SOLIDARITY IN SURFING
Life is precious. Wiping out reminds us of that. Getting flogged, spinning out of control, taming our fears by telling ourselves to relax and believing that the sea—our puppeteer—is releasing its grip. Still, we’ve never had to beg—I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe—not on dry land surrounded by people within an arm’s reach.
On May 25, the horrific murder of George Floyd, an African-American man, floods the media when a White Minneapolis police officer kneels on George’s throat for almost nine minutes. Each minute robs years off his life …’til his time is completely stolen. George’s pleas to breathe, trigger global support for racial equality and a cry to end police brutality.
Seven-time world surfing champion, Stephanie Gilmore, confers with Surfing Life. “How any human being can’t be affected when they watch that, blows my mind. To see someone’s life get taken from them—be compelled to do something about it.”
Many Aussies are compelled. On June 6, tens of thousands attend peaceful protests around Australia. There is solidarity in surf with a worldwide paddle out in honour of the Black Lives Matter movement. Jessi Miley-Dyer organises one at Bondi Beach. Steph Gilmore, and her sister Whitney, organise a paddle out at Gold Coast’s Rainbow Bay, which includes surfers from Juraki Surf Culture (an
