Published in 2024
321 pages
Pauline Menczer (born 1970) is an Australian surfer. She was Women’s World Champion for Professional Surfing in 1993. In 2018 Menczer was inducted into the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame. Her struggles, and that of other women to compete in a male dominated sport, is part of the movie Girls Can’t Surf. The film’s director Chris Nelius, is lobbying Waverley Council to have a statue of Menczer erected at Bondi beach. In 2022 an image of Menczer was added to the mural of surfers on Bondi beach boardwalk by artist Megan Hales.
What is this book about?
In the 80s and 90s, surf culture was toxic, especially towards women. But Pauline Menczer – a dirt-poor, chronically ill, freckle-faced teen from Bondi – defied insults and intimidation to ride the waves. The reason: she simply loved to surf.
But when Pauline’s determination propelled her onto the pro circuit, her battle for acceptance and equality didn’t end there. The endemic sexism of the industry meant prize money for women was a pittance, while sponsors ignored her because she was gay and didn’t have the beach babe look. Despite these challenges, Pauline became the 1993 World Champion and played a key role in bringing greater equality to the sport.
This is the inspirational story of a true underdog battler, whose fearlessness and grit broke down the door of surfing’s boys’ club for the next generation of women.
