The Waves Do Not Discriminate
Guardian story by Lucy Small: WSL Forces Tyler Wright to Risk 14 Years in UAE Prison
Oct 30, 2024
The Guardian: WSL’s call to take surfing to UAE forces gay athletes like Tyler Wright to pay too high a price
Surfing community calls on World Surf League to safeguard LGBTQIA+ athletes
Oct 24, 2024
Surf Equity Press Release: For Immediate Release on Oct 24, 2024
Outrage intensifies as the WSL schedules Abu Dhabi as a stop on the 2025 World Tour
Oct 16, 2024
Here’s a link to the group petition in collaboration with Wave Wahines, Queer Surf Club, and Surf Equity urging the WSL to remove Abu Dhabi from their 2025 tour.
Media Coverage:
Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Oct 14, 2024, Jon Healy
Out Sports Oct 15, 2024, Jon Holmes
The Inertia, Oct 16, 2024, Evan Quarnstrom / includes inaccurate quotes from anonymous “UAE native”
The Inertia, Oct 16, 2024, Cooper Gegan
Email to Coastal Commission: “Please Stop negotiating with the WSL”
Oct 7, 2024
On Oct 7, 2024, Surf Equity emailed the California Coastal Commission regarding gender discrimination in surf competitions held at beaches located within Orange County.
Joint Letter Requesting Statewide Equity in Coastal Event Permitting
May 17, 2024
On May 17, 2024, Surf Equity emailed a multi-group joint letter to the California Coastal Commission, requesting anti-discrimination measures to protect transgender athletes, intersex athletes, nonbinary athletes, and women/girl athletes.
The letter included a request that competitive event permits granted by City or County authorities mandate the inclusion of transgender and intersex women/girls and transgender and intersex men/boys in the gender category that aligns with their gender identity. It also requested that nonbinary athletes be allowed to compete in a third category or the gender category of their preference.
Link to Multi-Group Letter emailed to the California Coastal Commission
Link to email to the California Coastal Commission
Link to Instagram story.
Coastal Commission Takes Bold Stand Against Gender Identity Discrimination in Huntington Beach, Reported by Los Angeles Times, Them & Advocate
May 10 & 11, 2024
Los Angeles Times, May 10, 2024, Battle in Huntington Beach after transgender surfer barred from longboard competition
Them, May 10, 2024, A California Surfing Contest Cannot Exclude Trans Women, State Agency Rules
Advocate, May 11, 2024, California Competition Bars Transgender and Intersex Surfer, Then Reverses Course
Surf Equity’s Remarks at the Coastal Commission Hearing
May 9, 2024
On May 9, 2024, Sabrina Brennan addressed the Coastal Commission at their hearing in Crescent City, California on behalf of Surf Equity and asked the California Coastal Commission to amending the Coastal Act and/or take other necessary measures to require that all competitive event permits issued by City or County authorities within the Coastal Zone incorporate explicit equity provisions.
Brennan said, “These provisions, currently absent, are essential to guaranteeing equal playing time, an equal number of participants in each gender category, impartial location selection, and equal prize compensation for all gender categories across all levels of participation. Furthermore, it's imperative that any competitive event permit granted by City or County authorities mandates the inclusion of transgender and intersex women and girls and transgender and intersex men and boys in the gender category aligned with their gender identity. Nonbinary athletes should be allowed to compete in a third category or the gender category of their preference.”
Brennan’s Remarks
Link to Instagram post.
INERTIA SMASHES THROUGH THE STORY! Don’t mess with COastal Access.
May 8, 2024
Inertia, May 8, 2024, California Coastal Commission Requires Surf Contest to Follow ISA Transgender Athlete Policy
Quotes from the Inertia article:
The California Coastal Commission delivered a letter to the American Longboard Association (ALA) this week regarding a ban of transgender women from competing in the women’s division of its upcoming HB Pro contest in Huntington Beach. In the letter, the Commission pointed to language within the Coastal Act that a ban wouldn’t be in compliance with its public access, recreation, and environmental justice policies.
Surf Equity’s Sabrina Brennan was alerted of Todd Messick’s policy by another advocate [a surfer]. She then contacted Messick and directed him to review the ISA policy but didn’t hear back. Brennan soon decided to bring the matter to the California Coastal Commission.
Brennan continued pushing for the Commission to take action and had a meeting with officials at their regional office.
“I didn’t have to make a big scene about it or present a bulletproof case,” Brennan told The Inertia. “They (the Commission) understand the coast is for everyone. The ocean is for everyone. Some guy can’t block access based on somebody’s gender identity.”
Finally, on May 7, the Commission sent a letter to Messick after they’d apparently spoken to him.
“In our conversation, you committed to following the ISA transgender policy rule and allowing transgender women to compete in the women’s division if they can demonstrate they meet the criteria outlined in the ISA policy,” it reads. “Following through with this commitment and ensuring an inclusive and safe competition space for all competitors will allow for equitable access to coastal waters and will ensure that the event is consistent with the public access, recreation, and environmental justice policies of the Coastal Act. It will also qualify the event for a temporary event exemption under the Coastal Act. Thus no additional authorization will be required from the Commission.”
The Commission’s letter points out that Messick’s and the ALA’s initial stance (stated on April 25) concerning transgender athletes wasn’t consistent with the Coastal Act or the ISA or WSL policies that address equal access.
CA Coastal Commission Letter To American longboard association
May 7, 2024
May 7, 2024 CCC letter to Todd Messick, American Longboard Association regarding concerns about discrimination in the Huntington Beach Longboard Pro surf competition.
Surf Equity Letter to CA Coastal Commission
April 12, 2024
On April 12, 2024, Surf Equity sent a less polite version of the Instagram note below to Coastal Commission staff after a number of discussion via email and zoom.
Surf Equity submitted Public Records Act requests to the City of Huntington Beach and a number of other public agencies over the course of several years and created an online archive of city, county, and state event related permits. Much of that information was shared with Coastal Commission staff per their request over a number of years. In other words, the process for educating staff was lengthy and well researched.
Link to Instagram story.
Santa Cruz City Council: Pay and Play Equity Resolution / Event Permit REQUIREMENTS
March 26, 2024
Thanks City of Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz Parks & Rec! We appreciate your unanimous support Mayor Fred Keeley, Vice Mayor Renee Golder, Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson, Sandy Brown, Sonja Brunner, Martine Watkins and Scott Newsome. 🩵
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Santa Cruz that the Parks and Recreation Director is hereby authorized to:
1. implement changes within the City’s Special Event permitting to further equal prize compensation, location, venue conditions and competition time for all competitors in sports competitions held solely on land, property, or facilities owned and operated by the City of Santa Cruz, and
2. declare that for any competitive event permit, the City shall require as a condition of a special event permit that the event provide equal playing time, location, and prize compensation for each gendered category at each participant level.
City of Santa Cruz, Agenda Item 17
Pay and Play Equity in Sport Competition Permitting (PR)
Motion to:
1) Adopt a resolution supporting equal playing time, location, venue conditions, and prize compensation for sporting events permitted by the City of Santa Cruz; and
2) Direct staff to update the special event permit application language and event permit condition language for sports competition permits.
Newspaper Coverage
Santa Cruz Sentinel / by Rachel Kippen / March 30, 2024: Santa Cruz approves historic pay and play equity resolution, second in state
Lookout Santa Cruz / by Christopher Neely / April 1, 2024: Santa Cruz became only the second California city to close the gender pay gap in sports. How?
WSL's Latest Masterpiece: The Hypocrisy Video Extravaganza! ‘The Championship Tour Has Broken Equality Barriers, More Milestones Await’
Jan 29, 2024
WSL public relations video reality check:
“The championship tour pays at total of $607.800 to the men and $420,800 to the women. 36 men and 18 women are included.”
—Betty Depolito, Former Pro Surfer, Former WSL Staff, Surf Competition Organizer
Oh, well, isn't that just the epitome of equality in action? I mean, who needs equal pay when you can have more men making more money, right? Because clearly, breaking barriers means making sure the gap in pay remains as wide as the ocean they're surfing in.
— Sabrina Brennan, Founder, Surf Equity
Surf Equity’s Remarks Presented to the California Coastal Commission
Nov 16, 2023
Chair Brownsey & Commissioners,
I’m Sabrina Brennan speaking for Surf Equity, formerly known as the Committee for Equity in Women’s Surfing.
We are deeply concerned by gender disparity in the upcoming 2024 WSL Championship Tour located in San Clemente AND the 2024 U.S. Open of Surfing located in Huntington Beach.
We aim to raise awareness about the persistent imbalance in the representation of women professional surfers compared to men, spanning the California coast and particularly in Orange County.
The 2024 Championship Tour roster reveals more than double the number of men on tour than women, as highlighted in a recent Surfer Magazine article. The 2023 U.S. Open of Surfing serves as another illustration of this trend, with 80 athletes competing in the men's division compared to 48 in the women's division. This persistent pattern recurs annually during each event.
Prompt attention to these issues by both the Coastal Commission and the State Lands Commission is crucial. Athletes face a challenge in expressing their concerns directly, as they are obligated to sign non-disclosure agreements with the World Surf League, which, if breached, could potentially jeopardize their athletic careers. Since 2016, our team has consistently communicated these concerns to staff from both agencies.
Both of these events serve as qualifiers for the Olympics, and the current structure discriminates against women pro surfers. To provide some context, the 2024 Championship Tour will consist of the top 22 men and top 10 women worldwide based on their 2023 Championship Tour final results. Additionally, the top 10 men and top 5 women from the 2023 Challenger Series will join, along with 2 men and 2 women selected by the WSL to receive wildcards.
We request that the Coastal Commission require a CDP with an Equity Plan for both events. It is imperative that gender discrimination has no place on California’s beaches.
We believe this is an urgent matter that requires immediate attention. Thank you.
Audio clip includes Coastal Commissioner comments in response to Surf Equity request for CDPs for two WSL competitions held in Orange County. Clip includes Chair Donne Brownsey calls for Commissioner comments and discussion between Commissioner Paloma Aguirre and Executive Director Kate Huckelbridge.
Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation: Shore Water Event Rules
Oct 20, 2023
The Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) held a public hearing regarding proposed changes to the Shore Water Rules. The hearing was held on Friday, October 20, 2023 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Meeting was held at Kapolei Hale, 1000 Uluʻōhiʻa Street, Suite 312, Kapolei, Hawaiʻi 96707.
Honolulu City Council: Committee on Park…
Aug 23, 2023
On Wed, Aug 23, 2023, the Honolulu City Council Committee on Park, Enterprise Services, and Culture and the Arts discussed DPR proposed Rules for Shore Water Events (agenda Item 10).
Surf Equity provided testemony and a letter to committee members.
Honolulu City & County Dept of Parks & Rec Meeting
Aug 17, 2023
On Aug 17, 2023, Honolulu City & County Dept of Parks & Rec (DPR) held 2 meetings from 10:00 am – 11:00 am AND 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm.
Surf Equity letter to DPR
Hawaii Women’s Sports Agency letter to DPR
North Shore Surf Girls letter to DPR
City & County of Honolulu Resolution 20-12
August 7, 2023 DPR proposed Rules for Shore Water Events
Parental Notification Policy: Orange Unified School District Board
Aug 16, 2023
On Aug 16, 2023, Surf Equity sent an email to the Orange Unified School District President and board members in Orange County, California.
The Orange Unified School District will meeting tomorrow night (Aug 17 at 7pm) to consider a Parental Notification Policy that targets trans and nonbinary students.
The proposed new Parental Notification Policy includes the following:
The School District through the principal/designee, certificated staff, or school counselor, shall notify the parent(s)/guardian(s), in writing, within three school days from the date any District administrator or certificated staff becomes aware that a student is:
(a) Requesting to be identified or treated, as a gender (as defined in Education Code Section 210.7) other than the student’s biological sex or gender listed on the student’s birth certificate or any other official records. This includes any request by the student to use a name that differs from their legal name (other than a commonly recognized diminutive of the child’s legal name) or to use pronouns that do not align with the student’s biological sex or gender listed on the student’s birth certificate or other official records.
(b) Accessing sex-segregated school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, or using bathroom or changing facilities that do not align with the student’s biological sex or gender listed on the birth certificate or other official records.
(c) Requesting to change any information contained in the student’s official or unofficial records.
State of Hawaii: SMALL BUSINESS REGULATORY REVIEW BOARD Meeting
July 20, 2023
Thursday, July 20, 2023 Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism Small Business Regulatory Review Board meeting. Agenda Item IV A. Rules & Regs Governing Shore Water Events.
Surf Equity letter to the state Small Business Regulatory Review Board.
IV. New Business: A. Discussion and Action on Proposed Amendments to HAR Title 19 Chapter 25, Rules and Regulations Governing Shore Water Events, promulgated by Department of Parks and Recreation – City and County of Honolulu – Discussion Leader – Jonathan Shick
Coastal Commission Hearing: Pacifica Surf Camp/School Beach Access CDP
May 2, 2023
Thursday, May 11, 2023 California Coastal Commission hearing item Th8a.
Surf Equity letter to the Coastal Commission regarding Pacifica Surf Camps and Surf Schools (CDP Application 2-22-0004).
Surf Equity supports all CCC staff recommendations
On May 11, 2023, the Pacifica Surf Camps & Surf Schools Coastal Development Permit (CDP) was UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED by the California Coastal Commission. All staff recommendations were strongly supported. It was a big step towards meaningful equity for nonprofit surf camps and surf schools.
We thank Brown Girl Surf and City Surf Project for leading the effort! We thank Coastal staff for requiring a CDP to correct racial discrimination, sexism, nepotism and LGBTQIA+ bigotry at Pacifica State Beach. We thank the full Commission for approving it and for sharing so many heartfelt comments.
The Coastal Commission’s decision supports grassroots momentum to shift exclusionary “locals only” boys club behavior and practices, that dominate many popular surf destinations, towards access for all.
San Mateo County Ordinance to restrict cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
April 24, 2023
On April 24, 2023, Surf Equity in collaboration with 70+ other organizations signed and sent a letter to San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller (District-3) admonishing him for using racist language to oppose an ordinance to end ICE collusion by county officials and county sheriffs.
On April 25, 2023, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to end ICE collusion in the county. Supervisor Ray Mueller was the only board member to vote against the ordinance.
Discrimination in Pro Surf Comps & Backlash Against LGBTQIA+ Surfers
Feb 21, 2023
On Aug 26, 2019, Surf Equity began the process of requesting an end to gender discrimination in surf competitions held on Oahu. That day, as cofounder of the Committee for Equity in Women’s Surfing, Sabrina Brennan attended the annual North Shore Big Wave Contest Meeting held in a Parks and Rec conference room. During the meeting, she was not given an opportunity to speak, Brennan interrupted and read this section from the Hawai’i Constitution, “no person shall be denied the enjoyment of civil rights or be discriminated against in the exercise thereof because of race, religion, sex or ancestry.”
This year, women surfed the Eddie for the first time. There is more work to do.
Read our letter to Laura H Thielen, Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation at City and County of Honolulu.
Surf Equity Requests Lease & Law ENFORCEMENT in Huntington Beach
Aug 29, 2022
Surf Equity letter the California State Lands Commission regarding gender discrimination at Huntington Beach. This letter follows up on our Aug 24, 2022 email to State Lands below.
Surf Equity letter to the CA State Lands Commission
Surf City USA Permits Gender Discrimination at Huntington Beach
Aug 24, 2022
Surf Equity emailed the California State Lands Commission regarding gender discrimination at Huntington Beach.
CA State Lands lease 6616
CA State Law AB 467
boys club CONTROLS wave height at Waimea
Aug 23, 2022
Surf Equity emailed the County and City of Honolulu Parks Dept. regarding Waimea wave face height requirements.
Surf Equity Letter: City and County of Honolulu Parks and Recreation
Feb 15, 2022
Surf Equity sent a letter to Parks and Rec Director Laura H. Thielen regarding gender discrimination in professional surf competitions permitted by her department.
The letter is a response to the Parks and Rec Shore Water Events administrative rules update that includes a new draft section on gender equity.
Sexism: O’Neill Freak Show Pro
Dec 12, 2021
Lookout Santa Cruz story by Liza Monroy: Don’t mess with the women: Backlash over surf contest inequity leads to a reexamination of fairness, the law
Email: Santa Cruz Parks & Rec Commission
Nov 17, 2021
Surf Equity emailed the Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Commission regarding sexism at the O’Neill Freak Show Pro.
Joint Letter: Jurisdiction Over Mavericks and Ross’ Cove
October 29, 2021
Surf Equity, Sierra Club and Surfrider joint letter to San Mateo County Board of Supervisors
San Mateo County Board of Supervisor Redistricting
October 16, 2021
Surf Equity letter to the San Mateo County Supervisorial District Lines Advisory Commission
Honolulu City/County Shore Water Event Rules Advisory Committee Meeting
September 29, 2021
Surf Equity attended the Sept 29, 2021 Shore Water Event Rules meeting.
Meeting agenda
Link to Shore Water Event Rules
Committee Members:
Megan Statts, DLNR DOBOR, state permitting
Kanani Oury, Community Representative
Keone Downing, Continuity from prior AC and Industry
Staff:
Laura Thielan, Director of Parks & Rec
Carla Wong, Parks & Rec Department
Surf Equity Wins Equal Number of women and Men in Mavericks Surf Comp
September 17 & 23 2021
Brennan requested an equal number of women and men in futue Mavericks competitions.
On Sept 23, 2021 Coastal Commission staff grants Brennan’s request.
Pacifica Surf Camp/School Policy Advisory Task Force Meeting
July 20, 2021
Surf Equity letter supporting the Community Access Partnership Permit (CAPP).
Task Force meeting agenda
Task Force members: Cindy Abbott, Kevin Kellogg, Cynthia Knowles, Cliff Hodges, Johnny Irwin, Stefan Mayo, Kimberly Williams, Malcolm Carson, Nia Rivers
STATE LANDS COMMISSION MEETING
June 29, 2021
On Tuesday, June 29, 2021, Sabrina Brennan provided the State Lands Commission with an update on the gender imbalance at Mavericks in San Mateo County.
This was a followup on Brennan’s Feb 23, 2021 Surf Equity presentation to the State Lands Commission.
Feb 23, 2021, Surf Equity presentation
Coastal Commission Hearing
June 11, 2021
Transcript of remarks to the Coastal Commission at the Jun 11, 2021 hearing regarding gender discrimination:
I’m Sabrina Brennan and I represent Surf Equity and Sport Equity.
Over the past four months I’ve brought the Coastal Commission regular updates on gender discrimination at Mavericks in San Mateo County. At your May meeting, I provided results from the 2021 Mavericks Surf Awards contest. As you may recall it was sad news for women athletes, surf contest organizer Jeff Clark selected 2 women finalists and 14 men finalists and prize money was awarded to 4 men and only 1 women.
Unfortunately, the Coastal Commission neglected to protect women athletes from gender discrimination within the Coastal Zone; your passivity resulted in a rollback of inclusion and equity advancements made by previous Coastal staff and Commissioners as well as a loss of equitable coastal access for women.
Today, I’m bring the Commission an update on a film project inspired by advocacy and past oversight efforts.
Before the ink was dry, Variety reported that Filmmaker Niki Caro and A-list celebrity and producer Charlize Theron are teaming up to develop a feature film about the fight for gender equality in big wave surfing for Netflix. Caro will direct the film, from a screenplay adapted by Becky Johnston. Caro wrote and directed “Whale Rider” and Johnson wrote a screenplay for “The Prince of Tides.
In June 2021, Theron’s production company Denver and Delilah signed a deal with Netflix to produce a narrative film about the Committee for Equity in Women’s Surfing, also known as Surf Equity. The feature is based on the 2019 New York Times Magazine article “The Fight for Gender Equality in One of the Most Dangerous Sports on Earth” and five Surf Equity co-founders — Paige Alms, Sabrina Brennan, Keala Kennelly, Andrea Moller and Bianca Valenti — who are fighting for the inclusion of women athletes in surf competitions held at Mavericks in Northern California and equal prize money for women professional surfers.
In 2015, when I began fighting for equality in big wave surfing, women athletes were excluded from competitions in California, at the time equal pay wasn’t an option. With support from a small group of professional athletes, help from activist friends and state oversight from the Coastal Commission and State Lands Commission we won the fight for inclusion and equal pay in 2018. I never thought a narrative film based on our work would be developed by Charlize Theron’s team and Netflix, now that it’s happening it feels validating and deeply gratifying. Social empathy expands when stories are shared and activism is celebrated. The fight isn’t over yet, battles for equity across all sports deserve attention and I’m hopeful this film will help bring it.
Going forward, please direct your staff to take concerns about gender discrimination seriously and provided consistent oversight by requiring a CDP or a CDP waiver for all surf contests held at Mavericks.
Thank you
Coastal Commission Hearing
May 14, 2021
On May 14, 2021, Sabrina Brennan gave a slide presentation at the Coastal Commission hearing about gender discrimination at the Mavericks Surf Awards competition.
Surf Equity and Sport Equity presentation
Coastal Commission meeting video, general comment by Brennan (32:58) Surf Equity and Sport Equity
Coastal Commission Hearing
April 15, 2021
On April 15, 2021, Sabrina Brennan provided Coastal Commission hearing testimony and raised concerns about gender discrimination at the Mavericks Surf Awards competition event.
Coastal Commission Hearing
March 12, 2021
On March 12, 2021, Sabrina Brennan gave a slide presentation at the Coastal Commission hearing about gender discrimination at the Mavericks Surf Awards competition.
March 12, 2021 meeting agenda and meeting video, general comment by Brennan (29:40) Surf Equity and Sport Equity
Surf Equity and Sport Equity presentation
Honolulu Bill 93
March 4, 2021
March 4, 2021 Honolulu City Council meeting agenda and meeting video (49:00 min)
Reported out for passage on third reading
Honolulu Star Advertiser story
Bill 93 (final with amendments)
Bill 93 (original without amendments)
State Lands Commission Meeting
Feb 23, 2021
On Tuesday, Feb 23, 2021, Sabrina Brennan provided a Surf Equity presentation to the State Lands Commission.
Surf Equity presentation
Coastal Commission Hearing
Feb 12, 2021
On Friday, Feb 12, 2021, Sabrina Brennan made remarks at the Coastal Commission hearing and submitted a letter to the Chair of the Coastal Commission. Sport Equity concerns include gender discrimination in the Mavericks Surf Awards including a lack of parity in prize money.
State Lands Commission Meeting
Dec 17, 2020
Applicant: Mavericks Ventures, LLC
Proposed Action: Acceptance of Lease Quitclaim Deed and Issuance of a General Lease
Authorized Use: Temporary commercial use to conduct professional surfing contests.
Term: 5 years, beginning April 30, 2021.
SLC Staff Report, Item 25
State Lands Lease
City and County of Honolulu: Bill 10 “Sport Equity” Approved without Amendment
Dec 9, 2020
On Dec 8, 2020, Sabrina Brennan submitted a letter to the Honolulu City Council regarding Bill 10 (2020). In her role as founder of Sport Equity she requested a minor amendment to strengthen the bill.
Dec 9, 2020, Bill 10, third reading, approved without amendments
Dec 8, 2020, Sport Equity Bill 10 letter
Nov 16, 2020, Sport Equity Bill 10 letter
City and County of Honolulu Parks Committee: Bill 10 “Sport Equity” Request for Amendment
Nov 16, 2020
On Nov 16, 2020, Sabrina Brennan submitted a letter to the City and County of Honolulu Committee on Parks, Community Services & Intergovernmental Affairs regarding Bill 10 (2020). In her role as founder of Sport Equity she requested a minor amendment that she hopes will help strengthen the bill and make it leading edge legislation.
Brennan said, “I’m hopeful that the City and County of Honolulu will eventually require a permit condition that insures all professional sports competitions held solely on city/county land have gendered categories with identical playing time and prize compensation for each category at each participant level.”
Sport Equity Bill 10 letter
State of Hawaii Honors Women World Champions & Advocates
March 12, 2020
On March 10, 2020, the Hawaii State House of Representatives unanimously approved a Resolution in honor of women surfing advocates and women world champions.
CEWS Press Release
Media Coverage:
Honolulu Star Advertiser, March 10, 2020
Surfer Today, March 12, 2020
State of Hawaii House of Representatives
Top Row (Left to Right): Rep. Sharon Har, Rep. Stacelynn Eli, Rep. Amy Perruso, Rep. Rida Cabanilla Arakawa, Rep. Cynthia Thielen, Rep. Val Okimoto, Rep. Nadine Nakamura, Rep. Nicole Lowen, Rep. Joy San Buenaventura, Rep. Tina Wildberger, Rep. Dee Morikawa
Bottom Row (Left to Right): Rep. Sylvia Luke, Rep, Della Au Belatti, Carol Philips, Betty Depolito, Sabrina Brennan, Rep. Lauren Matsumoto, Keala Kennelly, Honolua Blomfield, Carol Moore, Rep. Linda Ichiyama, Rep. Lisa Kitigawa
Honolulu City Council - Bill 10
Feb 18, 2020
Letter written by Sabrina Brennan and approved by CEWS
CEWS provided written testimony to the Honolulu City Council regarding the first reading of Bill 10. The letter requested the following amendment:
All sports competitions held solely on land, property, or facilities owned by the City and County of Honolulu and any event that awards prize compensation to competitors shall require as a condition of a permit that the event have gendered categories and the prize compensation for each gendered category be identical at each participant level.
Jack's Pro - Huntington Beach Pier
Feb 7, 2020
On Friday, Feb 7, 2020, a women's division was included in the Jack’s Pro for the first time ever.
In 2019, Sabrina Brennan sent numerous letters and made phone calls to the City of Huntington Beach, Coastal Commission and State Lands Commission regarding a pattern of gender discrimination in pervious competitions. It's great to see past practices corrected!
The Jack's Pro is a USA Surfing Sanctioned Event.
HONOLULU City Council
Jan 29, 2020
The Committee for Equity in Women’s Surfing received an honorary certificate from the Honolulu City Council and Resolution 20-12 was unanimously approved. Thank you Councilmembers!
Resolution 20-12 supports gender equity in professional surfing.
Jan 27, 2020
Sport Equity letter written by Sabrina Brennan
Sport Equity letter to the Honolulu City Council
Half Moon Bay City Council
Jan 21, 2020
The Half Moon Bay City Council unanimously approved Sabrina Brennan’s resolution supporting equity in professional sports competitions held on city land and roadways.
City of Half Moon Bay Equity in Pro Sports Resolution
Sabrina Brennan drafted a city resolution to expand the new equal pay law to include cities and to close loopholes in California state law AB 467. Brennan worked with city manager Bob Nisbet to require two gendered categories and equal playing time in professional competitions.
Brennan attended the council meeting and provided public testimony in support of the Resolution.
Half Moon Bay is the first city in California to adopt an equity in professional sports resolution, and possibly the first city in the nation to require equal pay, inclusion of two gendered categories and equal playing time in all professional competitions held on city property and roadways.
CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU COMMITTEE ON PARKS COMMUNITY SERVICES AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
Jan 21, 2020
The Honolulu Parks Committee unanimously approved a resolution supporting gender equity in professional surfing.
6. RESOLUTION 20-12 – SUPPORTING WOMEN’S EQUALITY IN SURFING. Urging the City Department of Parks and Recreation and the State Department of Land and Natural Resources to adopt new rules relating to City and State permits issued to surfing contest promoters to ensure gender equity for all competitive surfing events held on the North Shore of Oahu.
Honolulu Resolution 20-12
Written Public Testimony
Keala Kennelly attended the meeting and provided public testimony in support of the Resolution
Jan 20, 2020
CEWS letter co-written by Keala Kennelly and Sabrina Brennan
CEWS letter to Councilmember/Committee Chair Heidi Tsuneyoshi and all Committee Members
JAN 19, 2020
Sport Equity letter written by Sabrina Brennan
Sport Equity letter to Councilmember/Committee Chair Heidi Tsuneyoshi and all Committee Members
Jaws 2019-2020
December 12, 2019
Congratulations to Paige Alms for winning her third Jaws title!
This is the first time Alms has earned equal prize money at Jaws.
Maui News: Alms, Kemper champs of the Jaws Big Wave Championships
Coastal Commission CDP Waiver 2-19-1211-W
December 6, 2019
Letter written by: Sabrina Brennan
CEWS letter to California Coastal Commission in support of CDP Waiver 2-19-1211-W.
CEWS Letter
Eddie Aikau Opening Ceremony
December 5, 2019
CEWS was invited to attend the 34th Annual Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational Opening Ceremony held at Waimea Bay on the North Shore of Oahu. The holding period is Dec 1, 2019 - Feb 29, 2020.
Women Invitees: Andrea Moller, Emi Erickson, Keala Kennelly & Paige Alms
Women Alternates: Bianca Valenti, Raquel Heckert, Justine Dupont, Silvia Nabuco, Laura Enever
Single-Use Plastics Ban
December 3, 2019
Letter written by: Sabrina Brennan
CEWS letter to Honolulu City Councilmember Tommy Waters in support of Bill 40.
CEWS Letter
Amgen Cancels Tour of California
October 29, 2019
The Amgen Tour of California cycling race was canceled.
HMB Safety Summit 2019
October 24, 26 & 27, 2019
The San Mateo County Harbor District and the Big Wave Risk Assessment Group (BWRAG) held the first Half Moon Bay Safety Summit. The Summit included a one-day training for first responders and a two-day training for the public. Athlete and paramedic Andrea Moller was a trainer/facilitator and Harbor Commission President Sabrina Brennan worked with Harbor District staff and BWRAG to coordinate the training.
AB 467 Becomes CalifoRnia Law
September 9, 2019
Assembly Bill 467 was signed into law by Governor Newsom.
WSL Cancels MAVERICKS CHALLENGE
August 29, 2019
The WSL canceled the Mavericks Challenge.
Puerto Escondido Cup 2019
July 15, 2019
Congratulations to Bianca Valenti! She successfully defended her Latin America championship title and won equal pay.
CEWS Press Release
CEWS Letter to SLC: Jack’s Pro
June 12, 2019
Letter written by: Sabrina Brennan
Letter to the State Lands Commission executive officer regarding concerns about gender discrimination in surfing competitions held in the City of Huntington Beach.
CEWS Letter
CEWS AB 467 Letter to CA Senate Natural Resources & Water Committee
June 4, 2019
Letter written by: Sabrina Brennan
CEWS Letter
AB 467 is Amended to include cycling
June 3, 2019
Advocacy by Harbor Commission President Sabrina Brennan and CEWS founding counsel Karen Tynan resulted in one substantive amendment. After many meetings, letters and phone calls AB 467 was amended to included “streets and roadways.” After a three month lobbying effort, Caltrans was included along with Coastal Commission, State Lands Commission and State Parks. This was win for women in cycling who had been forgotten in the original bill.
Letter to CCC: Jack’s Pro
May 29, 2019
Letter written by: Sabrina Brennan
Letter to the Coastal Commission executive director regarding concerns about gender discrimination in surfing competitions held in the City of Huntington Beach.
CEWS Letter
NOW
May 3, 2019
National Organization for Women, Hollywood Chapter rescinded their support for AB 467 and opposes the bill unless amended.
NOW Hollywood Letter
CEWS “Oppose AB 467 Unless Amended” Letters to CA Assembly Committee on Appropriations
April 19, 2019
The following letters were submitted to the Appropriations Committee in advance of the hearing on April 24, 2019.
Committee for Equity in Women’s Surfing Letter
Homestretch Foundation Letter
Athlete Ally Letter
San Mateo County Harbor District Letter
Coastside Progressive Democrats Letter
Surf Club of the Claremont Colleges Letter
IAP Films Letter
Good Film Works Letter
Dr. Mary Larenas Letter
The Wahine Project
On The Water Front
National Organization for Women - Hollywood Chapter Letter
Brennan’s AB 467 remarks to the Ca Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism, & Internet Media
April 10, 2019
I’m Sabrina Brennan, President of the San Mateo County Harbor Commission and Co-founder of the Committee for Equity in Women’s Surfing. Thank you for the opportunity to address the committee.
This morning, I awoke to a reoccurring nightmare about gender-based discrimination in the workplace, unfair business practices, and the systematic exclusion of women professional athletes from competitions.
Today, I’m here representing the San Mateo County Harbor District. We issue a Special Use Permit for the iconic Mavericks Challenge big-wave surf competition, held near Half Moon Bay. Mavericks was founded in 1998 and the contest is internationally known for producing 30’ to 60’ waves and its event promoters are notorious for gender-based discrimination.
The first Mavericks Competition was titled, “Men Who Ride Mountains.” Now, two decades later, women big wave surfers have still not had an opportunity to compete.
It’s impossible to achieve equal pay in athletic competitions that exclude women.
Please read the March 29th letter from the Harbor Commission. We respectfully request that AB 467 be amended to protect athletes from gender-based discrimination, consistent with the Unruh Civil Rights Act.
We urge you to address concerns about unintended consequences. Please close the loophole in AB 467 that encourages and incentivizes event businesses, promoters and athletic organizations to exclude female categories from athletic competitions, in an effort to thwart equal pay requirements.
Please require the following:
A female category and a male category for all athletic competitions held on California state lands.
Equal prize money.
Category winners receive the exact same prize amount.
No total purse formula applied.
Equal logistical support for all categories (including travel related expense; airfare, hotel, etc.).
Equal equipment for all categories.
Mavericks is not the only professional athletic competition with a history of gender-based discrimination.
Last month, women were excluded from competing in Huntington Beach at the Jack’s Surfboards Pro, a World Surf League 1,500 Qualifying Series event, that awards prize money and points.
Women pro surfers are concerned about the scarcity of qualifying events in California, this inequity significantly limits their opportunities to make a living as pro athletes.
Increasing the number of events and awards for women, as well as offering equal prize money, is the only way to achieve meaningful equity in competitive sports.
Equal pay is only part of the problem. Please require that all State agency permits and leases prohibit discrimination. Please amend AB 467 to require businesses and organizations that manage and promote athletic competitions on California state lands comply with the Unruh Civil Rights Act.
Unfair business practices prevent women professional surfers from utilizing public resources and coastal access. Please act to prohibit gender-based discrimination.
Please ensure that AB 467 provides the oversight necessary to stop decades of gender-based discrimination.
CEWS Response To ASSEMBLY BILL 467
April 8, 2019
Support If Amended
CEWS supports Assembly Bill 467 if amended to include female categories, male categories and open/nonbinary categories in athletic competitions held on California state lands.
Please amend AB 467 to be consistent with the Unruh Civil Rights Act and prohibit gender-based discrimination in athletic competitions. Read our April 7, 2019 letter to the California State Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism, and Internet Media.
AB 467 news stories:
Mercury News: https://bayareane.ws/2VdrdQf
Cycling News: https://bit.ly/2H9p5p4
The Coast News: https://bit.ly/2J6Kh0W
The Atlantic: https://bit.ly/2v9AbU7
Orange County Register: https://bit.ly/2I2xR9S
CALmatters: https://bit.ly/2TYWQwn
HuffPost: https://bit.ly/2VJJntT
Brennan emails ‘Surf City’ Mayor about Jack’s Pro Permit
March 20, 2019
CEWS co-founder Sabrina Brennan emails Huntington Beach Mayor Erik Peterson about gender-based discrimination at a surf competition permitted by the City. The Jack’s Surfboards Pro surfing competition held near the Huntington Beach Pier does not include a women’s division.
Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath Introduces Bill Requiring Sports Prize Equity
Feb 14, 2019
Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath (D-Encinitas), at a press conference today overlooking Cardiff State Beach, announced the introduction of AB 467, a bill that would require sports prize equity for both male and female participants in all sporting competitions held on public lands. Also called the “Equal Pay for Equal Play” measure, AB 467 is aimed at addressing long-standing gender pay disparities in competitive sports.
Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez, a joint author on the legislation, also spoke at the press conference.
Sabrina Brennan, representing the Committee for Equity in Women’s Surfing, helped provide some of the historical context for the legislation.
Sabrina Brennan said, “Increasing the number of events and the number of awards for women, as well as offering equal prize money, is the only way to achieve meaningful equity in competitive surfing.”
Women's March in San Jose
Jan 19, 2019
Sabrina Brennan gave a speech about winning the fight for Equal Pay in professional surfing at the 2019 Women’s March in San Jose, CA.
CEWS Press Release
Nov 25, 2018
Presser written by: Sabrina Brennan
The Pe'ahi Challenge competition will run on Monday, November 26, 2018 in Pe'ahi, Hawaii. This will be the first big wave professional surf competition with equal prize money for men and women and the third time women have been invited to compete at JAWS.
State Lands Commission Meeting in Sacramento
Oct 18, 2018
Sabrina Brennan represented CEWS and made remarks on Item C27.
The State Lands Commission, in the wake of California designating surfing as the official state sport, approved a lease to the World Surf League for the Mavericks Challenge, an annual one-day competition that attracts surfers from around the world. The lease requires a multi-heat women’s division and equal pay for all competitors regardless of gender. This is a precedent-setting victory for equal pay in any sporting event held on state property. It is also the culmination of devoted work over many years and represents a defining, and overdue, moment in California on the important issue of gender equity in athletic competitions.
Item C27 – APPROVED AS PRESENTED BY A VOTE OF 3-0 (YEE-YES; VIOLA-YES; WONG-HERNANDEZ-YES)
Coastal Commission Hearing in San Diego
Oct 12, 2018
On Friday, Oct 12, 2018, Karen Tynan and Sabrina Brennan represented CEWS at the Coastal Commission hearing in San Diego.
Staff Report (see 3 yellow highlighted areas)
The Mavericks Challenge permit was approved unanimously with conditions that require a three heat women's division and equal pay!
In less than 3 years, CEWS won the fight for inclusion, the fight for a multi-heat division and the fight for equal prize money across all WSL global events.
Link to CCC hearing video, Item 8-a, WSL
On Oct 12, 2018, the California Coastal Commission will consider requiring: Inclusion, a Women’s Division, and Equal Pay!
WSL Response to Incomplete CDP Filing Status
Sept 6, 2018
On June 5, 2018, the WSL announced equal prize money for every WSL controlled event, including the 2018/2019 Mavericks Challenge, in the 2019 season and beyond.
On Sept 6, 2018, the WSL submitted a response to Coastal Commission staff’s June letter regarding “incomplete” Coastal Development Permit (CDP) filing status.
June 28, 2018, Letter from the CCC to the WSL regarding “incomplete” CDP Application No. 18-0496.
CEWS Press Release
Sept 6, 2018
Presser written by: Sabrina Brennan
We Won the Fight for Inclusion, a Women’s Division, and Equal Pay!
The Committee for Equity in Women’s Surfing, stakeholders, and fans are pleased with the World Surf League’s evolution to more equitable and fair surf competitions.
Hope Solo Sues the US Soccer Federation
Aug 24, 2018
On Friday, Aug 24, 2018, Hope Solo, former goalkeeper for the US women's national soccer team, sued the US Soccer Federation in California federal court, accusing the organization of paying its female players a fraction of what it pays their male counterparts in violation of the Equal Pay Act.
The suit follows up on a March 2016 complaint with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, filed by Solo and four of her teammates from the 2015 World Cup-winning roster.
State Lands Commission Meeting in Long Beach
Aug 23, 2018
Meeting attended by: Sabrina Brennan
CEWS thanks the State Lands Commission staff for giving consideration to concerns about gender-based discrimination. WSL requested that their lease application be pulled from the agenda. SLC Chair Betty Yee allowed Sabrina Brennan to give remarks on the pulled item.
Meeting Video (go to 49:17)
CEWS Press Release
Aug 20, 2018
Presser written by: Sabrina Brennan
On Monday, Aug 20, 2018, Gov. Jerry Brown recognized the importance of coastal access when he signed a bill that makes surfing our official state sport.
In May, the Committee for Equity in Women’s Surfing sent letters to legislators in support of AB-1782. We are very please that the bill received broad support from recreational surfers, professional athletes, and the many businesses that benefit from this iconic California lifestyle.
CEWS Letter to SMCHD
Aug 15, 2018
Letter written by: Sabrina Brennan
On August 14, 2018, counsel representing the Committee for Equity in Women’s Surfing sent a letter to the San Mateo County Harbor District requesting anti-discrimination amendments to the Permit for the Mavericks surf competition.
CEWS Letter to SLC
Aug 9, 2018
Letter written by: Sabrina Brennan
On August 9, 2018, the Committee for Equity in Women’s Surfing sent a letter to the California State Lands Commission requesting anti-discrimination Lease terms for the Mavericks surf competition.
CEWS MAVS Proposal
July 23, 2018
On July 23, 2018, the Committee for Equity in Women’s Surfing met with the World Surf League in Redwood City, CA and presented a proposal for equal prize money and requested a multi-heat women’s division in the 2018/2019 Mavericks Challenge.
CEWS Proposal — by: Sabrina Brennan
CEWS Prize Money Equality Proposal by Karen Tynan
CEWS Prize Money Outline provides analysis of what would be fair and includes references for other sports that have equal prize money.
All documents provided to WSL at July 23, 2018 meeting
CEWS Letter to CCC
July 9, 2018
Letter written by: Sabrina Brennan
The Mavericks Challenge: Stop Discriminating Against Women Athletes, It’s Against the Law
Letter from Paige Alms, Keala Kennelly, Andrea Moller, and Bianca Valenti to the California Coastal Commission.
Unfair business practices prevent women professional surfers from utilizing public resources and coastal access. The World Surf League has a history of gender-based discrimination.
Coastal Commission Letter to WSL
June 28, 2018
Letter from the CCC to the WSL regarding “incomplete” Coastal Development Permit (CDP) Application No. 18-0496.
CEWS Press Release
June 25, 2018
Presser written by: Sabrina Brennan
Puerto Escondido Cup: Heaviest Competition In The History Of Women’s Professional Surfing
On Sunday, June 24, 2018, the Puerto Escondido Cup included the first ever women’s big-wave heat held in Latin America. Six women surfed one of the heaviest beach breaks in the world with confidence and skill.
Patti Paniccia's keynote "Women Making Waves"
June 22, 2018
Surfing Heritage and Culture Center's Gala
WSL CDP Application
May 29, 2018
The World Surf League submitted a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) application to the California Coastal Commission on May 29, 2018. The three part CDP is linked below.
WSL management was slow to respond to requests from CEWS for the application.
CCC staff provided the application within three hours.
Thank you CCC staff for your prompt reply.
The WSL CDP application lacks detailed plans supporting gender equity and prize equity.
CEWS Letters
May 28, 2018
Letters written by: Sabrina Brennan
The Committee for Equity in Women’s Surfing is proud to endorse AB 1782 designating surfing as California’s official sport.
CEWS Letter to Mayor of Honolulu
March 15, 2018
Karen Tynan, Attorney for the Committee for Equity in Women's Surfing
Letter from Karen Tynan to Kirk Caldwell, Mayor of Honolulu
Shore Water Rules Honolulu, Hawaii
Coastal Commission Hearing
Dec. 13, 2017
Meeting Agenda (Item 17.5.a) and Meeting Video
Sabrina Brennan Letter to CCC
Dec. 12, 2017
Sabrina Brennan is an elected San Mateo County Harbor Commissioner, an elected member of the SMC Democratic Central Committee, and President of Digital Fusion Media Inc.
Letter from Sabrina Brennan to California Coastal Commission Chair Dayna Bochco and all Commissioners.
BROWN GIRL SURF Letter to CCC
Submitted on Nov. 16, 2017
Mira Manickam-Shirley, Executive Director of Brown Girl Surf
Letter from Brown Girl Surf to Renee Ananda, Coastal Program Analyst - North Central, Coastal Commission.
CEWS Letter to CCC
Submitted on Nov. 7, 2017
Letter written by: Sabrina Brennan
Letter from the Committee for Equity in Women's Surfing to Renee Ananda, Coastal Program Analyst - North Central, Coastal Commission.
CEWS Press Release
Feb. 1, 2017
Presser written by: Sabrina Brennan
CEWS Press Release: Disappointment for surfers regarding The Cartel and Titans of Mavericks double bankruptcy.
TITANS OF MAVERICKS FEMALE BLUNDER
Cartel drags feet, pays price
Nov 3, 2016
By Rory Parker | Beach Grit
At a certain point you’ve gotta ask yourself, “Is there anything the Titans of Mavericks can’t fuck up?”
We’ve reached that point.
The event has been plagued by lawsuits, concert promoters, backroom politics, permit tussles, and accusations of sexism.
Yesterday the California Coastal Commission granted Cartel Management a permit to run this year’s event. Which may seem like a victory, but is anything but.
At issue was the inclusion, or lack thereof, of women in the event during the 2016-2017 season.
Brian Waters, Cartel COO, recently announced a plan to include women in the event, seemingly out of nothing more than a desire to see an equitable representation of sexes within the event.
Waters said the contest board had no reason for its seemingly sudden decision to include women this year other than, “It’s quite simply the right time.”
“There was no compelling driver other than it was the time to do it,” Waters said.
However, when the final roster was announced on September 29th, there wasn’t a single woman to be found. Instead, Cartel announced plans to run a women’s-only heat next year, during the 2017-2018 winter season.
It seems as though Cartel’s strategy was to mollify, then ignore. Make promises, get permits, move forward. Their problem came during the second step, forcing last minute adjustments, providing an only temporary reprieve from their ongoing permitting issues.
Yesterday saw the announcement that a women-only heat would be added to this year’s Titans event, an action forced on Cartel by the California Coastal Commission through the efforts of the [Surf Equity] Committee for Equity in Women’s Surfing.
This morning I called the aforementioned committee and spoke with Sabrina Brennan, San Mateo County Harbor Commissioner.
I moved here the first year the event started in 1999, for the entire time that I’ve lived on this bluff overlooking the break there hasn’t been a woman to compete in the event. There have been women that have been interested, and obviously there are women that surf there, but it has not been a possibility.
They’ve said, ‘Oh yeah well, we’ve got an alternate.’ I think they’ve done that twice now, with a couple different women. But they haven’t made it into the event. And the reasoning has always been, ‘Well, you know, they need to pump more iron.’ That’s from Jeff Clark. The girls aren’t good enough yet, and that’s what we’ve heard.
I hang out at the same yacht club that Jeff Clark hangs out at and he and his wife [ex-wife] have a little stand up paddleboard business that’s right behind the yacht club, so I know their point of view on this. Because when you drink with people you really hear it. You learn about where they’re coming from. It’s clear to me that it hasn’t been a priority.
Unfortunately for Cartel and the Committee of Five, their priorities are unimportant. While they are in possession of a permit from the Harbor Commission that extends until 2021, their permit from the California Coastal Commission was up for renewal this year. The CCC refused to budge on the issue of female inclusion, forcing Cartel to conform, or lose their ability to hold the event.
Cartel’s decision to do the bare minimum, at the last minute, represents a token victory for female big wave surfing, but also a squandered opportunity for Cartel Management. The CCC granted a permit for this year alone, denying Cartel the ability to chase long term sponsorship money or streamline operations going forward.
[Cartel] literally had no choice, so they backpedalled again and decided that they would include a women’s heat. But they didn’t do it on their own. They were forced to do it. And they could have done it on their own. They could have taken the initiative to work with women athletes over this past year and to develop a plan that was reasonable and everybody felt fairly good about. It could have been a win/win for the event organizer, and possibly helped them with their sponsorship problems, and they didn’t go down that path. For some reason this particular group of people doesn’t seem able to make good business decisions, and I don’t know why that is. I think a lot of people wonder about that.
It’s strange, they could have seen this as an opportunity to re-present themselves to the public, and polish their image and instead they have this action sort of forced on them.
It’s a public resource, so for that reason alone, it’s just not acceptable to have it benefit one gender more than another. I’m not saying that women should have fifty percent of the day, I know that it’s a smaller group of athletes. But there has to be reasonable plans in place to grow the sport for women and to include women. It wasn’t until the Coastal Commission staff said to these guys, in the past couple weeks, ‘Look, you haven’t presented us with an acceptable plan, and if you don’t include something for women this season we’re not going to recommend approval for your permit.’
The problem is that these guys have not been acting in good faith. They have not proven themselves as being serious about the inclusion of women. They are the ones that didn’t get their act together and come to the commission with a plan that the commission could support.
While yesterday’s decision represents a small victory for Cartel, they are a long way from winning the war. Next year’s permit application will be held to a higher standard, and this year’s efforts will not be enough.
They were also told, at the commission hearing yesterday, ‘Do not come back here without a real plan, because you guys didn’t do what you were supposed to this year. Do not come back here like this again.”
We’re gonna go through this again next year and people will be looking carefully at how this worked, and where it needs to go moving forward.
As with Twiggy Baker’s blackball last year, Cartel, and the newly rechristened Committee of Seven, which includes photographer Nikki Brooks and injured charger Savannah Shaughnessy, couldn’t resist the chance to take a parting shot.
While the Coastal Commission was still in session it was announced, via Facebook, that Bianca Valenti, who had served as the face of the drive for female inclusion, would not be invited.
There was a reception held after the Coastal Commission hearing last night, that was at the same hotel where the hearing was. So I was in the reception and the commissioners started trickling in, and I had three different commissioners come in and tell me that they had already gotten the news that the Titans Facebook page had announced who the athletes were, and that Bianca wasn’t one of the athletes. They were really shocked and disheartened and extremely disappointed. It’s, like, talk about not building good relationships with people.
They just saw her speak, and then that happened. Maybe they didn’t get the four season permit they were hoping for, but they got the permit, then they went and did this. They did not have a good taste in their mouth, and I didn’t either.
Especially knowing that Bianca really stuck her neck out there. She lives really close to the venue, and surfs Mavericks the most. She didn’t have to do that. It’s very bittersweet, all of it.
What really irked me, when I talked to Brian [Waters] (Cartel COO) last night, I just said, ‘Why did you do that to Bianca? You didn’t need to go there.’
And he was like, ‘It wasn’t us. It was the two new women on the Committee of Seven. They decided.’
I’m like, ‘Oh, really?’ It’s such bullshit.
It was really infuriating and frustrating that they would retaliate like that. Bianca has definitely earned inclusion in the event and she is definitely one of the four most decorated women big wave surfers in the world. To not include her was just wrong.
You can’t draw a more clear picture of retaliation than for them to do that to her right after she made public comment. How else are we supposed to perceive that?
While the introduction of a women’s heat, and the addition of two female members to the formerly male-only Committee of Five, seems to hold promise for the future, Brennan isn’t so optimistic.
I just wonder about how manipulated these two committee members are gonna be, and whether they really had anything to do with the choices that just were made. I kinda doubt that they did, honestly. I don’t even see how they had time to really seriously consult with them, given that they’ve been making this up, as they go, over the last couple days. It’s sort of just all a bunch of smoke and mirrors at this point.
CEWS Presenation to CCC
Nov. 2, 2016 Presentation
Proposal Presentation produced by: Sabrina Brennan
Proposal Presentation from the Committee for Equity in Women's Surfing to Steve Kinsey, Coastal Commission Chair and all Commissioners.
CEWS Letter to CCC
Submitted on Oct. 28, 2016
Letter written by: Sabrina Brennan
Letter from the Committee for Equity in Women's Surfing to Steve Kinsey, Coastal Commission Chair and all Commissioners.
SURFRIDER FOUNDATION National Letter to CCC
Oct. 28, 2016
Jennifer Savage is the California Policy Manager for Surfrider Foundation
Letter from Jennifer Savage, Surfrider Foundation to Steve Kinsey, Coastal Commission Chair and all Commissioners.
BROWN GIRL SURF Letter to CCC
Oct. 28, 2016
Mira Manickam, Executive Director of Brown Girl Surf
Melissa Morazan, Director of Operations of Brown Girl Surf
Letter from Brown Girl Surf executive team to Renee Ananda, Coastal Program Analyst, California Coastal Commission – North Central Coast District.
SURFRIDER FOUNDATION SMC Letter to CCC
Oct. 27, 2016
Edmundo Larenas is the Chair of the San Mateo Chapter of Surfrider Foundation and a Director on the board of the Committee for Green Foothills.
Letter from Edmundo Larenas, Chair of the San Mateo Chapter of Surfrider to Steve Kinsey, Coastal Commission Chair and all Commissioners.
Dayla Soul Letter to CCC
Oct. 27, 2016
Dayla Soul is the Director of It Ain't Pretty, a documentary film about women who surf big waves and CEO of Elemental Tile Design.
Letter from Dayla Soul, documentary filmmaker to Steve Kinsey, Coastal Commission Chair and all Commissioners.
Delia Bense-Kang Letter to CCC
Oct. 25, 2016
Delia Bense-Kang is Outreach Coordinator for the Marine Protected Area on the Northcoast Environmental Center and Chair of the Humboldt Chapter of Surfrider Foundation.
Letter from Delia Bense-Kang to Steve Kinsey, Coastal Commission Chair and all Commissioners.
Amanda Levett Letter to CCC
Oct. 23, 2016
Amanda Levett owns The Vagabond’s House, Boutique Inn & Spa in Carmel-by-the-Sea and is the founder of Seeking Peaks, a water woman’s global network. She is a coach for Surf Las Olas, Surf Safaris for Women, and head coach and developer of their newest intermediate camp, Surf Mas Olas.
Letter from Amanda Levett, Seeking Peaks and The Vagabond’s House, Boutique Inn & Spa to Steve Kinsey, Coastal Commission Chair and all Commissioners.
Coastal Commission Staff Report
Oct. 21, 2016
The Coastal Commission released their Staff Report on Friday, Oct. 21, 2016. Read Cartel's second Amendment included in the staff report, see Exhibit 9 (last five pages of the report.)
Beth O'Rourke Letter to CCC
Oct. 21, 2016
Beth O’Rourke is a team captain and appointed board member of the Malibu Surfing Association. She's also a competitor, event organizer, judge, and coach. Prior to surfing she competed as a distance runner, bike racer, and skier.
Letter from Beth O’Rourke, Documentary Filmmaker and Writer SeaLevelTV, Team Captain and Board Member, Malibu Surfing Association to Steve Kinsey, Coastal Commission Chair and all Commissioners.
Cori Schumacher Letter to CCC
Oct. 19, 2016
Cori Schumacher, Executive Director, The Inspire Initiative
Three-time Women’s World Longboard Champion (2000, 2001, 2010), Women’s Longboard Pipeline Pro Champion (2009), and two-time ASP North American Champion (2008, 2009). From late 2001 to 2005, Schumacher went on sabbatical from competition, surfing in only two events from 2005 to 2007. She returned officially to longboard competition in 2008 to win the Linda Benson Roxy Jam at Cardiff, California. She ceased competing altogether after boycotting the ASP World Tour in 2011.
Letter from Cori Schumacher, Executive Director, The Inspire Initiative to Steve Kinsey, Coastal Commission Chair and all Commissioners.
Brown Girl Surf Letter to CCC
Oct. 19, 2016
Mira Manickam, Executive Director of Brown Girl Surf
Melissa Morazan, Director of Operations of Brown Girl Surf
Letter from Brown Girl Surf executive team to Steve Kinsey, Coastal Commission Chair and all Commissioners.
CARTEL’s Amended CDP Application for Titians of Mavericks Comp
Oct. 14, 2016
Titians of Mavericks amended 2016-17 Coastal Development Permit application.
Cartel Managment (Griffin Guess, Brian Waters & Zoe Lee) submit an amended application to Coastal Commission staff.
Cartel’s amended application included a faux “plan” to include women athletes and a request for a multi-season permit “extension through 2021”. Brennan defeated the multi-season permit extension request by making the case for a single season permit because Cartel was not a trustworthy company.
Cartel was forced to include women in their permit application because Brennan successful advocated at the Nov 2015 Coastal Commission hearing for a permit condition that required a “plan” for including a women's heat starting in the 2017-2018 surf season.
CEWS Letter to CA Coastal Commission
Oct. 14, 2016
Letter written by Sabrina Brennan and approved by CEWS
Letter from the Committee for Equity in Women's Surfing to Steve Kinsey, Coastal Commission Chair and all Commissioners.
Surfrider Humboldt Letter to CA Coastal Commission
Oct. 6, 2016
Surfrider Foundation Humboldt Chapter—Delia Bense-Kang, Chair
Letter from Surfrider Foundation Humboldt Chapter to Steve Kinsey, Coastal Commission Chair and all Commissioners.
Cartel’s Incomplete CDP Application for Titians of Mavericks Comp
Sept. 28, 2016
Titians of Mavericks incomplete 2016-17 Coastal Development Permit application.
Cartel Managment (Griffin Guess, Brian Waters & Zoe Lee) provided an incomplete CDP Application to Coastal Commission staff for the 2016-2017 surf season.
CEWS 2016 Proposal to CA Coastal Commission
Sept. 5, 2016
Proposal letter written by Sabrina Brennan with input from CEWS
Proposal letter from the Committee for Equity in Women's Surfing to Renee Ananda, Coastal Program Analyst, California Coastal Commission – North Central Coast District.
Editorial by Sabrina Brennan: Hey guys, Mavericks needs women
Feb. 3, 2016
Sabrina Brennan is an elected San Mateo County Harbor Commissioner, an elected member of the SMC Democratic Central Committee, and President of Digital Fusion Media Inc.
Editorial by Sabrina Brennan first published on Feb. 3, 2016 and provided to Renee Ananda, Coastal Program Analyst, California Coastal Commission – North Central Coast District. on Oct. 26, 2016.
Sabrina Brennan asks CCC to require the inclusion of women in the 2016 MAVERICKS COMPETITION
Nov 5, 2015
San Mateo County Harbor Commissioner Sabrina Brennan asked the California Coastal Commission to require a women’s heat as a condition of the Coastal Development Permit for the Mavericks surf competition.
Brennan presents her slide presentation to the Coastal Commission at a hearing held at the Oceano Hotel across the street from Pillar Point Harbor and about a mile from Brennan’s home in Moss Beach.
CCC hearing video, Item 14-c, Cartel Management
This was the first time the Coastal Commission had ever required a Coastal Development Permit for the Mavericks surf competition. Commissioner Mark Vargas made a motion to add a condition to the permit that would require a plan for encouraging equal opportunity for women in 2016. In a 7-4 vote Vargas’ motion passed.
In retrospect, had Brennan’s 2015 request for the inclusion of women been approved at the Nov 5, 2015 Coastal Commission hearing women athletes would have had the opportunity to compete, in the Titans of Mavericks, held three months later on Feb 12, 2016.
Evolve
2019
Social Advocate Award
Los Angeles, CA, August 17, 2019— The Inertia honored the Committee for Equity in Women’s Surfing with a social advocate award for its work on pushing for equal pay in women’s surfing. Their push played a critically important role in the World Surf League’s decision to become the world’s first professional sports organization to adopt equal pay.
“The takeaway here is that if you want to make change, it doesn’t take a lot of people to do it. Sometimes, you just have to ask for what you want,” said activist Sabrina Brennan.
Evolve
2019
Social Advocate Award
Los Angeles, CA, August 17, 2019— The Inertia honored the Committee for Equity in Women’s Surfing with a social advocate award for its work on pushing for equal pay in women’s surfing. Their push played a critically important role in the World Surf League’s decision to become the world’s first professional sports organization to adopt equal pay.
“The takeaway here is that if you want to make change, it doesn’t take a lot of people to do it. Sometimes, you just have to ask for what you want,” said activist Sabrina Brennan.
BRENNAN’S SPEECH | Women’s March 2019 | SAN JOSE, CA