Red Bull Doesn’t Need to Give These Women Wings
A peek into the lives of five badass women participating in Red Bull’s Magnitude Big-Wave Surfing Event
Olivia Xerras ‘24
Surfers wait between sets at Red Bull Magnitude at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on 9 January, 2022. [Photo] Christa Funk / Red Bull Content Pool
Why fly when you can drop a minimum of twelve feet into Hawaiian waves that, if surfed with enough style and precision, lead to thousands of dollars in prize money?
Thirty-two female superstars in big wave surfing are risking their lives to be competitors in the Red Bull Magnitude Big-Wave Surfing Competition. Surfing began on Dec. 1st and will run through Feb. 28th.
The event, which is in its second year, aims to shift narratives in big wave surfing.
“Designed to provide the best women big-wave surfers on Earth equal opportunity in the water, Red Bull Magnitude is a reimagining of traditional big-wave surf contests,” reads the contest’s event page.
There already seems to be a feeling in the air that’s different than most years. As historically male-dominated as surfing has been, thirty-two of the best women surfers have risen to this challenge to showcase exactly why their surfing platform deserves to be brought to light.
We caught up with five of the women leading the charge at Red Bull Magnitude – and they truly prove that gals can rip too.
The Lineup
Click and hover to read about these badass ladies
(1) What prompted your entrance into big wave surfing and how has this style of the sport changed you as an individual?
Michaela Fregonese
“I have always loved big waves since the start. I preferred big waves instead of small waves. When I was younger I felt insecure about life, but in the water, I felt strong and I felt very safe and brave.”
Silvia Nabuco
“I didn't look for big waves, they looked for me. I think I was ready from day one (growing up). My father has a sailing boat so the connection with the ocean came from since I was born…”
“[Starting out] I came on a trip to Hawaii…with friends and they were taking me to these cool places. Suddenly I was surfing from sunrise to sunset during the weekends and surfing like twelve-foot (waves) and not even thinking too much about the big waves or how dangerous these waves were.”
Maddie Anzivino
“My big wave journey began while I was grieving the unexpected loss of my mother. My surf sessions turned into something else, I would stay out for hours not wanting to be on land to deal with reality, not wanting to look at my phone or talk to people. I knew big waves scared me, but I started asking myself why and digging into what was the difference between my friends who would paddle out at big Waimea. So I started paddling out regardless and those first few larger waves I started to catch made me so happy, gave me more hope in life while I felt defeated or hopeless. I remember driving back home after those sessions with a big smile on my face thinking, ‘Wow, this is me. This is what I want.’”
Delia Bense-Kang
“I grew up and learned to surf in Northern California where the waves are often "big" so I've always been comfortable in larger surf. When I was about 20 I started to realize how much I enjoyed surfing big waves. I found myself seeking out days and spots that would be big and slowly started pushing my limits. I love how big wave surfing makes you really be in tune with yourself and trust yourself. I think that's how it's changed me the most. It's taught me to have confidence in all situations, not just surfing. It's also taught me to be respectful of the ocean.”
Polly Ralda
“I always wanted to surf big waves, even before I knew what a big wave looked like. I am from Guatemala and there are no big waves over there. I think I knew since the beginning of my big wave journey that big wave surfing was so powerful that it was going to shape me. Big wave surfing has made me a much braver person in and out of the water.”
(2) What does your day-to-day look like as a participant in this competition? What does your daily routine look like and how do you prepare for each day regardless of swells or ocean conditions?
Fregonese
“As a participant in this competition we are always keeping an eye on the wave forecast, whenever the swell approaches it is time to be prepared, decide the place where the session will be, get the equipment ready…A day of training consists of a lot of aerobic training, apnea, swimming, surfing in any condition, but the day before the swell I like to rest.”
Nabuco
Polly Ralda [Photo] Christa Funk
“The lifestyle of surfing is unique because you get to travel to these amazing spots and meet amazing people. Before (prior athletic competitions like triathlons) I would compete and go back (home), but surfing was taking me to a place and (making me) stay for a while so this was so different. Ended up changing my life.”
“You learn to deal with different personalities and people. In surfing, you have to learn to share, wait for your time, learn that the wave comes to you, not you being competitive towards the wave.”
“In my daily routine I try to do two sports a day or two sessions of surf or one session of surf, and I go with some sort of training or yoga. I go for a swim (when I’m not by the ocean), bike, and do more training. When I’m at the beach I’m always surfing, basically, that’s my preparation for those big waves.”
Anzivino
“As a competitor, there is no day-to-day for me. On the north shore, the surf is very small and flat, so that is the training season. Cardio, light lifting, swimming, paddling. During the winter, any swell that comes up I need to be in the water. To avoid overworking my body I focus more on my diet, surfing, swell tracking, meditating, and self-care.”
Bense-Kang
“This competition is a little tricky for me because I live in California so I have to plan my trips to Hawaii carefully. Before the last swell, I was looking at the charts multiple times per day to decide when and where to go. I ended up nailing a swell one and surfed the opening day at Waimea Bay! (In) the days leading up to the swell I was doing my best to eat well, get good sleep, stretch, train, surf, practice breath holds, and meditate. It felt really good to have a daily routine.”
Ralda
“When I'm off-season I take training seriously. I train for functional training three times a week and either surf, swim, or run daily. I have a mental coach that I see once a week and I also have a surf trainer I also see once a week. During the months of no waves, I free-dive every day instead of surfing.”
(3) What is it like being a woman in big wave surfing? Have you experienced any gender discrimination? Are there any differences you notice in the styles of surfing between men and women?
Fregonese
“Unfortunately I've been through some unpleasant situations for being a woman in a sport where 95% are men! But it never let me down.”
“The difference between men’s and women’s (surfing) is because women are a little at a disadvantage when paddling, men paddle harder, and can get into the wave easier for that reason.”
Nabuco
“Maybe discrimination (came from the fact) [that] I was Brazilian, under the radar something like that. It’s not always gendered. It might've been because I’m from a South American country or I’m older or don't have a sponsor, for me it was everything together. But I survived it too. This kind of discrimination, I don’t mind, I don’t care.”
“The difference between the styles, men, and women, they are heavier, they are stronger, and they paddle faster to get into the wave. The girls are getting so much better now; working out with the right equipment. They are getting there. They were ahead of us in time, and the number of guys (out there) more than women, the years they practiced compared to us, that's the difference.”
Anzivino
“Despite the fact that there is definitely discrimination in the water, I feel big wave surfing is a little different. We are all out in the big surf, and we all need to look out for one another. If someone gets smoked we all look back to make sure their head pops up regardless of how we feel about each other on land.”
Bense-Kang
“In my experience, most people are super cool and supportive of me as a woman big wave surfer in and out of the water. There are of course exceptions to that. Sometimes I feel the pressure to catch a good wave to prove to the guys in the water that I know what I'm doing. Once they see me catch a wave I get more respect. In big wave surfing, we're all in it together, we all have to look out for each other. It doesn't matter what your gender is, that person might save your life.”
Ralda
“Being a woman in a male-dominated sport could be an issue for some. But I'm used to it. I don't pay attention to the gender thing anymore. Over the years I notice that resistance comes from males and females equally. I do what I like doing and I try not to pay attention to anything else. I'm pretty sure male big wave surfers also experience some sort of judgment that I don't know about.”
“My solution for any resistance coming from male surfers or female surfers is just to focus on whatever I'm doing and avoid all outside distractions. There are differences between male and female surfers and I think they just have to do with human anatomy.”
(4) Who is someone you idolize, surfer or not, that has brought you to your success today?
Fregonese
“I am very grateful to everyone who helped me on my career from my family to my sponsors, friends, etc... but there is someone special who is Jorge Pacelli who pulled me from tow in the best barrel of my life at Jaws, where I was got second place on the Big Wave Awards and third on the overall best performance in 2020.”
Nabuco
“I didn’t idolize anybody but I got inspired by professional Brazilian male surfers. These guys are surfing these massive waves and that was very inspiring.”
An overview of the competition at Red Bull Magnitude at Outer Reef, Oahu, Hawaii, USA on 22 January, 2022. [Photo] Sarah Lee / Red Bull Content Pool
“There was this guy I kind of idolized. It was a Formula 1 Racer. He died while he was racing. His name was Ayrton Senna. He was an idol for the whole of Brazil. He was very charismatic and very competitive. He was a name outside of surfing.”
Anzivino
“Keala Kennelly is someone who I have looked up to since my first days of surfing as a 10-year-old. She rips at smaller waves, charges big waves, KK just goes for it.”
Bense-Kang
“I idolize many big wave surfers, men, and women. I especially idolize the women who pioneered the sport and made me realize I could do it too. Rochelle Ballard, Keala Kennely, Paige Alms to name a few. On the guy’s side, I look up to Greg Long, Mark Healy, and Ian Walsh, again to name a few.”
Ralda
“Someone I idolize could be Hawaiian legend Eddie Aikau. He had a very interesting story. If you are a good surfer that surfs good, congratulations!! But, what matters to me is what kind of person you are when you are not surfing.”
(5) What separates the best surfers in the competition? What are your personal goals come ranking time in March?
Fregonese
“I think what separates the athletes is dedication, training, commitment, wave choice, and calmness at the time of competition!”
“My goal is to win the championship! To be the big wave world champion!”
Nabuco
“I think what separates the best surfers are the level of confidence, the training, of course, the mental, spiritual, everything together.”
“My personal goal is already achieved. I had an accident in July, I was going to Indonesia and I discovered I had a stone in my kidney. So I went for surgery and the doctor ended up perforating my intestine. I stayed thirty-six hours without my intestine perforated and I almost died. In the end, I had to open the big scar on my belly. I couldn't eat at this time and got very weak but I started recovering in September. Didn't even imagine myself surfing those waves anymore or for the season at least.”
“Then I started to recover and so when I arrived here (Red Bull Magnitude) usually I arrived here in November, but because of this, I arrived here at the beginning of December. I went straight for ten-foot waves, and the second day I went to this reef I surfed the other day and I felt good. I didn’t miss anything on balance, or reading the waves…This was the best gift for me…a goal to achieve from the beginning. Now the rest is a bonus. I’m already super happy, like a dream for me to be surfing these waves again after that experience.”
Silvia Nabuco [Photo] Redbull
Anzivino
“The difference between the girls who win and the girls who are more at the bottom are the ones who want it badly enough. If they might not make the drop they go anyway and take the beating rather than pulling back. My personal goal at the end of all this is to give it my all and know I caught the wave of my life.”
Bense-Kang
“My personal goal was to catch a few waves at Waimea so I've already accomplished that! Now, I hope to be able to go to Hawaii for another swell and have another go at Waimea or one of the outer reefs. Even being in this contest is something I never thought would happen so I'm just stoked to be part of it and be representing the ladies. I think something that separates people is experience, wave knowledge, and just reading the ocean. Big wave surfing is all about that one ride so being in the right place at the right time is key.”
Ralda
“The best surfer in the competition is the surfer that still enjoys what she is doing. Easier said than done. My goal for this year is to rank in the top five in the WSL, big wave tour and get an invitation for next year's Eddie Aikau Invitational.”
One ride at a time, these superhero women are taking charge of their aspirations. The excitement in their words is undeniable, and, truthfully, I feel so lucky to hear from each of their amazing stories and understand–at least slightly–what a professional athlete is thinking mid-way through a serious competition like Red Bull Magnitude.
You can stay up to date on the competition through Red Bull Magnitide’s website and live streaming platform now through the end of February before the judging begins in March.
The Redbull Magnitude Competition takes place on the lands of the Kānaka Maoli peoples.
