Girls Rule The (Surf) World

The Gen Z girl surf hype is real. More than one million eyeballs consumed Sierra Kerr’s ‘best ever’ she hucked during the Vans Stab High finale.

When Caity Simmers premiered ‘Toasted’ at Moose Lodge, within 20 minutes, our 300-head limit was met and a line wrapped the building. Aspiring Ladybirds watched Caity toss nonchalant air revs and elbows to the drum bass of Doll Riot. The youngsters’ smiles embraced a new era of female content—guided by progression and authenticity.

After the party, Caity told Stab “I feel like when you’re a girl, you’re kind of pressured to try to be a model and all that shit. But it’s getting better and it’s cool to see more freedom in women’s surfing”

Despite a glistening atmosphere, there still aren’t enough female surf films. So when a piece graces our inbox, we tend to covet. In honor of international women’s day, we’ve compiled a list of (relatively) recent female-focused surf films to adore.

Surfing – An All Girls Surf Film

Australia’s finest.

Dan Scott x Stephanie Gilmore, Nikki Van Dijk, Tyler Wright, Macy Callaghan and Dimity Stoyle highlight Snapper in it’s most alluring state. Constant pulses and a charcuterie board of lip lines. Each flavor will speak to a different part of your palette—from Steph’s graceful grazes to Tyler’s fire hose downcarves.

Toasted

Caity Simmers’ premiere surf project, featuring Sierra Kerr, Molly Picklum, and Bella Kenworthy. Caity edited and directed, you raved, we shared. Click here for an ode to ‘Toasted,’ where Caity talks about personal project problems, machete wars, and the rise of female surf content.  

Leave A Message

Directed by Ladybird dad Jason Kenworthy ‘Leave A Message’ is one of Nike’s last gifts to the surf world. The star studded list includes: Carissa Moore, Lakey Peterson, Laura Enever, Coco Ho, Byrne-Wickey Monyca, and Malia Manuel. The whimsical travel scenes, groundbreaking surf art, and bops will make you want to re-tape that old C. Moore poster to your drywall.

MALIA

The Morgan Maassen x Malia Manuel project pairs cinematic glory and effortless rail work. Enter Malia’s natural world, illuminated with charming green and archipelagic diversity. Click here to read the story.

Frankie 🙂

Frankie Harrer’s clip, created by Quinn Graham, tastefully documents the 25-year-old mom from Malibu locking in deep at Teahupoo and novel South American lefts. Frankie’s maternal leave only served to invigorate her ambition as one of our few female free surfers. And Yara, her 1-year-old baby, already got a few stamps on her passport. You can read the Frankie interview here 

The Electric Acid Surfboard Test – Starring Steph Gilmore.

The Queen, 8x World Champ, and Stab’s Surfer of the Year—Miss Stephanie Louise Gilmore. 

Shot in Mozambique, and filmed by Stab‘s arsenal of lensmen — Dylan Roberts, Tom Jennings, and Sam Moody, with Alan Van Gysen capturing all the still-life magic along the way. 

Watch Stephanie’s beauty of a surfboard test here.

Macaroni In The Pot

Jaleesa Vincent’s lovenote to laybacks, lefts, and pussy power is delivered in ‘Macaroni In The Pot.’ The 9-minute mirage is a playful, neon melange of animation, poetry, music, and mesmerizing surfing. You can read about Jaleesa’s trip here.

The Moana Jones-Wong Story

Most people don’t know the North Shore native’s unconventional path that led to her coronation. Watch the profile of the Pupukean south claw who scrapped her way from being no-one, to becoming the Queen of Pipeline. Watch here.

The Electric Acid Surfboard Test, Starring Coco Ho

In our fourth attempt to demystify ‘Alternative Surfboards” Stab sent Coco Ho and Mason Ho to the land of lukewarm water and tapered righthanders. Coco danced upon the feathering walls, and kinda made us want to give up on our pointy quivers. Watch Ep. 1 on Stab Premium here.

Vacation Island

Can’t forget when Stephanie Gilmore and Morgan Maassen created four minutes of highly appealing surfing. The then 6x World Champion hit Rocky Rights with an infectious smile and unwavering style.

Above hungry coral, Steph glides — and delivers some of the most pleasurable moments of surfing captured on film.