Stab Magazine | Women Get Their Day At Waimea Bay

Live Now — Episode 3 Of Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico

159 Views

Women Get Their Day At Waimea Bay

Ladies who ledge: introducing the Red Bull Queen of the Bay

news // Sep 27, 2018
Words by Stab
Reading Time: 2 minutes

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 

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Expect No Kiss, All Climax At The “World’s Most Perfect Pointbreak”

A Corona Cero Open J-Bay 2025 preview.

Jul 9, 2025

SEOTY: Liam O’Brien stars in ‘Friction of Perception’

"Hopefully I don’t come across like too much of a peanut."

Jul 8, 2025

10 Shapers To Watch In The Next 10 Years — Part One

“It’s like a drug empire, man. Cut the head off the snakes, and more will…

Jul 7, 2025

Mason Ho Joins Ritual Vision, Releases Remix Of Greatest Hits

Dion Agius riffs on the eyewear brand’s U.S. expansion, Ritualistic Tendencies, and the new stars…

Jul 7, 2025

Is It Time For A New Judging Format?

We have a modest proposal — a WSL head judge disagrees.

Jul 7, 2025

Luke Thompson Turns Last Year’s Priority Disaster Into Ballito Gold

+ earns himself a wildcard into Jbay.

Jul 7, 2025

Fiji Has Its First Professional Surfer, And He’s Unbelievable

16-year-old James Kusitino’s incomprehensible tube lounging leads to a deal with Former.

Jul 6, 2025

Laird Hamilton on The Limitations of Being a Purist, Invention vs. Ownership + Why He Never Had a Sticker Deal 

Untold stories from his How Surfers Get Paid interview.

Jul 4, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 3

"The tribe has spoken," Dane Reynolds pronounced, and a surfer's torch was snuffed.

Jul 3, 2025

When Surfer’s Eye Is Actually Cancer

Erin Campbell's brutal journey from surf camp dreams to chemo drops, cryotherapy, and surgical horror.

Jul 3, 2025

Surfing’s 2025 Q2 Report

An assessment of surfing's vital signs throughout the second quarter of 2025.

Jul 2, 2025

What Actually Happened to Occy’s Mad Max Plunger Pool In Yeppoon?

Surf Lakes’ brass talks: internet hecklers, the unplugging of the plunger, and the Tom Curren…

Jul 2, 2025

Poor Goofy Foots 

Data shows that the world is stacked against goofs — they even make 15% less money than…

Jul 1, 2025

Britain’s First Wavepool Has Closed — What Really Happened?

Bankruptcy, social media hackings, debts unpaid — and yet, reopening looms.

Jul 1, 2025

Watch: Was Matt Meola’s Air Actually Better Than Hughie’s?

Watch the full Swatch Nines highlight reel and decide.

Jun 30, 2025

Houshmand Bludgeons Field To Win Second CT — Molly Picklum Tastes Blood, Snatches World #1 In Brazil

You can't argue with big surfing — that's Saquarema wrapped.

Jun 29, 2025

37 Years Old And World #1 — What’s Changed For Jordy Smith?

On rediscovering decades old surfboard templates, having a personality on the CT, and why this…

Jun 27, 2025

Tom Lowe Stars in ‘Let Me Live’

The wild, improbable ascent of Britain’s best big-wave surfer.

Jun 27, 2025
Advertisement