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Eighteen pioneer women arrive in Hawaii
by George Mojo
17/08/2006:// Eighteen pioneer women pro surfers from the 1960s and '70s arrived from around the Pacific for the Wahine Reunion of the Spirit in Hawaii. These were the women who surfed throughout the Hawaiian Islands and rode the big waves and paved the path for womens pro surfing as we know it today. Ninety-eight percent are still surfing.
These women gathered to celebrate women's surfing world wide, but more importantly to honor and surprise the first-ever women's world champion: Australia's Phyllis O'Donell. At 69, Phyillis is still surfing, boarding and swimming in Australia and Hawaii.
In attendance were former professionals Californian Jericho Poppler Bartlow, Mauii's Nancy Emerson, a former global surf school icon, and Laura Blears - the first woman to win competing against the men in 1974 at Sunset Beach - Oahu's Lynne Boyer, Becky Benson, Jeannie Chesser, Linda Sugihara, Toni Stickler and Susan Walker; Kauai World champion Sharron Weber, Leola Lake, Brenda Scott Rogers, Liz Benavidez (1984 WCT top finisher; and Big Island's Sherri Carney.
Also present were longtime supporters and promoters of women's surfing: Aunty Moku & Uncle Wally Froiseth, Randy Rarick, Bernie Baker, Jack Shipley, Town and Country's director Craig Sugihara, and Mrs. Bebe Benson.
The Reunion of Spirit was sponored by Surfclinics.com, Town and Country Hawaii, Dakine Hawaii and Nancy Emerson School of Surfing on Oahu.
Other World champions unable to attend were World champions Joyce Hoffman, Margo Oberg, Debbie Beacham, Joey Hamaski, Josette Lagardere, Lani Gay, Blanche Benson, Sally Prange, Patti Panicia, Luana Froiseth, Evie Black and MaryLou Drummy.
[Carissa Moore (in yellow) receiving the winner's prize]
[The number of high-rated Australian surf competitions are set to increase]
[Pablo Gutierrez winner of the Superbock Pro]
Hawaiian Carissa Moore won the Roxy Pro Junior surfing in her first ever contest in France
ASP International has announce the inception of their fourth regional branch, ASP Australasia
Twenty-six-year-old Pablo Guitierrez took top honours in the Superbock Pro in Portugal after defeating fellow Portugeuse surfer Eduardo Fernandes in the final