Mindy Pennybacker - Oahu, Hawai'i

Dropping In to Power: Personal stories of the transformational power of surfing from women of all levels, all ages, all over.

🏄‍♀️“Surfing well with a smile is the best revenge.” Mindy Pennybacker 🏄‍♀️ Mindy Pennybacker, lifelong soul surfer, author, journalist, and surf columnist for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, just released the gorgeous tome, Surfing Sisterhood Hawaii, a history, celebration, and, really, guidebook for how women have ruled and can rule the waves! Her axiom, “Our place is in the waves," leaps off of every page, a celebration of ordinary and extraordinary women surfers with a shared love of surfing. Mindy’s personal story spans the whole saga of women elbowing their way onto waves from Gidget to today, and glorious moments in between the jostling. Mindy jokingly calls herself a “brain in a jar,” which is accurate only in reference to her intelligence and wit. In this episode, we cover a lot of ground! She recounts tales of the great Hawaiian surf goddesses who were revered, and coveted, for their prowess. The struggle with body image and sense of self, even with the most accomplished women surfers, like Carissa Moore (whom she interviewed twice for her book). She digs into the gender wars in the lineup, with brilliant solutions for the onslaught of the three invaders: hotshots, visitors and groms. We delve into what it was like growing up in Hawaii in the surf scene of the 60s and 70s, the Tonng’s gang of boys who encouraged and protected her, being marginalized, alternately dropped in on and mentored by famous watermen, being nearly beaten up, and being cheered. What else? Pro surfing, friendships, harrowing moments, pioneers, life. And, being accidentally barreled. Mindy talked to countless women, famous and not, for her book. Their stories are now woven into hers, and ours. Don’t miss this episode!

Buy the book: https://mutualpublishing.com/product/surfing-sisterhood-hawaii/
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Other references:

Surf Girls Hawaii on Amazon Prime

Important movies about the history of Hawaiian surf (though NOT women’s surf)

Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau

Waterman (The story of Duke Kahanomoku)

🏄‍♀️💜 Never miss an episode! Stay up to date with Dropping In To Power Podcast and (when I finally get back in the swing-- a love poem from the ocean) - Sign up for the Substack here.💜🏄‍♀️
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