsl for getting us one step closer!,’’ wrote Theron.
“It’s a proud day for me, for surfing, for surfers. I cannot thank enough the women, and the men, who have come before me and fought so hard for this,” Gilmore said in a call to The Daily Telegraph from the US where she is preparing for the Surf Ranch Pro.
“It’s wonderful news. I am actually pretty emotional.
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“The WSL had always done so much for us, there have been so many positive steps for us.
“But equal prizemoney across the boards is the biggest statement. I can’t believe it. I didn’t think I would see it in my lifetime.”
The WSL, which has pushed improvements for women surfers since taking over the sport in 2013, will award equal prize money to female and male athletes for every WSL-controlled event in the 2019 season and beyond.
Earlier this year there was an international outcry over the prize money disparity between male and female surfers at a junior event in South Africa.
Surfing will also make its debut at the Tokyo Olympics where the IOC is aiming for gender parity.
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Despite being the best surfer in the world six times - including a glorious four year run - Gilmore says she had been made to wonder “why is my world title less than theirs” during sponsorship dealings in the past.
Gilmore says there have also been times early in her career when she and women surfers were made to feel like a “sideshow” when their male counterparts had almost double the events to contest along with wave priority.
“There is now an understanding talking is not enough. You have to make it happen. So many women have been fighting for this in all aspects of life,” Gilmore said
“To make this statement that this is how it should be done is a huge nod to all the people fighting for equality.’’
Kelly Slater also praised the decision
“The women on the Tour deserve this change. I’m so proud that surfing is choosing to lead sports in equality and fairness,’’ he said.
“The female WSL athletes are equally committed to their craft as the male athletes and should be paid the same. Surfing has always been a pioneering sport, and this serves as an example of that.”
The WSL’s commitment to women’s surfing will also include a raft of innovations from increased promotion to increasing participation.
In other news the world tour will return to Margaret River next year after the 2018 event was cancelled due to shark activity.
Organisers have rescheduled the event to late May and early June which is out of the salmon feeding period.