World Surf League announces equal prize money for men and women
The World Surf League (WSL) has set the standard for other sports by announcing equal prize money for men and women.
Coming into force from the 2019 season, the move makes it the first U.S.-based global sports league to implement pay parity at the events it controls.
The announcement comes after the winner of the Ballito Pro under-18's women's competition received exactly half of her male counterpart back in June, sparking criticism toward the WSL.
"This is a huge step forward in our long-planned strategy to elevate women's surfing and we are thrilled to make this commitment as we reveal our new 2019 schedule," WSL CEO Sophie Goldschmidt said in a statement online.
"This is the latest in a series of actions the League has undertaken to showcase our female athletes, from competing on the same quality waves as the men, to better locations, and increased investment and support."
For events it doesn't control the prize money, such as certain qualifying events, WSL Commissioner Kieren Perrow said it would work with partners to "achieve equality as soon as possible."
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One of the first to react to the announcement was Australian surfer Stephanie Gilmore, who said the move was a "huge step" in The Players' Tribune.
"I feel like the momentum in our society to have this conversation is incredible — because it’s not just in surfing, or in sport, that women are fighting for equality in the workplace. It’s everywhere," she wrote.
"And for this announcement to come now, and for it to happen during my career — and then to have the support of so many male surfers, including Kelly Slater — is unbelievable."
Slater, an 11-time WSL champion, wrote in an Instagram post that the move will set a "great precedent" for other sports.
"My brothers and I were raised predominantly by our mom on a small weekly paycheck so it’s refreshing to set an example as a sport for what should be the norm, and not the exception, in society," he added.
In other sports, New Zealand Football announced in May it would pay female and male players equally when representing the country, while English soccer club Lewes FC became the first professional or semi-professional team to have pay parity last year.
Topics Activism
