And pressure builds for Kelly Slater’s “trans-only” division…
It ain’t easy being what is loosely called a progressive organisation.
The World Surf League, one of the first sports to deliver equal prize money for men and women, gay pride flags on jerseys etc, has been hit by a fusillade from its own fans following yesterday’s decision to run the women’s quarter finals in two-foot waves, saving today’s vastly better conditions for the men, and its announcement that biological men are officially welcome in the gal’s division if they can tone down the T.
Despite the trans-thing being a bit of a chimera, ain’t no dudes with tits lining up to take on Carissa Moore and co, fans have reacted poorly to the move.
Alongside a benign post of gay icon Tyler Wright riding the one good wave that came through yesterday, fans used the forum to express their dismay at both decisions.
Shaking my head… because on paper, your telling us that women are just a concept… nothing tangible, unique, precious, … just whatever someone wants. Thought #WSL was at least on the best end of corporate-think… but hell… WSL is just #Pfizer / #Amazon of it’s wine business sector. At least some surfers are speaking up!
I as well as many others are quickly losing interest in this league. I hope you all are listening
Very bad call by WSL directors…. this should not of run, bad for the progression of Women’s surfing!!!!
The WSL apparently chose to identify the waves as 12-15ft today. Cuz they can do that now
The wsl: the Woke Shitty League!
62 years old. Never surfed w a trans. Seen many grifters get rich off climate change. First,ice age then warming, many end of the world predictions come and go to whatever. Just be an environmentalist not an activist …please stop the woke crap.
I’m OK with trans “ women”competing in the WSL, as long as i’m allowed to bet! ‘Yes, I would like to put all my money on the 200 pound “lady” with the mustache, ….I got a feeling about her’!!!!
World Transgender League, you have nothing to do with surfing now, its all about politics
It goes on and on, a confected tale of outrage, a little peek into the ongoing culture wars in the west, a bullying left against a reactionary right, facts bent outta shape, everything a “narrative” and so on.
The WSL was broadsided by some of its biggest stars two days ago when the sport’s most inspirational surfer Bethany Hamilton, one-arm etc, recorded a piece to camera damning the WSL’s new policy on trans-women.
Hamilton agreed with Kelly Slater who called for a trans-only div and said she’d boycott events if it went ahead.
“Speak your truth!” wrote Shane Dorian, who was surfing’s best big-wave surfer until former BFF of Mark Zuckerberg Kai Lenny arrived on the scene.
“Thank you for being brave enough to stand up for what you believe. Don’t listen to people who hurl the word transphobic at anyone who’s beliefs don’t align perfectly with theirs. These are complicated problems with no clear solution. Regardless, there are many people who love and support the trans community who agree with you on these issues…Less than 1% of people think this policy reflects fairness. Quite the opposite”
More, much more, as it cums.
