Trans Pro Surfer: “Trans Athletes Are Here To Stay”
Following a controversial rule change in professional surfing, Sasha Jane Lowerson weighs in on the current climate of trans athletes in the sport.
Earlier this month, Sasha Jane Lowerson competed in the World Surf League’s Manly Longboard Classic. It wasn’t the first time Lowerson – a trans athlete who formerly competed in the men’s division, but has since transitioned to the women’s – surfed in a professional contest, but it is still a fairly new development for the sport, according to ‘Surfer’.
And of course, with anything new comes controversy.
Lowerson, 44, who is believed to be the first open trans athlete in pro surfing, has been a vocal advocate for inclusion since (and before) the WSL adopted the new policy in early 2023.
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“What it changed was, before I didn’t feel safe,” Lowerson told ‘Outside’ in a recent interview. “I didn’t feel like there was a support network. And then to see that there actually were influential people that were supportive and there was a network of safety being created. For me, that was, subconsciously, the thing that made me say, yes, I would compete.”
According to the new rule, a transgender woman is eligible to compete in a women’s event by sustaining a testosterone level less than 5 nano-moles per litre of blood for 12 months.
Following the rule’s implementation, there were supporters and dissenters – most notably on the latter side, there was Bethany Hamilton, who said she would no longer compete in WSL events if the rule went through.
“I personally think that the best solution would be to create a different division so that all can have a fair opportunity to showcase their passion and talent,” Hamilton said. “But we are seeing instances of male-bodied dominance in women’s sports like running, swimming and others.”
Despite the pushback, Lowerson has maintained her position on the subject, and especially when it comes to surfing in competition: “It would reflect in how I would compete. I would either go out and be mind-numb and not even catch waves. Or put really good scores on the board because I would have blocked it out. That was quite hard.
“You’re going out to a heat and they’re calling the names out,” Lowerson added. “I always hated my name because it reflected a male persona.”
And although she lost in the quarterfinals during the recent Manly Longboard Classic, Lowerson is committed to promoting trans athlete inclusion. She also feels that the WSL, and other competitive surfing bodies, are on the right track with inclusivity, too.
“I believe they’ve done a good job so far,” she said. “Trans athletes are here and here to stay.”
Read related articles here:
Surfer Bethany Hamilton Speaks Out Against Policy Allowing Trans Athletes In Female Category
Basketball Australia Rules Trans Athlete Lexi Rodgers Ineligible To Play
Cycling Governing Body Defends Trans Policy After Austin Killips Wins Tour Of The Gila
U.S.A. House Republicans Pass Bill Banning Trans Women From Certain Sports Teams
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