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Surf Like a Woman

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Surf Like a Woman

By: Luke Benedictus, Pauline Menczer
Narrated by: Eva Seymour
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About this listen

In the 80s and 90s, surf culture was toxic, especially towards women. But Pauline Menczer - a dirt-poor, chronically ill, freckle-faced teen from Bondi - defied insults and intimidation to ride the waves. The reason: she simply loved to surf.

But when Pauline's determination propelled her onto the pro circuit, her battle for acceptance and equality didn't end there. The endemic sexism of the industry meant prize money for women was a pittance, while sponsors ignored her because she was a lesbian and didn't have the beach babe look.

Despite these challenges, Pauline became the 1993 World Champion and played a key role in bringing greater equality to the sport. This is the inspirational story of a true underdog battler, whose fearlessness and grit broke down the door of surfing's boys' club for the next generation of women.

©2024 Pauline Menczer (P)2024 W. F. Howes ltd. Sports
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I absolutely loved the way this book was written, and the narrator was incredible. A narrator can completely change the experience of a book, and they did an amazing job delivering the power and impact of this story.

I’m not a surfer — but I do love surfing, which is why I picked up this book. What I didn’t expect was how deeply it would impact me. As a disabled person who was once an elite athlete and now struggles with day-to-day life, this story resonated with me in so many ways. It was powerful, honest, and inspiring.

Thank you for sharing your story.

Amazing memoir!

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Telling Pauline’s story from 1970s dirt poor Bondi to professional world champion surfer, this book is not just for surfers -it is much more than that.

Well written and thoroughly enjoyable, it is a fascinating and entertaining insight into how Australian society and its attitudes to women have changed since Pauline’s childhood.

I have no interest in surfing but never dull, the book kept me transfixed because I wanted to know what would happen to her next…

Marvellous - and I don’t even surf!

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What an incredibly inspiring woman; in surfing and life in general.

The book is wonderfully written, and really brings to light what huge mountains she's had to climb to follow her dream in the heavily unequal world of surfing during her time competing.

I LOVED this book and hearing Pauline's story.

Wow. What a champion of a human being

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I liked the entire book. I lived in Bondi for 10 years in the 1960’s and learnt to surf on a coolite much like Pauline!

The courage, tenacity and resilience of Pauline.

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Great performance, and even greater story of just one part of Australian women’s surfing. A story that inspires me to accept and push through my chronic illness. A story that reminds us of humble beginnings and the Australian battler spirit.

A story that needs to be told

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.