Rip Curl, a classic American surf brand, has come under fire for including a transgender boarder in an effort to promote women’s surfing.
As part of Rip Curl Women’s Meet The Local Heroes of Western Australia promotion, 44-year-old Sasha Lowerson appeared on the social media platform on Thursday.
It comes shortly after Rip Curl apparently fired former model advisor Bethany Hamilton, one of the most well-known surfers in the world, for her opposition to trans people participating in women’s sports.
After a decision allowing transgender athletes to compete in children’s competitions in February of last year, Ms. Hamilton threatened to boycott the World Surf League. Despite losing her left arm in a 2003 shark attack, Hamilton has since resumed professional surfing.
After Seafolly was criticized last year for working with non-binary influencer Deni Todorovi and Moana Bikini featured a male model in a dress this week, Rip Curl is just the latest Aussie brand to infuriate followers over gender issues.
Professional surfer Ms. Lowerson discussed how surfing in WA had influenced her life in a Rip Curl social media post from August of last year.
On Wednesday, she continued the conversation by saying, “Sometimes it’s not even the actual surf, but rather the journey itself, the conversations we have in the car while driving along the long, straight roads here in WA, and the fire afterwards.”
“I love the saying ‘Friends grow on the surf.'” ”
However, Rip Curl fans who think Ms. Lowerson shouldn’t be competing alongside athletes who were born women reacted negatively to the post.
“I competed in school. It hurts because women can’t participate in men’s sports and succeed. We are not created in the same way as men. Provide trans their own category,” one commenter wrote.
“Yes, I agree with Bethany Hamilton in this regard. Not good,” remarked another.
“Rip Curl Women was created because you wanted a place where women could connect and stand on an equal footing. It’s about acknowledging our differences, not about being excluded,” another person wrote.
One irate writer titled “Unhappy Rip Curl.” Good luck to all the adult surfers who are currently competing.
Mia Waite, a fellow surfer, responded to the post by writing, “Thanks! Sasha and I have competed for a few years. I have no trouble competing in the same division as her! The complainers just don’t know how to surf.”
“She’s a brilliant surfer and made it to where she is on her particular journey,” according to another Ms. Lowerson fan. “Before you throw her off and become angry, why don’t you ask her questions about who she is and her life story?”
Ms. Lowerson previously discussed her hesitation to enter the transgender surfing market with Daily Mail Australia, citing “fears of refusal and even the threat of violence.”
She claimed that surfing prevented her from transitioning because the old guard was so masculine, racist, and homophobic.
“I stopped surfing for six weeks when I started transitioning. I was ready to leave it behind if I wanted to be truly happy.
“To think that the thing holding me back was something that gave me so much passion and freedom was really horrible and difficult to deal with.”
The proud Australian eventually rose to become the first trans professional surfer in history, though.
Rip Curl and Sasha Lowerson have been contacted by Daily Mail Australia for comment.
Nearly a month after Seafolly met the same fate for working with non-binary celebrity Deni Todorovi, clothing company Moana Bikini was criticized for sharing footage of male models wearing women’s swimsuits. This led to the Rip Curl controversy.
Body-positive influencer Karina Irby’s Moana Bikini posted an Instagram video of model Jake Young strutting about in a white one-piece dress worth $130 on Saturday.
The caption of the post read, “Obsessed with this look,” and Jake was modeling a size small as a “Moana babe.”
Numerous angry customers have since left comments on the videos, many of whom claim that Moana Bikini “allows men to intrude on women’s spaces.”
Deni, who uses they/them pronouns and self-identifies as non-binary, posted a picture of themselves posing in sea green bikini tops with matching bottoms near Bondi Beach on Instagram, sparking the Seafolly story.
Deni casually wrote under the picture, “This is the first time iconic Australian swim giants @seafollyaustralia have worked with a transgender ambassador/brand companion.”
Afterwards, they changed their message to read, “We made history today.” “The renowned Australian swim companies @seafollyaustralia have collaborated with a Trans person for the first time.”
The company, which had previously used celebrities like Miranda Kerr and Gigi Hadid in its glamorous campaigns, received a lot of backlash after the image, including calls to boycott it.
Eventually, Seafolly asserted that Todorovi was not a brand ambassador and that they were merely “special guests” at the company’s World Pride event in Sydney.
