World Surf League brings in gender equity in prizes
SYDNEY: World surfing is riding the gender equality wave to pay parity with the backing of two of the sport’s greatest male and female champions.
The World Surf League (WSL) announced it would award equal prize money for men and women across elite tour events in 2019 and beyond as the season schedule was revealed.
Ahead of taking to the water at California’s Surf Ranch Pro tomorrow, Australian great Steph Gilmore said the decision was a vote of confidence for the women’s format.
‘‘The prize money is fantastic, but the message means even more,’’ the sixtime world champion and world No 1 said.
‘‘I hope this serves as a model for other sports, global organisations and society as a whole.’’
Eleventime men’s champion Kelly Slater said the move to becoming the first USbased global sports league with equal prize money would set a powerful precedent.
‘‘The women on the tour deserve this change,’’ the Ameri can surfing legend said.
‘‘The female WSL athletes are equally committed to their craft as the male athletes and should be paid the same.’’
Pay parity will be covered across next season’s championship, longboard, junior and big wave tours.
The WSL plans to extend equal prize money to other secondtier events as soon as possible. — AAP