Malia Manuel, FS lip slide, Backdoor

She might be Hawaiian grace personified but ain’t nuthin’ feminine about his reo. Check the height of the spray and the extension of the fins on this Backdoor coping. You can bet there’s more than a couple of envious Y chromosomes checking this shot out right now.  Ranked 7th in the world, Hawaiian pro Malia Manuel is one of the rising stars of women’s surfing, combining a sharp rail game with speedy transitions and considerable power for her lythe frame. Recalls photographer, Morgan Massen of this shot: “Her first wave , she drops in effortlessly, banks it vertical and absolutely smashes the lip. It was exhilarating to watch a girl surf that well in person. She is part of a new generation of women surfing – one which I will definitely watch closely.” Us too, Morgan. Us too.

Photo: Morgan Massen