Club History

Bondi Girls Surfriders was formed in 1999 by a few like minded surfer girls who wanted to promote women in surfing.  In 1999 there were very few if any women’s only surfing clubs in Australia and none in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.

Brenda Miley, who had started Lets Go Surfing surf school a few years earlier in 1996, was always motivated to support women in surfing.  Having been a member of the famous ITN boardriders at Bondi in the early 80s with a strong women’s contingent and Maroubra’s Southend Boardriders in the early 90s she met with many girls who were keen to compete but were often too shy to surf in front of the boys.

One of Brenda’s first students, Jo Evenden, was on a fast learning curve and keen as mustard to surf at every opportunity!  So, (like many great ideas) Bondi Girsl Surfiders Club (BGSR) was formed over a few drinks one night at North Bondi RSL Club.

The first meeting took place in a cafe at Bondi with a number of girls attending, including Kylie Roberts who is still a member today, and BGSR began within weeks.

The goals were to be an inclusive club where all girls were welcome no matter what level or ability.  The club was to meet on the first Saturday of every month and surfboards and wetsuits were provided at every comp to anyone who needed them.  It was all about getting the girls into the surf!

The original goals were:

BGSR is a club where women of all ages and abilities

• can surf in a safe and fun environment
• improve their surfing skills
• meet other girls who surf
• get lots of waves
• explore new surfing spots
• have fun

In the early days BGSR attracted many keen female surfers of all levels.  In the first year there were 25 members.

BGSR has had a number of great surfers including Kaye Llewelyn and Kathy Newman competing in the club.  3 of our original juniors Jessi Miley Dyer, Nicola Atherton and Claire Norman have gone on to have careers in pro surfing. Jessi is competing on the WCT, Nicola the WQS and Claire on the longboard circuit.  In fact, Claire still competes in the club when she’s in town!

Regular surf trips away provided the opportunity to form many great friendships, build confidence at different surf breaks and enjoy uncrowded waves.  The tradition of these surf trips is still an integral part of the club today.

Over the years BGSR has also been involved in and organised a number of external competitions including ‘Surf for Breast Cancer’ where we raised $3000 for breast cancer research in honour of local surfer Anna Solomonson who passed away with the disease, as well as community surf comp ‘Bondi Tsunami’ which raised money for Norman Andrews House.  There have also been many interclub comps against Northern Beaches and Cronulla Women’s clubs, the Bondi Boardriders, and the Jim Beam Tag Team events.

We have always had a great relationship with the Bondi Longboard Club.  They have been one of BGSRs best supporters helping us out with their expertise in surfing and barbecuing, especially in the early days.  We always show our support at the Chloe Byron Memorial Comp as Chloe was one of our original juniors and longboarders!

Brenda went on to be president for 7 years from 1999-2005, with Jo as secretary until 2003, growing the club, with the help of many keen women.  BGSR became a fixture in the Bondi landscape on the first Saturday of every month with girls out in the water in numbers. Our strength was having fun and encouraging girls into the surf.  Our weakness was putting up the tent! From 2006-2009 Madeleine McMahon took over as president and with a team of female surfing enthusiasts streamlined the club and improved the equipment, systems and parties with the end of season fancy dress surfs not to be missed!

Today, in her second year as president, Olivia Lucas leads BGSR with great energy and an enthusiastic committee.  Boasting over 60 members BGSR currently runs Advanced, Intermediate A, Intermediate B, Beginners, Junior and Longboard divisions.

The goals haven’t changed much since 1999 and the passion and intensity is still pumping…..It’s just the tent’s much easier to put up now!