It’s a simple fact that we run more action shots of male riders in this magazine than we do of female riders, and by some measure.
Why? Well, we simply receive less female pro rider content than we do of their male peers. So, as we had a little time off over Christmas, we got pondering – why exactly is this the case, and what does this mean? And should we even be asking this question at such an early time in the sport’s development?
We spoke with some of the highest profile female wing riders in the world today to get their take on female representation in the sport, whether there are issues at play, and if so, how best to address them…
BOWIEN VAN DER LINDEN
Bowien, you’ve been smashing it on the GWA tour this past season, coming 1st in freestyle and 2nd in race for 2021. We assume you’re aiming for top of the podium in both this year?!
Thanks! Yeah it’s been a crazy year doing the whole tour and I’m so happy with my results. Next year I’m looking forward to the tour and definitely aiming for the podium again, especially in the surf-freestyle discipline. But it’s definitely not a given to be on the podium again next year, everybody’s level has been increasing so much in the last months and the sport is so new. Maybe we'll have some great female riders who haven’t competed yet entering the tour!
Where are you right now, and how’s the training for the 2022 season going?
Unfortunately I have not been training so much since I left Tarifa at the end of December. Right now I’m at home in Noordwijk, in The Netherlands. Due to the tour I have been away from home quite a bit in the last few months and as I am a full-time student I really needed to do some catching up at home. But I’m looking forward to going to my usual winter destination, Cape Town, to train for the ‘22 season in March.
Would you like to see more
