Women Get Their Day At Waimea Bay

We are living on the eve of the Age of Women, and thank Jah for that, amiright? 

Equal pay for equal labor, a female in charge of its (current) governing competitive body, a lady’s division at Mavericks, and now a female take on the most prestigious big wave event in the world, The Eddie—The Red Bull Queen of the Bay. 

The event was announced first last year, with a similar waiting period. But with a disappointing early start to the Hawaiian 2017/18 winter, the event never ran. 

A few of the Queen of the Bay invitees, readying during the opening ceremony. Photo by Amber Mozo.

We’ll let Red Bull take it from here: 

“The world’s best big-wave surfers will gather to challenge for the 2018 Women’s Waimea Bay Championship, after a lack of swell prevented the event from running in 2017,” a press release from the energy drink brand reads. “Red Bull Queen of the Bay returns with a holding period of October 1 through November 21, 2018 and looks to crown the Women’s Waimea Bay Champion in the first-ever all-women big-wave surf competition.  The event honors Hawaiian female surfer, Queen Ka’ahumanu, the first Kuhina Nui, and other powerful Hawaiian women who have worked tirelessly to break down barriers in surfing. Red Bull Queen of the Bay was slated to first run in 2017, but was postponed due to a lack of appropriate swell in the bay.”

“I am very excited that Red Bull Queen of the Bay is coming back this year,” said North Shore first daughter, Emily Erickson (above). “Fingers crossed we get the weather and waves we need to bring this to life at Waimea.” Photo by Amber Mozo.

The North Shore is the mecca for not only big-wave surfing, but for the entire surf world – Waimea
Bay is its grandstand. “It’s really important to me and some of the other girls to show what we can
do. I have a lot of respect for Waimea Bay and the history of women’s surfing,” says Hawaiian
surfer Makani Adric. “You do get an adrenaline rush and it’s a dream to be surfing there.”

“We are honored to be bringing this big wave event to our community,” contest director Betty Depolito says. “We are remembering women who changed the perspective of what women should be. Through their memory we celebrate the current women big wave surfers at Red Bull Queen of the Bay.” Six of the 26 invitees at the Queen of the Bay opening ceremony. Photo by Amber Mozo.

Surfers invited for the 2018 Queen of the Bay:

1. Makani Adric, Hawaii
2. Paige Alms, Hawaii
3. Joana Andrade, Portugal
4. Justine Dupont, France
5. Emily Erickson, Hawaii
6. Michaela Fregonese, Brazil
7. Brittany Gomulka, USA
8. Claudia Goncalves, Brazil
9. Raquel Heckert, Brazil
10. Keala Kennelly, Hawaii
11. Sheila Lee, USA
12. Blake Lefkoe, USA
13. Andrea Moller, Brazil
14. Kelta O’Rourke, Hawaii
15. Nicole Pacelli, Brazil
16. Felicity Palmateer, Australia
17. Emilia Perry, Hawaii
18. Polly Ralda, Guatemala
19. Momo Sakuma, Japan

20. Kiyomi Sheppard, Japan
21. Jamilah Star, USA
22. Jenny Useldinger, USA
23. Bianca Valenti, USA
24. Silvia Nabuco, Brazil
25. Laura Enever, Australia
26. Wrenna Delgado, USA