When I first paddled out into the Batukaras lineup, I was the only girl grom. I was 7, riding a shortboard as big as me. The boys would hoot each other into waves. They’d paddle for the best ones, take off deep, and race down the line. And me? I waited for the leftovers—the smaller inside ones that no one wanted.
At first, I thought, maybe I don’t deserve the big waves yet. Maybe I had to “earn” my place. Maybe girls just stayed on the inside.
But I’ve learned something huge since then:
Girls deserve bigger waves too.
We deserve space in the lineup.
We deserve coaching that pushes us.
We deserve wipeouts, confidence, challenges, and respect.
This post isn’t just for girl surfers—it’s for everyone who wants surfing to grow stronger and more equal. Here’s why making space for girls in bigger waves changes everything.
🏄♀️ The Inside Isn’t Where We Belong
There’s this unspoken rule in some lineups: the boys get the outside sets. The girls wait. It’s not always mean or intentional. Sometimes it’s just tradition. Or habit. Or fear.
But guess what?
If we never paddle out for the big sets, we’ll never learn how to ride them. If we’re always told to wait for the scraps, we’ll never build the confidence or skills we need.
🌀 Pullquote:
“Girls aren’t fragile. We’re not here for leftovers. We’re here for the real thing.”
We’re not asking for special treatment—we’re asking for equal waves.
💬 What Bigger Waves Actually Mean
Bigger waves don’t just mean size. They mean opportunity.
When I say “girls deserve bigger waves,” I mean:
- We deserve real chances to push our limits.
- We deserve equal attention from coaches.
- We deserve space in competitions, surf media, and lineups.
- We deserve to be taken seriously.
Because when girls get bigger waves, we get more than just surf time—we get strength, courage, freedom, and belief in ourselves.
🌈 Role Models Ride Bigger Waves
One of my favorite grom idols is Sierra Kerr. She doesn’t just ride waves—she rips. Big waves, heavy turns, airs. She’s out there, going hard, because she believes she belongs.
When I see girls like her surf, I think:
That could be me. That WILL be me.
But for every Sierra, there are still way too many girl surfers told to “take it easy” or “stay inside.”
💡 Callout Tip:
Want to inspire the next generation of girls? Let them see women charging waves—not just smiling from the beach.
We need more girls in surf videos, ads, contests—and in the lineup.
🧠 It’s Not Just Physical—It’s Mental
Some people say girls are “too small” or “not strong enough” for big surf. But the ocean isn’t just about size. It’s about heart.
Confidence is built through experience. And girls need to be given that experience—not shielded from it.
When I caught my first shoulder-high wave, I didn’t know I could do it. But I paddled anyway. My arms were shaking. I almost backed out. But I dropped in… and I made it.
That wave changed everything. Not because it was big, but because I believed I could.
🗯️ Wipeouts are part of it. Let girls fall. Let them try. Let them get up again. That’s how champions are built.
👊 Coaching Girls to Take the Drop
Some coaches are extra gentle with girl surfers. That sounds sweet—but it can actually hold us back.
Great coaches see us for who we are: athletes, not just “cute” or “brave.” I’m lucky that Coach Budi believes in me. He doesn’t let me coast. He teaches me positioning, paddle power, wave reading—everything I need to go deeper and bigger.
Girls need coaches who:
- Don’t assume we’re fragile
- Encourage us to paddle into the main peak
- Teach us real technique
- Cheer our wipeouts as progress
- Push us to dream bigger
Coaching should lift girls—not shelter them.
🤍 The Lineup Culture Has to Change
Here’s the truth: many girls don’t feel fully welcome in the lineup. And that has to change.
Sometimes it’s subtle—being paddled around, ignored, or stared at. Sometimes it’s louder—being dropped in on, or doubted. But it all sends the same message: you don’t belong here.
And we’re here to say: yes, we do.
💬 True Story:
One time, a tourist guy tried to “help” me by telling me to move to the inside. I smiled, paddled back to the peak, and caught the best set wave of the day right in front of him. You should’ve seen his face 😎
Respect in the water isn’t just about ability. It’s about awareness. Let’s build a lineup where we support everyone who’s trying to grow.
Also Read : When I Got Hit in the Lineup: A Lesson from the Point
🌟 What Happens When Girls Get Bigger Waves?
When we get the waves we deserve, we grow like crazy. I’ve seen it in my friends, in visiting groms, and in myself.
Bigger waves teach us:
- Resilience (because sometimes we fall hard)
- Courage (because we face real fear)
- Skill (because we learn faster)
- Pride (because we earned that wave)
And most importantly?
They teach us that we’re stronger than we thought.
💖 To Every Girl Who’s Waiting on the Inside…
Here’s what I want to tell you:
You belong on the outside.
You belong in the main peak.
You belong in every heat, every edit, every dream you can imagine.
Don’t wait for permission. Paddle out.
Don’t wait to be invited. Take your wave.
Don’t shrink. Shine.
You’re not “just a girl.” You’re a surfer. And you deserve bigger waves.
