This was a win for women in surfing. But beyond surfing, it was an important win for women everywhere after the disheartening election results just a few days before. The majority of press covering the WSL Big Wave Tour’s Pe’ahi Challenge focused around the Women’s Championship and its saving grace, Paige Alms. Her pioneering victory at the inaugural 2016 Women’s Championship at Pe’ahi was one for the history books, making headlines throughout the mainstream media world, from BBC to NBC. And with Jaws only minutes away from her home in Haiku, the fact that this big wave warrior took the win came at no surprise. The shock factor of it all came with WSL Big Wave Tour’s decision to run the women’s heats the same day as the men’s.
And so the controversy unfolded. Not many of the women made waves. Some were unable to paddle into the strong offshore trades, the challenging wind that Maui locals know so well. However, it was Paige’s years of experience in the Jaws lineup that made her domination such a stand out victory, awarding her $15,000 and the title.
The Inertia asked Paige to go into depth about her Pe’ahi Challenge 2016 victory and the honor of being the first-ever woman to win a Big Wave Tour title. Here, she breaks down everything from her equipment choice that day to what the future holds for women’s big wave surfing.
Shannon Reporting: How does it feel to be the first woman to win the Pe’ahi Challenge?
Paige Alms: It feels awesome. It’s truly an honor to be able to do that at your home break. It’s five minutes from my house, so this has been a wave that I’ve grown up learning how to surf big waves. It is really hard to put into words how good it feels.
SR: You looked really comfortable out there despite the tough conditions. How much time have you put in over the years at Jaws?
PA: I’ve been paddle surfing Pe’ahi for six years now. I try to be out there every swell with good conditions. I really like it when it’s not windy (laughs). Yeah, the wind definitely throws a whole other aspect into the sport. The wave itself is already so dangerous that when there is wind on it, as everyone saw, you go through some heavy wipeouts. I wouldn’t say that I felt comfortable, but I definitely know the lineup pretty well and where I want to sit and the waves that I want to catch. I guess I felt somewhat comfortable, but you’re never comfortable out there. Once you think you’re comfortable, then you get caught by a clean-up set (laughs).
SR: Which of your SOS Shapes did you decide to ride that day? Why that board?
PA: I rode a 10’4”, a big pink and green beauty. It was my biggest board. I usually ride something like a 9’6” or a 9’4”. I really like riding smaller boards out there for where I’m usually sitting in the lineup when its glassy and clean and perfect (laughs). I actually hadn’t ridden the 10’4” in two years, but I brought it out as a backup, and then as soon as we were out in the lineup Shaun [Ordenz, boyfriend / shaper] and I were sitting on the ski and he said, “You need a bigger board regardless with the wind; you need to be able to get in.” I feel really comfortable on that board. I’ve caught a lot of waves on it and I remembered exactly how it felt; it was smooth and buttery and that was the board of choice for that session.
SR: What’s going through your mind when you’re taking the drop?
PA: It depends. During that contest I was out there picking waves that I was going to make. When you’re in a free surf session versus a contest, the vibe is completely different. I knew that if I wanted to get to the final I needed to make my waves, not just flail and fly out the back. I was really focused on that, so when I got to my feet I was really telling myself to push that nose down, conscious of that split-second of getting the nose down the face. I was really focused on getting down the wave and not getting caught up high and eating it.
Paige Alms paddles into the wind making this technical airdrop at Jaws. Photo: Aaron Lynton | World Surf League
SR: What was your first reaction when Peter Mel and the Big Wave Tour announced there would be a Women’s Championship event?
PA: So stoked! That was really exciting news because I felt like all of the girls had been wanting it for a long time and we didn’t have to fight for it. It was brought to us and they wanted to include the women. And I think this event for viewership, and from what I’m hearing from everyone and friends that were watching, the women brought a whole other aspect to this event. All the guys that were in it were really stoked that we were there and that was the best feeling ever. They were really happy that we were there, less people expressing their worry or fear for the girls. I’m really grateful that we had that opportunity to have an empty lineup. It’s just the best thing in the entire world. So thanks, WSL; hope we get to do it again next year.
SR: What was the most challenging part of surfing Pe’ahi that day?
PA: Definitely the wind. The conditions and swell direction were a little funky. There was a lot more north in the swell, so there wasn’t much of a west bowl and usually I’m trying to find those in between north to west bowl peaks. But this swell was way more north so it was only breaking up top. Then, when you throw the wind into it, that becomes the biggest challenge. It doesn’t look like it in the footage, but just even when it’s glassy out there we have so much wind and force coming up the face, so when there are trade winds it’s plain scary (laughs).
The Pe’ahi Challenge has it’s fair share of wipeouts, as Paige tried to negotiate the windy conditions. Photo: Aaron Lynton | World Surf League
SR: How did it feel to win an event like this, in the same week with the controversial presidential election results?
PA: I usually try to stay out of politics. I have my own opinions but I try not to voice them publicly. That was definitely pretty stressful watching the last few hours of the election results. We pulled it up on our TV and it’s just crazy to have a women’s Big Wave Tour event 12 days after that. It definitely felt really good to be out there representing all of us girls. It was a monumental time for sure after this particular election.
SR: How do you hope the Women’s Championship will influence the next generation of girls on Maui and beyond?
PA: This is just the beginning. You have to start somewhere. We did it in a way that hopefully represents all the women that want to be able to do this growing up. Hopefully in five to ten years we will be having contests like this all over the world, and all the big wave girl chargers that are growing up now will have a chance to have full-time jobs doing what they love.
I hope it inspires everyone to go out and really push their level in sports, or academics, or whatever you’re chasing. Get after it, because this is something that I dreamt about as a little kid. I’ve bumped into some of my childhood friends the past couple of days and we’re all saying, “We were just little kids surfing the inside white wash at Pavilions [Ho’okipa], and now look at what everybody is doing!”
SR: Why is female empowerment important to you?
PA: Why is it not important (laughs)? I think it’s really important to me for women to have a voice. I think a lot of girls tend to hold back from saying what they feel. For me, I was raised by a single mom who taught me to speak out, fight for what I want, work really hard and set goals. I want more women to feel empowered, to feel equal (and equally deserving) of everything that they do in their jobs and in their lives. I can’t think of one reason why it’s not important.
SR: Anyone you’d like to thank or shout outs to the audience?
PA: Definitely a huge shout out to my mom who was there watching on the cliff. She raised me, so I’m beyond grateful for that. My boyfriend, who is in the shed getting all of our board bags organized. He is the reason I feel so comfortable out there on my boards. He makes the best boards ever, SOS shapes, but he’s having a morning off (laughs). Shout-out to Sam at Deep2Peak; thanks for getting me in the best shape of my life, for truly believing in me from day one and for getting me back from my shoulder injury. I’m just really grateful to have that team. And to all of my friends and family that were watching and sending me messages, its been unreal. Thank you so much for the support.
SR: What’s the key to happiness?
PA: The key to happiness? This (turns around to her backyard and laughs). Good waves, good food, love, smiles, friends. I think the key to happiness for me is keeping it simple.
Editor’s Note: Follow Paige’s success and adventures on Instagram @PaigeAlms.
