Episode 59: WSL Finals Preview & Bells Beach Longboard Classic Wrap

For those who follow our Instagram, you may have seen or engaged with a conversation we started relating to a comment from the booth at the recently wrapped Portugal CT. It wasn't necessarily an offensive comment - it was intended as a huge compliment - but it tapped into a theme we brought up on our collab episode with The Lineup regarding how performance is viewed between genders.This episode we recap the ensuing discussion and continue it, especially in light of the fact that the event ran for the third year in a row with no women hired to commentate in the booth. Of course we also talk through the event itself, including Gabriela Bryan's increasing stature on Tour and Caroline Marks' big win.We also chat with Lucy Small about her new surf film Ceibo, as well as Noosa Fest, and round-up all the other noteworthy news in women's surfing for the month of March.Go DeeperBuy Tickets: Ceibo Surf Film PremieresRegister: Seas the DayWatch: Lilliana Bowery - Short and Sweet, Lakey Peterson - Making Waves, Coco Cairns - Rose Red Raw Rice, Leihani Zoric - Leihani is Here, Sophie Fletcher DesignsChapters00:00 - Intro03:25 - Olympics News15:02 - Seas the Day19:15 - TC Alfred22:58 - Fresh Edits27:40 - Lucy Small on Ceibo and Noosa Fest45:02 - QS Update49:24 - Portugal CT Wrap1:09:03 - Voices and Influence in SurfingInfoMusic: Dry Grass, courtesy of Body TypeContact: [email protected]: @the.double.upWeb: https://www.womensurf.net

In a first for The Double-Up, The Lineup reached out with the opportunity to join in on a special collab epsiode to discuss the current state of women's surfing. Never ones to pass up an opportunity to dig in deep on their favorite subject, Shan and Rach joined Lineup host Dave Prodan for a conversation that spanned topics from moving beyond an era where the highest compliment a woman could receive was that she surfs like a man, to the role of media in covering women's sports. They also discuss whether pursuing a career in surfing is a smart choice for women in 2025 and why the Caity-Molly rivalry is arguably the most important storyline in professional surfing right now - along with plenty more.Go DeeperFollow: The Lineup with Dave ProdanInfoMusic: Dry Grass, courtesy of Body TypeContact: [email protected]: @the.double.upWeb: www.womensurf.net

In theory the two major surfing events that ran back-to-back in mid-February could not have been more different - one held at a man-made wave in a place no surf contest deserves to be, seemingly at odds with the nature of surfing; the other at the furthest ends of the surf exploratory world, seemingly embodying the nature of surfing. It was surprising then that the two events actually shared a few similarities that get at the heart of modern-day competitive surfing - at least according to the two semi-surf-nerds co-hosting this podcast.Either way, there has been no shortage of opinion on the two events and this episode holds plenty more...Go DeeperWatch: Alyssa Spencer - Island RhythmChapters00:00 - Intro09:17 - Monthly Round-Up: Babies, Bronte Macaulay's retirement, Alyssa Spencer's edit, Capitulo Perfeito19:12 - Contest Corner: Surf Abu Dhabi Pro1:01:41 - Contest Corner: Natural SelectionInfoMusic: Dry Grass, courtesy of Body TypeContact: [email protected]: @the.double.upWeb: www.womensurf.net

Growing up on the Hawaiian island of Maui, Annie Reickert has spent her life embedded in the harsh elements of the windy isle, embracing them to grow into a waterwoman of the highest order.After receiving her first full invite to the 2024/2025 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, the 23-year-old placed highest out of the ten women who took part, despite surfing Waimea for the very first time in her opening heat.This episode we catch-up with Annie to learn more about her experience at the Eddie, as well as her overall big-wave journey and how she navigates a profession that hasn't necessarily opened wide yet for women.Go DeeperFollow: Annie ReickertListen: Laura Crane on Looking SidewaysChapters00:00 - Intro07:28 - Annie Reickert InterviewInfoMusic: Dry Grass, courtesy of Body TypeContact: [email protected]: @the.double.upWeb: www.womensurf.net

It took some time to get there but the 2025 CT season is off and running with Pipe run and won by two-time World Champion Tyler Wright, who is now wearing the yellow jersey for the first time in nearly two years...headed into Abu Dhabi.It wasn't peak Pipe (for the women!), but wow did they have some moments. This episode we debrief that event, talk about Abu Dhabi as a CT venue, and preview the fast-approaching contest. We also catch up on a jam-packed North Shore season, talk Caity Simmers' Blouse and plenty more. Go DeeperRead: The Middle East's play to rule global sports, Tyler Wright's wife criticises World Surf League, Abu Dhabi Petition, Surfers vs ApartheidListen: In Deep, Football Weekly: Why does Saudi Arabia want to host the World Cup?Watch: BlouseChapters00:00 - Intro: Rach's Travels and Shan's Big News22:58 - Monthly Round-Up: In Deep, Blouse, Natural Selection, North Shore Season49:59 - Contest Corner: Pipe Pro1:10:54 - Abu Dhabi Discussion136:02 - Contest Corner: Surf Abu Dhabi Pro PreviewInfoMusic: Dry Grass, courtesy of Body TypeContact: [email protected]: @the.double.upWeb: www.womensurf.net

Vahine Fierro needs no introduction. As one of the most beloved figures in modern-day surfing, Vahine has carried herself throughout her career with an air of joy and beauty, buoyed by her frank honesty. She won the 2017 WSL World Junior Championship in a small beachbreak and the 2024 SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro as a wildcard at large, barreling Teahupo’o.In this episode we chat with Vahine about her unique upbringing, her long road to CT qualification, her relationship with Teahupo’o and the rollercoaster of winning and losing there this year.Chapters00:00 - Intro3:43 - Vahine Fierro InterviewInfoMusic: Dry Grass, courtesy of Body TypeContact: [email protected]: @the.double.upWeb: www.womensurf.net

From Margo to Molly, Sofia to Steph, Chelsea and Carissa to Caity and Caroline, Sandy to Sally, Pam to Paige, Lynne to Layne, the Championship Tour has provided us an incredible array of women across three different organizations over nearly 50 years.As deep as the list of amazing women to grace the Tour is, their numbers have been capped at 18, at best, for the entirety of its existence, compared with 48 and above for the men during the majority of that time.This episode, while appreciating the first notable increase in women’s numbers to date, and the best calendar the women’s CT has ever seen, we take a look at past numbers and schedules on Tour to place the recent announcements in their historical context.We also recap the 2024 ISA World Para Surfing Championship and catch up on other notable happenings in the world of women’s surf.Go DeeperRead: The Fight for Gender Equality in One of the Most Dangerous Sports on Earth, Major Surf Brands In Turmoil As ABG Pulls North American Licenses Chapters00:00 - Intro11:53 - The History of Women on the CT34:46 - 2025 WSL Schedules54:15 - ISA World Para Surfing ChampionshipInfoMusic: Dry Grass, courtesy of Body TypeContact: [email protected]: @the.double.upWeb: www.womensurf.net

It's a bumper episode this week, delving into all the news we've missed in recent times.We start by catching up on the end of the Challenger Series, talking through each of the qualifiers for the 2025 CT, before delving into a Lazer Breathing Dragons tangent, which leads straight into the ISA World Masters, for which we talk to two of the three Australian women on their team, the 1993 and 1995 ASP Rookies of the Year, Kim Wooldridge and Serena Brooke, before giving a quick preview of the upcoming ISA World Para Surfing Championships.Go DeeperWatch: Inamorata, Lazer Breathing DragonsChapters00:00 - Intro04:41 - Challenger Series Year-End Wrap36:55 - Lazer Breathing Dragons53:04 - ISA World Masters Recap, incl. Interview w/ Kim Wooldridge and Serana Brooke1:27:39 - ISA World Para Surfing Championships PreviewInfoMusic: Dry Grass, courtesy of Body TypeContact: [email protected]: @the.double.upWeb: www.womensurf.net

In a surprise to no-one, we have dedicated this entire episode to the incredible feat that our co-host has accomplished in winning her second World Title. Having recently interviewed Rach after her US Open win, Shan approached this one differently, taking a holistic look at Rach's career. The two talk through her first World Title and the many changes the Longboard Tour has gone through in the period of time since she claimed that in 2015. They also go deep into process, strategy and the different emotions the new Finals format is drawing out of competitive surfers.If you're a regular listener, you've heard these two talk. A lot. But never before like this.Chapters00:00 - Intro09:04 - Rachael Tilly InterviewInfoMusic: Dry Grass, courtesy of Body TypeContact: [email protected]: @the.double.upWeb: www.womensurf.net