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Inspirational surf star Bethany Hamilton has threatened to boycott the World League of Surf tour after it changed rules allowing transgender athletes to compete against women without consulting current surfers.
Hamilton only has one arm after a shark attack when she was just 13 years old, but she overcame that serious injury to become a popular and successful competitor on the WSL Tour.
Hamilton with his sons Tobias, Wesley and Micah. The mother of three and champion surfer has challenged the WSL over her transgender policy, saying she did not consult athletes.
The WSL has published the International Surfing Association (ISA) transgender policy for all its tours which will allow all transgender athletes to compete in women’s competitions.
It comes after a push from athletes like Western Australian transgender surfer Sarah Jane Lowerson, who recently took first place in the Women’s Open and Women’s Logger competitions at the West Coast Suspensions State Longboard and Logger Championships in WA.
“Being the first transgender woman to compete in surfing hasn’t been an easy road emotionally,” she told Surfing Western Australia after the event.
“But the amount of support I’ve received has been phenomenal and I’m so grateful to be involved, welcomed and embraced within the longboarding community in Australia.”
Sarah Jane Lowerson is Australia’s first transgender professional surfer and said she worked with the WSL on its new policy for transgender athletes.
Australian champion surfer Kelly Slater believes transgender athletes should have their own division in the WSL
Australian surfing legend Kelly Slater has also previously called for a dedicated transgender division.
Hamilton posted a video on social media criticizing the new transgender policy and accusing the WSL of posting it without consulting the athletes.
“Today I want to address the news that the World Surfing League has officially made the rule that people with male bodies known as transgender athletes can officially compete in the women’s division,” he said.
‘The World Surfing League says it is following the Olympic guidelines.
‘While addressing this topic, I want to be clear, I strive to have love for all of humanity, regardless of differences.
“But this worries me as a professional athlete who has been competing in World Surfing League events for the last 15 years or more. And I feel like I have to speak up and defend those in position who feel like they can’t say anything about this.
I think a lot of the girls currently on tour don’t support this new rule and are afraid of being ostracized if they speak up… so here I go.”
Hamilton has proven to be an inspirational athlete to many after overcoming a serious shark attack injury to become a professional one-armed surfer.
Hamilton of Hawaii competes in the 2019 VANS US Open of Surfing at Huntington State Beach in California
Hamilton then asked a series of questions that he wants the WSL to answer, including:
‘How is this rule developing in other sports, such as swimming, running and MMA?’ she asked.
Have any of the current World Surf League surfers been asked what their thoughts and opinions are on this new rule before it was passed?
‘Should there be a conversation with the 17 women and all the men on tour before a rule change like this?
‘Is a hormone level an honest and accurate description of whether someone is male or female? Is it as simple as this?
Who is driving this big change?
‘Is this better than the sport of surfing?
‘Is this better for women in surfing? If so, how?
‘How did the person who decided these hormonal rules come to the conclusion that twelve months of testosterone testing makes it a fair and legal change?
‘Why is the WSL statement about trans women competing with women and yet no mention of converted women competing with men?’
Hamilton of Hawaii in action at the Midori Pro in Newcastle during a World Surf League event in Australia
The WSL said the policy could be changed over time subject to feedback from stakeholders, including the athletes themselves.
“The WSL is working hard to balance fairness and fairness, and it’s important that a policy be put in place,” said WSL head of esports Jessi Miley-Dyer.
“We recognize that policy may need to evolve over time as we receive feedback and see new research in the field.”