my
GENERATION
In the 90s Hawaiian surfer Rochelle Ballard was part of the generation
who paved the way for today’s female surfers. Now in her late 40s
Rochelle looks back at those early years and reflects on today’s surfers.40s
O
ur generation had so many adversities to
deal with, and yet we were having the time
of our lives – travelling and searching for
waves and new horizons through surfing.
It was an amazing time in women’s surfing. I thought
we had the best of it; as hard as it was at times, it was
absolutely incredible and the best ride of my life!
Very few women surfed when I was growing up
surfing in the late 80s – I was mainly surfing with the
boys. Today, there are so many more women surfing.
It has been a huge gender bender and the approach,
value and respect for female surfers in the line-up has
changed. My generation sparked women’s surf wear
and true surf culture that was focused on surfing and
its lifestyle. Like the generations before us, we had to
pave our own way; pioneering so many unexplored
waves, opportunities, and possibilities in surfing
and sport. When I was growing up and even on tour,
riding barrels and exploring bigger, explosive lines,
it was truly our Blue Crush! We were so excited and
passionate about surfing and our love for the ocean; it
became contagious. We dreamt and envisioned what
it is today.Today it’s at a whole new level of performance and
game. It’s not just about the love for surfing and the
ocean, and is proving it to be a real sport – with real
prize money and a lot more on the line! It has become
very professional with high-level training, coaching,
and equipment. Back then we would quietly make
fun of Layne Beachley and Ken Bradshaw, being
all serious, getting all the coaching and separating
herself from us. Now I look back and realise how on
it Layne was, and how she was so much better at the
mind game of sport because she was coached and
focused. It all played the biggest role in her winning so
many titles!
The game has upped its ante and the women
surfing today are so absolutely amazing to watch in
the sport. They push themselves so hard in and out of
the water! The level of professionalism, and mind and
body performance in surfing is incredible. I believe the
best change that makes all the difference between
my generation and today’s generation is the support.
It’s fantastic to see how much support they are all
receiving in and out of the water, and when women are
supported, they are very powerful!