A world-famous brand in the world of board sports, Rip Curl has been the subject of numerous criticisms and violent attacks in recent days for having promoted women's surfing by relying on a 44-year-old transgender surfer, Sasha. Jane Lowerson.
The Instagram post, part of a campaign called
"
Meet Western Australia's Local Heroes
",
has since been removed by the Australian surf brand.
But since then, part of the surfing community has taken issue with Rip Curl by even calling for a boycott of its products on social networks because this initiative comes a few months after the termination of the contract between the brand and Bethany Hamilton, icon of this sport. .
In February 2022, the 33-year-old American champion had nevertheless extended her partnership with the company founded by Doug Warbrick and Brian Singer in 1969 but a position taken by the champion had blurred their relationship.
Rip Curl's campaign based on Sasha Jane Lowerson.
DR
In February 2023, the Hawaiian who lost her left arm following an attack by a tiger shark when she was only 13 years old, opposed the presence of transgender athletes in women's competitions by making it known that she would no longer participate in the events as long as this decision was maintained.
“This concerns me as a professional athlete who has competed in World Surf League events for over 15 years. (…) I think that a lot of girls currently on tour do not support this new rule and fear being ostracized if they express themselves
,” she explained in a video, specifying that she had no problem with the transgender people.
“We are seeing a glimpse of the domination of the male body in women's sports such as running, swimming and others
,” worried the Junior world vice-champion (in 2009), long-time face of Rip Curl.