Holly Widger
Surfer Holly Widger has had a hectic year. She completed her final exams in December while also beginning a nursing internship at Waterford University Hospital, where she went straight to work on a COVID ward.
Holly (22), was not long recovered from the virus herself when she started nursing. Three shifts of 12-hours or more a week in the midst of a global pandemic is a baptism of fire for any student nurse - so the sea has become even more of a sanctuary for her.
Despite COVID disruption, Holly and fellow-students Sarah and Sacha Moore have kept their girls’ surfing initiative afloat at Tramore’s T-Bay Surf Club.
“My dad was really into kayaking and brought me out on the water all the time as a child, but I got into surfing when I was a first year at secondary school,” said Holly.
“Every Friday, dad and I decided we would get into the water no matter the weather. Now, he surfs, and we do it together. There were a few girls who surfed with me back then, but they’ve mostly given up."
“That’s why we started ‘Ripgurls’,” she explains of T-Bay’s junior girl gang which has attracted 40 teenagers, aged 12 to 17.
“The aim of ‘Ripgurls’ is to help girl surfers make friends with other girls who want to surf. The hope is they will keep it up because they have friends to go surfing with.”
Holly, Sacha and Sarah are mentors and coaches, but primarily want to empower girls to surf together.
“It is more of a social group to build numbers so they can take care of each other. You tend to lose girls when they are pushed in to competition. We do not do that.”
I have seen some of our girls out surfing with their mothers, or surfing together with their friends at weekends. That is exactly what we want.
The numbers of female social surfers has grown during the pandemic, according to Zoe Lally, Irish Surfing’s Development officer, but she believes they are outnumbered three-to-one by men.
Why so few females, even in a big surf town like Tramore?
“When girls first go to secondary school their social life can become all about nice clothes and just hanging out,” said Holly.
“I went through a phase in fourth year where I didn’t surf that much. Mam was getting on to me about it for ages. I think you have to let yourself fall in love with it.”
T-Bay’s ‘Ripgurls’ is already feeling the love, and has its own logo and social media channels.
A similar crew, Rossnowlagh’s ‘Rossi Rippers’ has emerged in Donegal, led by national champion Una Britton, and Maia Monaghan.
Holly, Sacha and Sarah are mentors and coaches, but primarily want to empower girls to surf together.
“It is more of a social group to build numbers so they can take care of each other. You tend to lose girls when they are pushed in to competition. We do not do that.”
Holly won the Irish senior surfing title while still in her teens and represented Ireland at the World Championships, in Japan, in 2018.
Young athletes who are still competing rarely show such leadership, and Holly credits Lally for sowing the seeds.
“A few years ago, Zoe got on to a few of us to do a week’s surf camp for women and girls in Tramore. I helped run it with fellow women surfers Rachel Moore and Mags Dooley. We had three different age-groups and it went great for two summers. But Zoe pointed out that, while it was fun for a week, people stopped surfing again afterwards".
“So, we thought about how to keep it going. We started properly last summer by bringing the girls out twice a-week.”
Even in the dead of winter, Sunday morning sessions continued, and when COVID prevents group training Holly keeps the girls stoked on group chats with inspirational videos and work-out suggestions.
“They absolutely love it, and want us to bring them out even more than we can. But we ensure a ratio of one coach to eight surfers for safety reasons.
“I have seen some of our girls out surfing with their mothers, or surfing together with their friends at weekends. That is exactly what we want.
“We try to keep it fun for the younger girls. Some of the older ones are getting into competition now.
“We coach them on technique and prepare them through video analysis if they want, but only if they want, because it really is all about having fun.
“The group came about because I would like other women to enjoy surfing the way I do and to get more girls surfing,” reflects
“When I was growing up I used to always be out with lads, but boys can be boys at times.
“It is always nice to have someone at your own level, to compare notes and hang out with.”
T-Bay’s ‘Ripgurls’ are already creating a ripple they hope will grow into a great female wave.