Oceanside Women’s Surfing Series : Sawyer Edges Out Fellow Australian

After Toni Sawyer heard over the loudspeaker that she had qualified for the quarterfinals of the 1986 Stoked Women’s Surfing Series here Sunday morning, she walked over to where her friend and fellow Australian, Pam Burridge, was sitting to express her surprise.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” Sawyer told Burridge. “I made it out of the first round.”

It shouldn’t be such a big deal to Sawyer to survive first-round competition. She is ranked 12th in the world among women professional surfers. But after being eliminated in the first rounds of her previous two competitions, Sawyer said it was about time she got into the quarterfinals again.

“I had hoped I would make it through the first round,” Sawyer said, “but you almost come to expect the worst after a while.”

What Sawyer, 27, hadn’t expected was finishing first late Sunday afternoon in the field of 32 surfers, edging Burridge, ranked third in the world, to win the $300 first prize.

There were four Australians and 28 Americans competing in the first leg of the three-tiered 1986 Stoked Womens’ Surfing Series. Jodie Cooper, ranked third in the world and the favorite Sunday, was defeated by Sawyer in the quarterfinals. Florida’s Frieda Zamba, No. 1 in the world, declined to attend Sunday’s competition, which was used by most surfers as a warm-up to the upcoming women’s tour.

The strong showing by the Australians Sunday may be a signal that an Australian may finally hold the top spot among women surfers, say Sawyer, Burridge, Cooper and even a few Americans.

In the 10 years of women’s professional surfing, no Australian has won the crown. In men’s surfing, however, Australians seem to dominate the sport. Last year, though, American Tom Curran won the title from two-time champion Tom Carroll, an Australian.

“The American (women) pros were really the first ones in the sport when it started,” said Burridge, who was the first Australian to turn pro six years ago. “We were intimidated and had a lot of catching up to do. But now we’re getting the backing (by sponsors) and we can come over here and compete.”

As for beating the Americans, Burridge and Sawyer agreed that there is no burning rivalry between the two countries, as with the America’s Cup, but they do say it is time Australia had a women’s champion.

The second leg of the 1986 Stoked Women’s Surfing Series is next Sunday at San Onofre State Beach. The third leg will be Aug. 10 at Oceanside Pier.