PALMATEER HAPPY TO FACE TERROR OF JAWS
BIG-WAVE Gold Coast surfer Felicity Palmateer admits she sometimes used to wonder if her life meant less than a male surfer when she competed.
Now she knows it doesn’t. When Palmateer surfs at Jaws in Hawaii on the Big Wave Tour, or even in the US at Mavericks – the former men-only event now open to women for the first time – she will be rewarded for her efforts the same as her male counterparts.
“This, women at Mavericks, is a major breakthrough, and the fact the WSL announced equal prizemoney a couple of months ago is just inspiring,’’ she said. “It makes me feel proud to be a part of women’s surfing. They are making a point and hopefully other sports will also follow suit.
“On the Big Wave Tour we are risking our lives surfing the same as the men. I used to wonder does my life means less (before equal pay was introduced), you know what I mean?
“It’s a good time to be part of surfing. I thought it would eventually happen but I didn’t know if it would be during my career.’’
If activated, the women’s competition at Mavericks will see 10 women surfing two semi-finals and then a final on the same day as the men’s competition with US $20,000 for the winners.
While confirmed on the invite list for the Big Wave Tour Pe’ahi Challenge at Jaws, Palmateer has been named as an alternate for Mavericks along with fellow Australian Laura Enever.
This means the Aussie pair may not be part of history when women surf in their first competition at the famed site.