San Francisco surfer Bianca Valenti was among the millions of fans who enjoyed the recent World Cup soccer tournament and the fact that the United States women — so bold and well-spoken in their campaign against gender discrimination — were heard so clearly around the world.
On a smaller but no less relevant scale, Valenti is making her own inroads against injustice. As the leading spokesperson representing the Committee for Equity in Women’s Surfing, she led the successful fight for equal prize money at the Mavericks big-wave contest — and she took another large step in Mexico this week.
The annual Puerto Escondido Cup was held Monday at the spot widely known as the world’s most dangerous beach break, featuring waves in the 12-to-20-foot range. Valenti won the event last year, while lamenting a glaring disparity in prize money between the men’s and women’s events.
This year’s contest looked to offer more of the same — a $7,000 purse for the men and $2,500 for the women. But Valenti, acting quickly in the days leading up to the event, set up a GoFundMe account to help make up the difference.
“We reached our goal in 36 hours,” she said Wednesday. “We actually went way beyond it. The organizers (Surf Open League, a series of events run in Mexico) were totally open to trying something new.”
By the time the contest began, the men’s and women’s purses were announced at an equal $16,200, with $7,200 each to the winners — who happened to be Valenti, probably the best pure surfer among all the women’s big-wave standouts, and Maui’s Billy Kemper, a former champion of the World Surf League’s Big Wave tour. Valenti went against a solid field including two of the best from Hawaii, Keala Kennelly and Emi Erickson.
“I know it’s not a lot of money compared to what people are getting in other sports, but it’s not about the money,” Valenti said. “It’s about respect and appreciation for all human beings. It was so awesome watching Megan Rapinoe and the soccer players making their speeches. Now we’re feeling the same kind of support. After our Mexico event, kids and locals around town were lined up to get pictures of us. I feel like we’re all celebrating as we go.”
For a number of reasons, some of them political, the Mavericks contest has been held only once since 2014. Upon assuming control of the contest two years ago, the WSL was reluctant to balance the prize money after years of disparity. But in an abrupt change of heart — in large part because of pressure from Valenti’s committee — the WSL announced in September that the distribution would be equal not just at Mavericks (where men and women will compete on the same day for the first time), but on the conventional world circuit and other WSL-orchestrated tours.
“Now we just have to have the contest,” Valenti said with a laugh. “I think this is the year.”
Bruce Jenkins is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: bjenkins@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Bruce_Jenkins1
Recent Comments