A group of women made a new world record history after competing at the 2016 World Surf League Pe'ahi Challenge last November 11 riding the big waves infamous "Jaws," coast of Maui in Hawaii. The Hawaiian surfer Paige Alms won the first women's division.
Sputnik News reported that women have been pushed for years to take part in the big-wave competitions, but organizers repeatedly said that the conditions are too dangerous for them.
The coast of Maui had become the new mecca for big-wave surfers, including the infamous "Jaws." But only recently did the World Surf League began holding a competition there and created the Pe'ahi Challenge.
Congratulations to the first-ever Women's #PeahiChallenge Champion & Women's Big Wave World Tour Champion Paige Alms! pic.twitter.com/d11CGZdggU
— SURFER (@SURFER_Magazine) 12 November 2016
Spokesman Dave Prodan said that women have been participating in the minor surfing league for decades, but probably only in recent years that they had really pushed their ambition to the point where the community decided to let them take part in the World Surf League and hold the event at the infamous "Jaws."
One of the competitors Bianca Valenti said that the Pe'ahi Challenge was another symbol of a big step forward for all women in the sport. She also told the media that by watching Hillary Clinton's concession speech, women are inspired on how important it was for them to really stand up now more than ever to bring the best of equal rights in the society.
According to ABC News, though wave heights were slightly smaller for this year's event, all the women surfer found themselves riding waves over 20 meters. The group of women surfers rode boards designed for the infamous "Jaws" dangerous conditions and were fitted with inflatable vests which can prevent surfers from being held under water after being wiped out by the waves.
Paige Alms used her local knowledge to smash Justine Dupont and Felicity Palmateer in the final and claimed the first woman World Surf League. The Hawaiian found the optimal position in the lineup and got the best waves of the 60-minute heat.
Paige Alms said in the interview that she still feels like that the World Surf League Pe'ahi Challenge was like a dream and she can't even believe that it would happen. It was a blessing to be out there with a couple of girls competing at the World Surf League and that was very special for them.
