Layne Beachley and the true believers of women's surfing
As Steph Gilmore held her breath on the windy cliff at Honolua last week, and Carissa Moore stomped on a rail and brought Tyler Wright’s title hopes crashing down, the greatest female surfer in history (still, although Steph is closing the gap) watched the final minutes of the final on her computer screen with hubby Kirk Pengilly in a hotel room in Noosa.
Layne Beachley was going to be delighted either way, of course. She loves being number one, but more importantly, she’s a patriot. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oy, oy, oy! Okay, Carissa got in the way of our trifecta, but it had been a great year for the Aussie girls, and a great year for the women’s pro tour. As we drove to the airport, Layne was in a mood to reflect on what Zosea’s new broom had done for women’s surfing. I flicked the recorder on:
The number one change is the prizemoney, of course. When I was on tour it took me 20 years to win half a million dollars. This year if one girl won every event she would have pocketed $600,000. That has really fuelled the competitiveness of the tour, and also the general interest in it.
Secondly, there’s the amount of attention, recognition and respect for the women we’re seeing on tour now. I remember constantly having to fight for that level of respect and recognition. I sat on the board of the ASP for 15 years and saw firsthand the lack of support from the industry. They’re tough words because without the industry we wouldn’t have had a tour in the first place, but I have to say that there was a general lack of belief in the potential of women’s surfing, whereas now it’s being promoted, endorsed and supported.
Lastly, it’s the number of events on the tour. A year or two ago they were struggling to get six, this year there were 10 and for the first time in about five years they’re finishing the tour in Hawaii in one of the great waves of the world. One of the things lacking on the women’s tour was surfing in waves of consequence, and this year they’ve had Cloudbreak and Honolua Bay, both amazing waves. That’s testament to the belief in the women’s tour.
It was challenging being on the ASP board when the stakeholders were the marketing managers of the three biggest brands, always asking them to dig deep to fund a sport that they didn’t truly believe in the value of. Now the people putting their hands in their pockets are true believers in women’s surfing. The respect that flows from that has rolled over into increased prize money, more events and better marketing in general.
The new management has to be driven by the dollar but I think there’s an overarching observation of the sport’s marketability. I’ve always believed that surfing has no greater marketing tool than the women’s tour, and you need look no further than the Top 5 starting with Stephanie Gilmore and Sally Fitzgibbons. They’re both beautiful girls who are great role models and incredible athletes who are respected around the world. Simply by telling their stories Zosea is broadening the market. Tyler Wright, Carissa Moore and Malia Manuel are also extraordinary beautiful talents that are generous with their time and appreciative of the opportunity.
This year Zosea has had to invest heavily in the women’s tour but they realize this is a long term investment. I don’t know whether they would regard 2014 as enough of a success to justify costs, but what I see is public recognition growing exponentially. The sport has been Americanized, that’s undeniable. You walk into the Quiksilver or Roxy Pro at Snapper and it’s this gargantuan setup. It’s how I visualised surfing to be, it’s how I wanted it to look, this arena atmosphere. I love what they’re doing, but of course it’s expensive and I don’t know if you can justify the costs in year one.// PHIL JARRATT
Comments
" ... There is nothing more disheartening to me than when an athlete walks into a sponsorship meeting and asks, “What can you do for me?” The question should be, “What can I do for you?” That’s how you build a relationship."
....
"...some of the men – and I hope I don’t offend by saying this –seem to have developed an air of entitlement ..."
There's an old, lets call it 'management', style book ... it's probably more like a blueprint for life if you're that way inclined ... but, I digress ... this book, has the key elements of successful people ... one of those, titled "think win win" is probably what is missing most from a lot of those who feel "entitled" ...
The book?
"The seven habits of highly effective people" by Stephen Covey
Here's some info about it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Seven_Habits_of_Highly_Effective_People
Why is "women's surfing" always associated with what happens on the competitive tour while the same doesn't apply for men?
Should we ask a Male Professional Surfer about the state of "men's surfing"? Personally, I'd find that odd.
Could have been "true believers of women's competitive surfing."
I wonder what women who surf recreationally think and feel about the growth of this vision? Do the they even care about the competitive tour? Wouldn't the "true believers" be women who simply go surfing and love it?
I'm probably being pedantic, though.
And then there is this: "You walk into the Quiksilver or Roxy Pro at Snapper and it’s this gargantuan setup. It’s how I visualised surfing to be, it’s how I wanted it to look, this arena atmosphere."
Yuck.
Another rule could be added to that self-help "blueprint": "it ain't all about business."
Sport at the elite level anywhere, where there's big money at stake (both prize money & set up/running costs etc) requires it to be a spectacle of significant proportion (to get noticed = $$$$). Pro surfing is all about business.
The fantasy that pro surfing can somehow retain any real soul is purely that, a fantasy. Even the act of riding the waves lacks the freedom of surfing for surfing sake. It's competition & business at the end of day.
I can't wait for Steph Gilmore to overtake Layne Beachley for world titles, Steph's humility and significantly higher level of surfing will hopefully eclipse all memory of Layne's giant ego and lame stunts such as this: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/03/26/1079939855789.html?from=sto...
Perhaps womens surfing has progressed because there is a larger talent pool of chicks surfing now so the standard is higher and more competitive, Layne would get destroyed if she surfed the CT today (as opposed to Kelly and Steph whose number of world titles better reflects talent/title ratio).
Nah go easy on Layne pooh beach I think she's an Aussie legend. If she's has a big ego I say she's earned it. I surfed with her once during a cyclone swell at Noosa and she seemed pretty cool.
Your point about the progression of woman's surfing is very true though and the talent pool is deepening from what I saw recently.
About two weeks ago we had the Ripcurl Gromsearch down here at Yorkes and on the Thursday before the event a family from Queensland with three grommets competing in the contest lucked into a 4 to 5ft swell at Chinaman's with not a breathe of wind and one local out!
The two lads were about 15 and were good surfers. But when I saw their tiny little sister who had just turned 11 heading down the stairs I was a little concerned but told their parents before I paddled out we would look after them and give them a few waves. I needn't have bothered, this young girl could more than handle herself.
I stopped worrying when I saw her air drop out of the lip on a 5 footer, land and recover before belting the lip. I shit you not I was blown away!
She ended up wining the under 12's and the under 14's and told me she was disappointed the contest wasn't held at Chinamans but the softer waves of Pondie and Baby Lizards due to a wind change.
I think her name was Zahli Kelly. The future of woman's surfing is in good hands!
I agree Yorke. Wow that young girl sounded amazing!!
In regards to Layne I reckon she is one a few trailblazers for women's surfing and sometimes trailblazers have to go to places others would fear in order to shake off the shackles so to speak. This can be seen as ego or even offensive to some. I reckon Layne is a legend for women's surfing and would be an inspiration to many people in general.
Pity the tall poppy syndrome in this country still rears its ugly head occasionally tho.......
Stop being a fuckwit pooh beach. This ain't a stabmag forum. You writing off Layne is like saying go put tommy Carroll in a ct event now.
She set a bench mark of her era and it's now been overtaken. As will Steph in the future. Maybe not title wins but progression and power it will happen.
Quit being a hellman braaaaaa
I take the point that Layne may have been an inspiration to younger surfers in terms of competitive surfing and so should definitely be commended for that, I just prefer the new generation of chicks more humble (but no less competitive) approach. I think this less egotistical/more self aware approach can also be credited to the larger talent pool. It's truly competitive now and the level headed approach of the new bunch generation of women surfers shows this. I would suggest that Laynes arrogance in entering a mens comp only to get completely flogged was more damaging to the cause by showing in no uncertain terms just how big the gap was at the time between mens and women's surfing, it wasn't trailblazing it was embarrassing.
Like us all, I'm sure Layne has bad days, may rub people the wrong way or clash with others ... that's life. However, from a recent interaction with my family she was very humble and held herself well, so too, as it was at the same time, Sally Fitz ...
My wife had our gidget at swimming lessons, where Layne and Sally were hanging around having been doing stuff at the HPC (who use the same swimming pool and associated gym etc.) ... wife spoke to them, asked if could get photo, nothing was too much trouble, and both Layne and Sally were, interested in our gidgets swimming and surfing asking her questions and showing some genuine interest. Both, according to my missus were 'delightful' and really down to earth.
Yeah fair enough Wingnut, I guess I have just formed an opinion based on interviews with Layne in print TV etc. in which she perhaps didn't come across to my liking (particularly ego wise) and other stunts such as surfing in the mens comp which showed a lack of self awareness.
That said I guess I should take into consideration the fact that she is probably a thoroughly decent human being and inspiration to many, so I guess I shall eat a little humble pie myself and stand corrected as far as having a more balanced opinion of Layne.
And anybody that used to go out with Ken Bradshaw had issues! Was that guy a dildo or what? Layne did not come across that well in the press and the short movies she put together. I suppose she was trying so hard to establish women's surfing which in the end she probably helped a lot. I agree with Pooh, the latest crop are amazing surfers and real easy on the eye. Even my wife remarked that Sally Fitzgibbon had a great rear end when she was leaning into a terrific bottom turn in a bikini (if I had said that I would have got a smack across the head). Does watching surf get any better?
Cant agree Pooh Layne has earnt her respect and maybe you should show some,she isnt 7 times world champ for nothing.
Sorry but I feel I should say something in support of pooh here. I have never heard a positive comment about Ms. Beachley and I have lived and surfed the same area for a long time. Celebrities are not a protected species. I should add that I have never met or exchanged a single word with her despite the fact that I lived across the road from her for several years. Now I admit on the friendliness scale I am towards the lower end so, if I make the effort to smile and make eye contact with my neighbours, and they fail to respond, I am unlikely to make much further effort. I make no judgement. The tall poppy syndrome exists. A high achieving woman in what was, and still is, a male dominated area is always a likely target.......but pooh is quite entitled, as I am, to post legitimate opinion and comment and if that offends, well there are plenty of compensations for celebrity status. You put yourself in the public eye, you live with the downside as well as the benefits.
So BB you never spoke to LB, just listened to the hearsay of others, however you also made or make no judgement and admit your low on the friendly scale.......fair enough
I agree 100% that pooh, you and even Uplift has a right to legit opinion. However based on the above threads the only people that have actually met her say she was basically better than alright.......
Putting yourself in the spotlight certainly exposes you to both negative & positive feedback alike. I suppose the facts always lay somewhere in between.
Hahahahaha epic. Old men gossiping about celebrity. Beaudiful.
Reworded it Memla:
"I suppose he was trying so hard to establish men's surfing which in the end he probably helped a lot. I agree with Pooh, the latest crop are amazing surfers and real easy on the eye. Even my husband remarked that John John had a great rear end when he was leaning into a terrific bottom turn in his short shorts (if I had said that I would have got a smack across the head). Does watching surf get any better?"
BB you hit the nail on the head.......she was not a popular person on tour as her ego was a lot to handle......
the real problem is , will the womens tour be sustainable with the losses being reported by Stab mag at $30 m.....??
I am sure Stu will have another set of figures ," on who's watching the ASP".......which will suggest that the current tour is losing money hand over fist and will need a major makeover to try and stay afloat....
Another makeover?! hahahaha
Respectfully.....................
The tall poppy syndrome, as you understand it, is a myth.
Who is beyond criticism.. Who is beyond being disliked.
It don't matter who you are, someone is going to dislike you, and that is human nature.
But if you're a celebrity, then it's tall poppy syndrome.
It's hard to deny that there was something about Layne that just didn't feel right, that doesn't seem to be there for Steph, nor for Sally or the young Wright girl.
That's just how it is. Many saw it, you don't have to over-analyse it, but calling it tall poppy syndrome just dismisses as false something that was really there.
But you can't take her world title from her. No, you can't do that.
Hi Batfink,
Not exactly sure who your referring to but i'll assume it's me given I posted the "Tall Poppy Syndrome" term first on this topic.
With respect to you, your understanding or in fact your denial that the phenomen "Tall Poppy Syndrome" actually exists is a bit bizzare. If you research the use of the term you'll see it's been around/used for over 100years.
"The tall poppy syndrome (TPS) is a pejorative term primarily used in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and other Anglosphere nations to describe a social phenomenon in which people of genuine merit are resented, attacked, cut down, or criticised because their talents or achievements elevate them above or distinguish them from their peers".
Now in relation to Layne Beachly my initial comments were in regards to her surfing achievements & by virtue of them I have assumed that she would of inspired a lot of other women not only in relation to surfing but also other sports & pursuits. I have never met LB & my opinion of her as a person is based only on what I have seen on TV, magazines, dvds etc. So whilst I can't deny the possibility that she was "hard work" on tour with "a huge ego", I suppose I am able to look at both sides of a persons life as best I know it, both the negatives & the positives, to get some balance.
The tall poppy Sundrome tends to focus purely on the perceived & factual negative aspects of a persons life or achievements & on its own is an unbalanced view IMO.
Your statement that we are all disliked by someone might be true but the point is not about that. It's about not having an informed balanced view & purely making a biased judgement. As I stated in a previous post, if you do stick your head up over the trenches there will always be someone trying to pick you off, call it "human nature" or also reffered to as "The Tall Poppy Syndrome".......
ABC Anh's Brush with Fame.
Series 5 Layne Beachley
https://iview.abc.net.au/video/DO1830H006S00