These women in Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka have been raised in a surf community where many of their fathers, brothers, and uncles are surfers and coaches. Surrounded by surfing from a young age, many girls feel a natural desire to learn themselves, however, this hasn’t been an option for most of them.
There are strict cultural and religious expectations of Sri Lankan women that stop them from entering the public space and participating in sports such as surfing. This is the short story of how all that changed, how a cultural shift allowed local women to take their rightful place in the lineup.
To learn more about the Arugam Bay Girls Surf Club, or donate to the club, click here.
