Another Win For Women In Sport

After a long-awaited 6 months, scientists, the World Surf League and Guinness World Records have officially certified something HUGE. In February 2020, Maya Gabeira surfed the biggest wave ever surfed by a woman, with a total height of 73.5 foot tall. Just to put that into perspective, that’s taller than The White House. So, you think that’s impressive…

She broke a personal record and surfed the biggest wave of the year whilst competing against men in the Tow Surfing Challenge in Nazaré, Portugal. “Other women can do it. I like to make something that seems so impossible to be possible, because then it’s so much easier for the next one.” – Maya Gabeira, The New York Times.

This is the same competition that nearly killed her in 2013 after a fatal 50-ft wave wipe-out. However, she survived and was more determined than ever before. Four years of recovery, three back surgeries, and the loss of all of her sponsors, Gabeira has come back better than ever. Although this is brilliant, there’s still a long way to go for equality. Only 3 of the top 10 women surfers are getting paid. This is compared to the men’s top 10 where all are paid.

The man who holds the world record for the biggest wave surfed received a Mercedes-Benz sponsorship deal after his win. Let’s hope there’s something as impressive for this year’s big surfer.