A new women-only surf festival is aiming to encourage more girls into the water by breaking down the barriers that can make surfing feel intimidating.
Jersey Surf School owner Jake Powell is launching Good Vibrations: Girlz Edition in a bid to tackle what he believes is becoming an increasingly male-dominated sport.
The first women-only edition of the surf festival will take place at Jersey Surf School at the Watersplash on Saturday 8 August.
Jake, who has been coaching surfers for 12 years and founded the Good Vibrations festival in 2017, said he “doesn’t tend to see too many female surfers in the lineup itself”.
He hopes the new event will help “get more females feeling confident, empowered and encouraged to get involved in the surf”.
“We actually haven’t really had anything that just celebrates female surfing,” explained Jake.
“In fact, the last six or seven competitions I’ve done, I feel like we’ve had two or three surfers that have been female out of the 35 participants, so we need to change that through trying to promote females more.”
“I think some girls find it quite daunting”
Jake said the festival is designed to appeal to everyone, from experienced surfers to complete beginners.
“The way we’re going to do it will be purely centred around fun,” he explained.
“The main part of the surf competition will be a tag team format on fun foam surfboards in teams of four. We’re also thinking of even having a mums division as well.”
Alongside the surfing, there will be a performance category, an under-18s division and an open women’s category.
On dry land, the event will feature 80s music, fancy dress, hair braiding, karaoke and a salsa dancing class.
“I think some girls find it quite daunting, coming to the beach, getting in the surf, especially when the main demographic of surfers is men,” said Jake.
“So by just making this one event all females, it should hopefully encourage those that have either sat on the fence or those who’ve never really thought it was even open to them and then maybe hopefully boost female surfing in general.”
He added that he believes “female surfing is trending the wrong way”, saying he would love to see “more of a split between females and males, in the surf with smiles on their faces” in 10 years’ time.
“It takes away the nerves from being in the surf with men”
Seventeen-year-old Libby Langlois, who is part of Jersey Surf School and is helping with the event, hopes it will encourage more young women to give surfing a try.
She said she loves “the freedom, the distraction, and the ability to focus on something for a few hours whilst being out at sea” that surfing provides.
She added: “It’s a really good opportunity for young people that Good Vibrations is having its first woman-only event because it takes away the nerves from being in the surf with men, when maybe there is the possibility they could feel intimidated or wronged for being there.”
Libby’s advice is simple: “Just give it a shot! What can go wrong? Try your best, and no one’s judging you. We will be there to help you and to support you.”
“We’re all equals when we’re in the water”
Jersey surfer Tahlia Averty, who studies in Australia while surfing on the Gold Coast, said she has often found herself “the only girl out there”.
“You can be in the lineup, out in the water in the surf, and very often you are the only girl out there,” she said.
“I’ve experienced this in many places in the world, I experience it in Australia, but I also experience it quite a lot in Jersey. There aren’t many girls.
“When you’re the only girl, you can feel a bit outnumbered occasionally. You’re surrounded by people who are a lot older than you, including older males, which can be a bit intimidating.”
She added that it can be “quite daunting” to paddle out alone, particularly for those who do not have friends who surf.
Back in Jersey, Tahlia helps with Girls Crew, a girls-only surf camp run once or twice a week.
“I love helping inspire young girls and to show them that girls can surf and be in a male-dominated sport,” she said.
“Surfing is not too hard for women, and everyone’s there to have fun, and we’re all equals when we’re in the water.”
“Hopefully it is the start of something great”
Surfing has also opened other opportunities for her. At 17, she was selected to become an RNLI beach lifeguard.
“I was one of five girls in a 40-person service. To be a girl in an environment like that is definitely challenging, but it is very rewarding.”
Jake hopes the festival will be just the beginning.
“Come have fun, get involved with the surf community, and do something that might feel a bit nerve-wracking, but you won’t regret it,” he said.
“Hopefully it is the start of something great, so you need to be a part of it.”
