The Best Female Surfers Making Waves in the Industry

6 August 2025

Alright, beach bums and board enthusiasts, grab your wetsuits and wax up your boards—because we’re about to dive (headfirst) into the tubular world of women’s surfing. 🌊

Once upon a time, surfing was seen as a dudes-only club, with salty-haired bros dominating the lineups and the spotlight. But fast forward to today, and holy sea spray—female surfers are not just riding waves; they’re redefining the entire sport, one epic ride at a time. These women are fearless, fierce, and fantastically talented. From carving up world-class barrels to busting out air reverses that make jaws drop, they’ve flipped the script and stolen the show.

So, who are the queens of the curls? Who’s turning tides, crushing comps, and sprinkling stardust on surf culture?

Let’s paddle out and meet the best female surfers making waves in the industry (and yes, pun very much intended).

🌟 Carissa Moore – Hawaii’s Golden Girl

Let’s start with the undisputed GOATess—Carissa Moore. Born and bred in the wave paradise of Honolulu, Carissa surfs like the ocean is her personal playground. A five-time world champion and the first-ever Olympic gold medalist in women’s surfing (Tokyo 2020, baby!), she’s basically the Beyoncé of the surf world. 🌺

What makes Carissa so ridiculously rad? Besides her silky-smooth style and rail-to-rail precision, it’s her attitude. She’s humble, grounded, and rides with the grace of a ballerina but the power of a freight train. Whether she’s tackling the monster walls of Honolua Bay or shredding beach breaks, Carissa is all class and all courage.

Wanna surf like Carissa? Good luck. You’ll need talent, commitment, and probably a direct blessing from Poseidon himself.

🏄‍♀️ Stephanie Gilmore – The Aussie Weapon

Next up, we’ve got the Aussie powerhouse with a smile that could melt an iceberg—Stephanie “Happy Gilmore” Gilmore.

Steph isn’t just one of the best female surfers ever—she's one of the best, period. With 8 (eight!!!) world titles under her board leash, she’s basically the Michael Jordan of surfing, if MJ had blonde beach hair and a killer cutback.

Gilmore’s style is pure poetry. She dances on waves like she’s doing the tango with Poseidon. Her fluidity and finesse are second to none, and her ability to adapt to any break or condition is unreal. And let’s be honest, Steph could probably ride a ripple and make it look epic.

Off the board, she’s a total vibe, advocating for equality and inspiring the next generation of wahine wave warriors. In the lineup and out, Steph is the real deal.

🌊 Caroline Marks – The Young Gun with a Left Hook

Don’t let the baby face fool ya—Caroline Marks is a full-on surf assassin. One of the youngest ever to qualify for the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour, Marks has been making headlines since she was barely old enough to get a driver’s license.

Originally from the sunny shores of Florida (yes, you can catch waves in Florida, calm down), she brings a powerful, aggressive backhand that’s become her signature weapon. She’s like a storm in boardshorts—fast, furious, and unstoppable.

Marks was also part of the historic Olympic debut of surfing, and she’s been consistently climbing the rankings like a squirrel on a caffeine binge. If you're betting on the future of women’s surfing, Caroline’s the ace card in your deck.

🌺 Tatiana Weston-Webb – The BraZilian Hawaiiana

First off, this name sounds like a Bond girl and a surf goddess had a baby. Tatiana Weston-Webb hails from Hawaii but competes under the Brazilian flag—and trust me, she brings the spicy samba and the Aloha spirit in equal measure.

Tatiana isn’t afraid to throw herself over the ledge at death-defying reefs, and her surfing is a beautiful mix of power, flair, and unpredictability. Watching her on a good day is like watching someone dance on thunder—electric, intense, and just straight-up cool.

She’s been a top contender on the Championship Tour, and win or lose, she always throws 110% into every wave like it owes her money. If surfing had a WWE version, Weston-Webb would be headlining WrestleWaveMania.

🌀 Lakey Peterson – The Cali Queen with Killer Carves

Born and raised in sunny California, Lakey Peterson is a whole vibe. She’s quintessentially SoCal—blonde, bronzed, beachy—and her surfing is as stylish as her Instagram grid.

Lakey’s all about power surfing. Her carves are so clean, you’d think she’s pressure-washing the face of the wave. When she's on, she’s ON. Fans love her for her aggressive turns, lightning-fast speed, and that touch of Hollywood glam she brings to the surf scene.

She’s also become a role model for aspiring female surfers, showing that fierce competition and fun can coexist—kind of like a protein smoothie with sprinkles.

🧜‍♀️ Tyler Wright – The Comeback Queen

If there’s an award for “most resilience in a wetsuit,” Tyler Wright wins it, hands down.

The Aussie charger has two world titles under her belt, but her journey hasn’t been a straight shot to the top. From battling illness to fighting for equality in surfing, Tyler is grit personified. And her surfing? Powerful. Technical. Unapologetically bold.

Tyler surfs like she’s got something to prove, and honestly, she proves it every damn time. Whether it’s at the crushing swells of Pipeline or the rippable waves of Bells Beach, she shows up like a boss. And let me tell you—when Tyler’s in form, you best scoot over or get steamrolled.

🌈 Bettylou Sakura Johnson – The Rookie Rocket

Okay, besides having the most delightful name in professional surfing, Bettylou Sakura Johnson is one of the sport’s brightest young stars. Born and raised on the North Shore of Oahu (aka the big leagues), she grew up surfing some of the gnarliest waves on the planet. That’s like learning to ride a bike on a unicycle… in a hurricane.

Her style? Youthful, explosive, and surprisingly polished for her age. Bettylou is the kind of surfer who will do a 360 off a lip and still have time to smile and wave to the camera afterward. She’s fearless, fun, and already turning heads on the Championship Tour.

If this is what the next generation looks like, the future of surfing is in very good (salty) hands.

🧊 Honorable Mentions: The Underground Queens

Of course, the surfing universe is way bigger than just the WSL. There are women carving their own paths, charging massive waves, and doing it all without the glitz and glam.

- Keala Kennelly – The ultimate big-wave badass. KK has dropped into waves that could swallow city buses and lived to tell the tale. She’s a trailblazer, pure and simple.
- Justine Dupont – This French phenom is surfing skyscraper-sized monsters at Nazaré and showing up the men while she's at it.
- Sally Fitzgibbons – Forever smiling, forever stoked, and always in the title hunt. A fan favorite with an engine that never quits.

These ladies are proof that female surfing is not a trend—it’s a tidal wave of talent reshaping the sport forever.

📈 The Rise of Women’s Surfing

Women’s surfing has come a loooong way, from being sidelined at comps to earning equal prize money and headlining massive events. The WSL made headlines in 2018 when they announced equal pay for men and women—finally showing that riding waves isn't about gender, it's about guts.

And the fans? Oh yeah, they’re here for it. With more visibility, social media spotlight, and a fresh crop of young chargers, women’s surfing is exploding like Mentos in a Coke bottle.

From shortboard shredders to longboard legends, the ladies of surf are paddling out with purpose—and they’re not just participating; they’re dominating.

🏄‍♀️ Final Thoughts: The Tide is Feminine and It’s Fierce

These women aren’t just making waves—they’re stirring up the entire ocean. With grit, grace, and gallons of talent, female surfers are proving that the surf world isn’t just a boys’ club anymore. It’s a playground for passion, power, and pure stoke.

So, next time you’re checking the forecast and waxing your board, remember this: the best surfers out there might just be the ones with a little glitter in their sunscreen.

And trust me, they’re only just getting started.