Surfing
Breaking down barriers
How O’Neill’s Women of the Wave community is bringing women together through surfing
From the outside, surfing has a reputation for being a laid-back, welcoming sport, but when out in the breaks, it can still feel like a male-dominated space.
Bravado, big waves and even bigger egos can make it quite an daunting experience, while entering the water in challenging conditions or an unfamiliar line-up can add to the intimidating environment.
O’Neill understands this, which is why the iconic surf and snow brand has its own Women of the Wave initiative. A commitment to bring women together through surfing, it creates welcoming spaces where women can build confidence, progress their surfing, connect with others and share their passion for the ocean.
From athlete-led workshops to providing a space away from the water to connect, here’s how O’Neill is helping make surfing a more inclusive sport.
Firm foundations
Women of the Wave program launched with an event in Sagres, Portugal
© The Red Bulletin x O’Neill
O’Neill has been an integral part of the surf community since Jack O’Neill opened the world’s first surf shop in San Francisco in 1952. In its 70-plus years of innovation, it has led on technical developments like the first-ever wetsuit through to environmental initiatives like O’Neill Sea Odyssey – a marine education program that has taught ocean protection to more than 100,000 children during its 30-year history.
It was therefore well placed to establish the Women of the Wave program in 2023. Launched with an event in Sagres, Portugal in June 2023, it brought 23 female surfers together for a day of coaching, workshops and community-building sessions with O’Neill’s professional team members, including local surfer Charlotte Van Berkum.
Global impact
10 Women of the Wave events and activations held across the world
© The Red Bulletin x O’Neill
Since 2023, there have been more than 10 Women of the Wave events and activations held across the world, ranging from European hotspots like Scheveningen (The Netherlands) and Bilbao (Spain), landlocked artificial waves (The Wave, Bristol, UK) and world-famous breaks in Hawaii and California.
Each has a slightly different itinerary, but all create a space to learn, progress, build confidence and share knowledge, while showing women that they don’t have to navigate their surfing journey alone.
While O’Neill’s athletes lead the Women of the Wave initiatives, they’re not just there to coach – they are integral pillars of the community and can provide advice and guidance beyond surfing technique.
Alongside the surf athletes, O’Neill’s snowboard professionals also attend, creating opportunities to connect across both board disciplines and share the same spirit of progression, adventure and community.
Most importantly, Women of the Wave is about women supporting and inspiring one another in the water – creating a space where everyone feels encouraged to push themselves, whether someone is picking up a surfboard for the first time or already has years of experience.
Community creation
O’Neill athletes Bea Carvalho, Belle Betteridge, Ruby Knox and Maisie Hill
© The Red Bulletin x O’Neill
The most recent Women of the Wave event in September 2026 saw a small group of female surfers head to Montalivet, France, for six nights of surfing, coaching, yoga and time spent together both in and out of the water.
The surfing aspect included three group sessions with video analysis, additional time in the water, workshops and coaching, while out of the waves there was daily yoga and plenty of opportunities to connect.
O’Neill team athletes Bea Carvalho, Belle Betteridge, Ruby Knox and Maisie Hill were on hand to inspire the participants and share their own experiences. But they also formed part of the wider community; surfing, learning and enjoying the experience alongside everyone else.
Overall, the seven-day Women of the Wave event was an invitation for participants to get in the water, meet like-minded women, learn something new and share their own story. Barriers were broken down and anxieties were eased, with the line-up made to feel more welcoming, and the inclusive community enabling those in the water to build confidence and progress – both individually and as a collective.
Discover the O’Neill Women of the Wave community and follow O’Neill for more stories and experiences across surf and snow.