I think you agree with me that surfski is a demanding discipline: endurance, reading the sea, resilience, technical mastery of the canoe in difficult sea conditions… And even though it is a relatively “new” sport, as in many others, the visibility has historically fallen on male paddlers. However, the high competitive level and technical progression of many women have been key in the evolution of this sport. From pioneers who paved the way in male dominated circuits, to actual champions who redefined downwind performance, today we review five essential names to understand surfski’s history from a different perspective: women.
Eve Glover Anderson
Most probably you have never heard of her, but she marked a before and after in times when competitions were male dominated.
At the age of 42, november 2 1980, this Hawaiian swimmer and triathlete became the first woman to participate in the Molokai Challenge, one of the oldest and hardest competitions in the world that links the 53 kilometers that separate the islands of Molokai and Oahu.
I started at 64 paddles per minute and I finished at the same pace. Water was relatively calm, I could see Koko Head and paddle straight to land. That made it an easy race for me she would comment on her arrival with a smile. And although she joked that she was not the last one and that there were still a few men behind her the truth is that Anderson had opened ways for many women to be next.
Nikki Mocke
From the coast of Fish Hoek, in South Africa, Nikki Mocke has been a key figure in the development and visibility of women’s surfski worldwide. With over 25 years dedicated to canoeing, Nikki has represented South Africa in multiple disciplines, including lifesaving, marathon, speed and surfski.
One of her greatest accomplishments came while representing South Africa at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Nicki placed seventh in the K4-500 event along with Michele Eray, Carol Joyce and Jennifer Hodson. If you are as geeky as I am, you may remember that in that final the team formed by Teresa Portela, Beatriz Manchón, Jana Smidakova and Sonia Molanes came fifth.
After 2008, Nikki focused on sea canoeing and at the first World Surfski Championships, in Vila Do Conde in 2013, she won the bronze sharing the podium with Michelle Burn (silver) and Michele Eray, the first winner of a World Championship. Years earlier, in 2010, she won her first Eurochallenge edition, where our friend Chloe Bunnet was bronze.
But besides the podiums, Nikki has been an ambassador of surfski, founding with her husband Dawid the Surfski School in Fish Hoek. From there, they have trained generations of paddlers, teaching not only the paddling technique, but also to understand the sea and enjoy the ride.
Nikki Mocke has not only made history by competing: she has created surfski history through her teaching. And that may be her greatest victory.
Bonnie Hanckok
From the east coast of Australia, Bonnie Hancock has redefined the limits of surfski and human endurance. With a journey that began at the age of 17 as a professional Ironwoman, competing in nine Nutri-Grain series and competing for Australia in sport lifesaving, Bonnie has always been linked to the sea and extreme effort.
It was in 2022 that her name was engraved in sea kayaking history when she completed the fastest circumnavigation of Australia on a surfski, covering 12,700 km in 254 days – insane!
During this journey, Bonnie faced waves of up to six meters, shark and crocodile sightings, as well as extreme weather conditions that pushed her to her physical and mental limits.
Her journey not only broke records, but also had a charity purpose: she raised more than $65,000 for the mental health charity Gotcha4Life.
Hancock also holds the record for being the woman who has paddled the longest distance in 24 hours: no less than 235 kilometers.
Bonnie has narrated in the book The Girl who Touched the Stars, the life lessons and self-improvement that her epic journey has given her and which has shown that limits are there to be challenged.
Jemma Smith
On our trip to Australia, we saw the culture of sport in the country. So it is not surprising that there are so many women from this country who have triumphed worldwide. This is the case of Jemma Smith, who has risen as one of the great stars of international surfski. At only 26 years old, she has already left an unforgettable mark in the history of sea kayaking, by blending talent and discipline.
Her rise began in lifesaving athletics and Ironwoman competitions, where she stood out from an early age. By the age of 17, she was competing in the professional Nutri-Grain series and her progression led her to represent Australia at world championships in sprint and marathon.
In 2022, Jemma made history by becoming the first Australian woman to win the senior title at an ICF World Championship. A year later, in 2023, she renewed her title on home ground in Perth, becoming the first woman to win two consecutive world championships in this discipline.
Besides her achievements in world championships, Jemma has shined in iconic competitions such as “The Doctor”, one of the most prestigious downwind races in the world. In 2024, she achieved her second consecutive win in this event, strengthening her position among the elite of surfski.
Out of the water, Jemma shares her passion as a PE and math teacher and continues to be connected to her home club, Umina SLSC, where she began her lifesaving athletics career at the age of six.
With a career that combines youth, achievement and an unwavering dedication, Jemma Smith represents the present and future of women’s surfski worldwide.
Judit Vergés
We could not finish this list without mentioning the woman who shines with her own light in the Spanish surfski: Judit Vergés Xifra. A tireless paddler and competitive spirit, Judit has become the most successful woman in the history of sea kayaking in Spain.
Linked for years to the Club Amigos del Piragüismo, Judit has not only been an ambassador of surfski at a national level, but also a competitor who has left her mark in every European and world championship in which she has taken part.
Her international record is impressive:
- European Champion en 2024, 2022 y 2021.
- European Silver Medalist en 2018.
- Bronze medal at the World Championships 2021 (Lanzarote) and in 2024 (Madeira).
- World Champion in Mixed SS2 in 2023 and runner-up in 2024 alongside Walter Bouzán.
And this is just a part of it.
Judit Vergés not only competes, she inspires. And it is a pride for those of us who are part of her club to see her defending each dorsal with the same commitment with which she faces the sea: without fear, with elegance and stroke by stroke.
The sea also has a woman’s name
These five women have not only made surfskiing history: they have pushed its boundaries. Each one, from her own corner of the world, has contributed to making this sport – which does not understand men or women, only the sea, wind and paddles – more whole, more visible and freer today.
From the pioneer who crossed the Molokai Channel to the world champions, their stories remind us that surfski is not just about paddling: it is passion, perseverance and community.
And although there are still many stories to tell, one thing is clear: when they paddle, they also pave the way for all those to come.
