Celebrating A Long Tradition Of Women’s Surfing

Women’s Surfing: Gear Up For The Next Generation

Women’s surfing has come a long way since Body Glove was founded. In the 1950s and 1960s, surfing was primarily a male-dominated sport. But women have been surfing and enjoying the beach for generations, and the sport wouldn’t be what it is today without the contributions of many legendary female surfers. That’s why Body Glove offers a variety of wetsuits, surf bikinis, and other high-performance products designed specifically for women.  We also know that fashion has and always will be an important part of the beach lifestyle so we respect our tradition of 1980′s neon bikinis with an eye for the future.

The long line of girls’ surfing stars in California began in the 1930s with Mary Ann Hawkins, one of the first surfers to popularize Southern California’s Palos Verdes Cove. Arguably the greatest female surfer of the first half of the twentieth century, Hawkins won countless surfing competitions, as well the respect and admiration of everyone she surfed with. More than any other girls surfing pioneer, Hawkins was an all-around waterperson. She could swim and bodysurf as well as anyone – man or woman – and was totally comfortable in the ocean. She set an example for every female waterperson who came after her like Body Glove’s own Holly Beck. In 1946, Hawkins was featured in the book “California Surfriders” by legendary surfing photographer Doc Ball. She later became a stunt person for Hollywood, and eventually moved to Hawaii where she opened a swim school for young children.

Mary Ann Hawkins left in her wake a path for other stars of womens surfing, such as Marge Calhoun. Calhoun was a competitive swimmer and diver training for the 1940 Olympics until they were cancelled because of the War. Another Southern California girl, Marge was first exposed to surfing in the 1930s and 40s during family trips to Venice Beach and Santa Monica. In the 1950s, Calhoun began surfing Topanga Canyon, and captured the Makaha International Title in 1958. Calhoun co-founded the influential U.S. Surfing Association, raised two surfing daughters, and was an inspiration to a generation of female surfers.

In 1959, Linda Benson became Pacific Coast women’s champion, a title she held for three years. Like Mary Ann Hawkins, Benson lent her skills to Hollywood, performing the surfing action sequences for the second Gidget film, 1961’s “Gidget Goes Hawaiian.” In the mid 1970s, pro surfer Margo Godfrey dominated the waves, cutting a path for later female champions like Linda Merrill, Jericho Poppler, Rell Sunn, Lisa Anderson, Layne Beachley, Stephanie Gilmore and Carissa Moore..

Body Glove is dedicated to outfitting the next generation of female surfers with the gear they need to take to the waves in comfort and style. Visit the leading girls bikini retailers listed to check out our online store for a great selection of surfing bikinis, wetsuits, accessories, and more.