World surfing champion shares inspiring tales in Torquay

MORE than 70 people packed into a Torquay surf shop last week to listen to the inspiring tale of 1993 surfing world champion Pauline Menczer.

Last Friday’s free event at South Coast Surfboards saw Torquay author Gill Hutchison quiz the Australian sporting icon on her inspiring new memoir Surf Like a Woman.

Surf Like a Woman gives an uncensored account into Menzcer’s fabled surfing career and fighting against the grain “when women weren’t welcome on the waves.”

 

She highlighted her constant fight against sexism, sponsors ignoring her because she was homosexual and didn’t have “the beach babe look” and her battles with an autoimmune disease and arthritis, which continue to this day.

Ms Hutchison said the evening was incredibly inspiring and eye-opening.

“It was really great, truly. Pauline is so humble, such a fantastic storyteller and such an inspiration to all.

“There was so many young groms, girls ten or eleven years old with their parents, and also many the same age as Pauline, who have lived that experience like Pauline and experienced when it was a bit rougher for women.

“For her to share her whole story, and to see so many people interested in how far women’s sport has come was wonderful.”

Menczer also popped up at the Queenscliffe Literary Festival last weekend to share the memoir with audiences on the Bellarine.

Signed copies of Surf Life a Woman are available in Torquay Books.

Torquay Books is located 14B Gilbert Street, Torquay.