On the heels of recent prize money equality issues after an amateur female surfer got paid less than her male counterpart and California officials threatened to grant access to the Mavericks event without equal prize money for males and females, on Wednesday the World Surf League (WSL) announced that it will award equal prize money to male and female athletes for every WSL controlled event in the 2019 season and beyond. This makes them the first and only U.S.-based global sports league (and among the first internationally) to achieve prize money equality.
We are pleased to announce that from 2019, equal prize money will be awarded to male and female athletes across all WSL controlled events. The WSL is proud to be the first American-based global sports league to offer gender pay equality. #CatchThisWave A post shared by World Surf League (@wsl) on Sep 5, 2018 at 12:08pm PDT
“Today is a huge moment for the sport of surfing,” said WSL Commissioner Kieren Perrow. “With our 2019 calendar, new season and dates – we are proud to confirm the new prize money equality will be in effect. This covers all WSL-controlled events: the Championship Tour, the Longboard Tour, the World Junior Championships and includes the Big Wave Tour. “We will be working with our partners at competitions where we don’t control prize money, such as certain Qualifying Series events, to achieve equality as soon as possible.”
Photo of the surfers during the press conference at the Surf Ranch Pro practice. Photo: Courtesy of Cestari/WSL Six-time World Champion Stephanie Gilmore said, “This is incredible, and I am thrilled. The prize money is fantastic, but the message means even more.”
Stephanie Gilmore at the 2018 Corona Bali Protected. Photo: Courtesy of Kelly Cestari/WSL In an interview with The Players’ Tribune, Gilmore said that for years, she felt like women’s surfing was just a sideshow as she struggled to prove her value in stride of receiving equal pay. She went on to say, “I really hope this decision can be the start of a much bigger movement not only in sports, but eventually in society.” “I think that this decision by the WSL is a message to society – that equal prize money should be the standard,” 11-time World Champ Kelly Slater told The Players’ Tribune. “It should be the norm.”
For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!
More News
Famed Yosemite Climber Zach Milligan Dies After Ice Climbing Fall
Skiing in Japan Is Back Again—and the Powder Was Worth the Wait
10 Winter Hikes to Keep You Trailblazing All Year Round
The North Face Introduces Athlete Development Program
Ocean Rower Fiann Paul Completes Most Grueling Expedition
Snowmobile-accessed Ski Touring in Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana
All Stories
More Videos
The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More
Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey
Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City
On the heels of recent prize money equality issues after an amateur female surfer got paid less than her male counterpart and California officials threatened to grant access to the Mavericks event without equal prize money for males and females, on Wednesday the World Surf League (WSL) announced that it will award equal prize money to male and female athletes for every WSL controlled event in the 2019 season and beyond.
This makes them the first and only U.S.-based global sports league (and among the first internationally) to achieve prize money equality.
We are pleased to announce that from 2019, equal prize money will be awarded to male and female athletes across all WSL controlled events. The WSL is proud to be the first American-based global sports league to offer gender pay equality. #CatchThisWave A post shared by World Surf League (@wsl) on Sep 5, 2018 at 12:08pm PDT
We are pleased to announce that from 2019, equal prize money will be awarded to male and female athletes across all WSL controlled events. The WSL is proud to be the first American-based global sports league to offer gender pay equality. #CatchThisWave
A post shared by World Surf League (@wsl) on Sep 5, 2018 at 12:08pm PDT
“Today is a huge moment for the sport of surfing,” said WSL Commissioner Kieren Perrow. “With our 2019 calendar, new season and dates – we are proud to confirm the new prize money equality will be in effect. This covers all WSL-controlled events: the Championship Tour, the Longboard Tour, the World Junior Championships and includes the Big Wave Tour.
“We will be working with our partners at competitions where we don’t control prize money, such as certain Qualifying Series events, to achieve equality as soon as possible.”
Six-time World Champion Stephanie Gilmore said, “This is incredible, and I am thrilled. The prize money is fantastic, but the message means even more.”
In an interview with The Players’ Tribune, Gilmore said that for years, she felt like women’s surfing was just a sideshow as she struggled to prove her value in stride of receiving equal pay. She went on to say, “I really hope this decision can be the start of a much bigger movement not only in sports, but eventually in society.”
“I think that this decision by the WSL is a message to society – that equal prize money should be the standard,” 11-time World Champ Kelly Slater told The Players’ Tribune. “It should be the norm.”
For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!
More News
Famed Yosemite Climber Zach Milligan Dies After Ice Climbing Fall
Skiing in Japan Is Back Again—and the Powder Was Worth the Wait
10 Winter Hikes to Keep You Trailblazing All Year Round
The North Face Introduces Athlete Development Program
Ocean Rower Fiann Paul Completes Most Grueling Expedition
Snowmobile-accessed Ski Touring in Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana
All Stories
More Videos
The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More
Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey
Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City
More News
Famed Yosemite Climber Zach Milligan Dies After Ice Climbing Fall
Skiing in Japan Is Back Again—and the Powder Was Worth the Wait
10 Winter Hikes to Keep You Trailblazing All Year Round
The North Face Introduces Athlete Development Program
Ocean Rower Fiann Paul Completes Most Grueling Expedition
Snowmobile-accessed Ski Touring in Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana
All Stories
More Videos
The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More
Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey
Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City
More News
Famed Yosemite Climber Zach Milligan Dies After Ice Climbing Fall
Skiing in Japan Is Back Again—and the Powder Was Worth the Wait
10 Winter Hikes to Keep You Trailblazing All Year Round
The North Face Introduces Athlete Development Program
Ocean Rower Fiann Paul Completes Most Grueling Expedition
Snowmobile-accessed Ski Touring in Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana
All Stories
More Videos
The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More
Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey
Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City
More Videos
The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More
Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey
Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City
More Videos
The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More
Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey
Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City
