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Pepperdine Libraries Honor Females in Surfing with "Girls in the Curl"
"Courage, sacrifice, determination, commitment, toughness, heart, talent, guts. That's what little girls are made of; the heck with sugar and spice." These are the words of famous female surfer Bethany Hamilton, and a fitting sentiment for an upcoming event at Pepperdine University honoring the little girls who have grown up to make an indelible impact on the world of surfing.
Listen to a podcast with Heather Hudson, filmmaker of The Women and the Waves, which will be screened at the event.
Pepperdine University Libraries will host "Girls in the Curl"—an event celebrating female surfers from 11 a.m. to sunset on Saturday, Feb. 6 on the university’s Malibu campus. Highlights of the program include a lifetime contribution presentation to former world champion surfer Linda Benson, panel discussions on women in surfing, film screenings, a photo contest, and appearances by female surf legends Gidget (Kathy Kohner Zuckerman), Linda Benson, and Shelley Merrick.
"At this time in surfing we still have four living generations of surfing women," says long-time competitive surfer Merrick, who grew up in Malibu during the 1950s when the California beaches were unspoiled and uncrowded. "The history is incredible and the accomplishments and level of surfing expertise are mind boggling."
SCHEDULE of ACTIVITIES
10:45 a.m. – Check-in at the Payson Library Courtyard
– John Mazza Classic Surfboards
– Girls in the Curl Photo Exhibition Opens
11:00 a.m. – The Living Curl Film Screening with Jamie Budge
1:00 p.m. – Legendary Women in Surfing Panel
2:00 p.m. – Women in the Surfing Industry Panel
3:00 p.m. – In-N-Out Burger and Music by Denny Aaberg
4:00 p.m. – Premier Video Screening by David Ogle
4:30 p.m. – Women and the Waves Screening
5:15 p.m. – Photo Contest Winners Announced; Raffle Prizes, Live Auction
5:30 p.m. – Linda Benson Awarded Lifetime Contribution to Surfing Award
Girls in the Curl will include a screening of Jamie Budge’s The Living Curl narrated by Budge, a screening of Heather Hudson’s The Women and The Waves and a special video presentation featuring women surfers by Pepperdine alumnus/surf filmmaker David Ogle. Also planned are raffle prizes, a live auction for two Dewey Weber surfboards and two Body Glove wetsuits, an amateur photo contest with cash prizes, music, food, and tours of Pepperdine University's special collection of rare surfboards that chronicle the history of the sport.
The first panel will address the early years of women’s surfing in California and will feature Benson, Merrick, and the original “girl in the curl,” Kathy "Gidget" Kohner Zuckerman. A second panel will offer perspectives from manufacturing, retailing, and the world of women’s competition surfing featuring retailer Mary Hartmann of Girl in the Curl, Dana Point, and Hillary Meilsels, VP Development and General Counsel, Body Glove. Live music will showcase guitar and vocals by local Malibu surfer and musician Denny Aaberg who grew up surfing in Malibu and co-wrote Big Wednesday.
“Of all the famous spots that surfers pay homage to throughout the world, Malibu ranks right up there on most peoples' 'best wave' lists," says Jerry Derloshon, executive director of public relations at Pepperdine, and a self-described "1960s Malibu gremmie." "Gidget surfed there in the 1950s and her dad's book and movie exposed Malibu's perfect waves and surfing to the world. It’s great that Pepperdine is playing an active role in preserving the history and legacy of surfing."
Proceeds from the event benefit the Malibu Historical Collection at the Pepperdine University Library that chronicles, shares, and preserves items like books, letters, diaries, photos, films, oral histories and artifacts offering insight about the transformative story of Malibu during the 20th century.
The Pepperdine Libraries plan to make these resources available to scholars and the community online and through exhibitions, lectures, and events. Learn more about the event and the Malibu Historical Collection at library.pepperdine.edu
