At 52 years old, with a deep fear of sharks and no previous surfing experience, Penelope Meniere did something she never imagined possible – she paddled out into the waves at Muizenberg.
Her story is not about medals or championships. It’s about courage. It’s about choosing to try something terrifying rather than live with the regret of never trying at all.
“I just needed my daughter to get me to show up. The waves will do the rest,”.
she recalls
Those words have become symbolic of something much bigger unfolding on the shores of Muizenberg.
A Wave of Women Changing Surf Culture
For generations, surfing was largely considered a male space. Women were often portrayed as spectators on the beach rather than participants in the water. During the 1980s and 1990s, female surfers frequently encountered exclusion, subtle hostility and the feeling that they were visitors in someone else’s lineup.
Today, that narrative is changing.
From teenagers to retirees, mothers to professionals, women from all walks of life are paddling out at Surfers’ Corner and claiming their place in the ocean. What was once intimidating has become welcoming, and what once felt exclusive is increasingly inclusive.
The transformation is perhaps best illustrated by Muizenberg’s thriving women’s surf community.
The Rise of Backline Babes
When local surfer Emma Horner grew tired of the uncomfortable atmosphere she experienced in the lineup, she decided to take action. She created a simple WhatsApp group called Backline Babes, hoping that perhaps a few friends would join.
Instead, something extraordinary happened.
The group rapidly expanded into a community of more than 600 women. Complete strangers became surf sisters. Confidence was shared one wave at a time, and courage became contagious.
The impact extends far beyond surfing itself. Women who had never considered entering the ocean are now waking before sunrise to meet others on the beach. Mothers are learning to surf alongside daughters. Beginners are discovering that fear can coexist with excitement and still lead to incredible experiences.
Backline Babes has become a powerful reminder that community can transform intimidating spaces into places of belonging.
A Century of Women in South African Surfing
The story of women’s surfing in South Africa stretches back more than a century.
In the 1920s, UCT student Heather Price became the first recorded female stand-up surfer in South Africa after riding a borrowed board at Muizenberg.
In 1976, South Africa hosted the first stop of the inaugural Women’s World Surf Tour, helping establish a global platform for female surfers.
The country then produced legends such as Wendy Botha, whose four world titles and four national titles paved the way for future generations.
South Africa also played a critical role in advancing equality in professional surfing. In 2018, a photograph of teenage surfer Zoe Steyn holding a winner’s cheque worth half that of her male counterpart sparked international outrage and ignited conversations about equal pay.
The momentum contributed to the World Surf League announcing equal prize money across all divisions in 2019, making it the first American professional sports league to do so.
Meanwhile, athletes such as Tarryn King and Bianca Buitendag have continued raising South Africa’s profile on the global stage, proving that women’s surfing is not only thriving but excelling.
The Ocean Has Room for Everyone
The beauty of Muizenberg’s women-led surfing movement lies in its accessibility. It is not reserved for elite athletes or seasoned waterwomen.
It is for the woman who believes she is too old to start. For the beginner who doubts her abilities. For anyone carrying fears but refusing to let them dictate the shape of their life.
As Penelope Meniere discovered at 52, the ocean has an incredible way of expanding what people believe is possible.
Along Muizenberg’s iconic coastline, women are not simply learning to surf. They are challenging limitations, supporting one another and proving that it is never too late to paddle out and catch your first wave.
Because sometimes all it takes is borrowed courage, a borrowed board and the willingness to show up.
