The Double-Up

The constant whirlwind of surf comp coverage on the show is joined this month by talk of some incredible new additions to the women's surf film canon, as well as even more change within the WSL, including the surprise resignation of Jessi Miley-Dyer.

While covering the most recent events, including Stab High Japan, the Challenger Series kick-off at Newcastle, Margaret River and the Cut and the return of a standard CT to Trestles, we take a look at Bettylou Sakura Johnson's strong resurgence and question whether or not the WSL should leave decisions like running the women at The Box in the hands of the surfers or take charge of the call themselves.

Go Deeper
Buy Tickets: Maya and the Wave Premieres
Watch: Wilson's Home, Milk & Honey
Donate: Willow Hardy's surgery

Chapters
00:00 - Intro
08:43 - Seas the Day
11:28 - Fresh Films
28:42 - Surf Opinion
33:56 - Erin Brooks' Surfer Mag Cover
38:04 - WSL Changes
51:00 - Stab High Japan
58:49 - Challenger Series Kick-Off
1:07:34 - Margaret River CT
1:23:45 - Trestles CT

Info
Music: Dry Grass, courtesy of Body Type
Contact: [email protected]
Instagram: @the.double.up
Web: https://www.womensurf.net

When the Margaret River Pro kicked off a couple weeks ago a little-known historical note for professional surfing was also taking place; two women were hired to be the main event photographers for the first time ever. 

While women have been an integral part of the WSL's photography team for a while now, two had never been paired together until Be Ryder and Cait Miers joined forces in Western Australia.

In the aftermath of the contest Shan and Rach caught up with the pair to talk about the event, as well as their differing journeys to their current status and the state of affairs for women working in the surf industry.

Go Deeper
Follow: Cait Miers, Be Ryder

Info
Music: Dry Grass, courtesy of Body Type
Contact: [email protected]
Instagram: @the.double.up
Web: https://www.womensurf.net

We have arrived at the midway point of a whirlwind WSL Championship Tour season, with six events down and six to go. Three CTs have run in the few weeks since we last recorded and there's only one more chance for the women on Tour to make the Mid-season Cut.

This episode we delve into the rankings to catch up with where each of the women are currently sitting and what their year has looked like so far. We also delve into the WSL's massive announcement of the changes to the CT for 2026 and beyond, and celebrate our very own Rachael Tilly winning yet another World Title as we take a look at the ISA World Longboard Championships.

Go Deeper
Buy Tickets: Ceibo Surf Film Premieres, Maya and the Wave Premieres
Watch: Rachael Tilly is a Failure

Chapters
00:00 - Intro
08:27 - Movie Premieres
12:41 - WSL CT Changes
31:41 - Mid-Season CT Update
1:32:04 - ISA World Longboard Championships

Info
Music: Dry Grass, courtesy of Body Type
Contact: [email protected]
Instagram: @the.double.up
Web: https://www.womensurf.net

For those who follow our Instagram, you may have seen or engaged with a conversation we started relating to a comment from the booth at the recently wrapped Portugal CT. It wasn't necessarily an offensive comment - it was intended as a huge compliment - but it tapped into a theme we brought up on our collab episode with The Lineup regarding how performance is viewed between genders.

This episode we recap the ensuing discussion and continue it, especially in light of the fact that the event ran for the third year in a row with no women hired to commentate in the booth. Of course we also talk through the event itself, including Gabriela Bryan's increasing stature on Tour and Caroline Marks' big win.

We also chat with Lucy Small about her new surf film Ceibo, as well as Noosa Fest, and round-up all the other noteworthy news in women's surfing for the month of March.

Go Deeper
Buy Tickets: Ceibo Surf Film Premieres
Register: Seas the Day
Watch: Lilliana Bowery - Short and Sweet, Lakey Peterson - Making Waves, Coco Cairns - Rose Red Raw Rice, Leihani Zoric - Leihani is Here, Sophie Fletcher Designs

Chapters
00:00 - Intro
03:25 - Olympics News
15:02 - Seas the Day
19:15 - TC Alfred
22:58 - Fresh Edits
27:40 - Lucy Small on Ceibo and Noosa Fest
45:02 - QS Update
49:24 - Portugal CT Wrap
1:09:03 - Voices and Influence in Surfing

Info
Music: Dry Grass, courtesy of Body Type
Contact: [email protected]
Instagram: @the.double.up
Web: https://www.womensurf.net

In a first for The Double-Up, The Lineup reached out with the opportunity to join in on a special collab epsiode to discuss the current state of women's surfing. 

Never ones to pass up an opportunity to dig in deep on their favorite subject, Shan and Rach joined Lineup host Dave Prodan for a conversation that spanned topics from moving beyond an era where the highest compliment a woman could receive was that she surfs like a man, to the role of media in covering women's sports. They also discuss whether pursuing a career in surfing is a smart choice for women in 2025 and why the Caity-Molly rivalry is arguably the most important storyline in professional surfing right now - along with plenty more.

Go Deeper
Follow: The Lineup with Dave Prodan

Info
Music: Dry Grass, courtesy of Body Type
Contact: [email protected]
Instagram: @the.double.up
Web: www.womensurf.net

In theory the two major surfing events that ran back-to-back in mid-February could not have been more different - one held at a man-made wave in a place no surf contest deserves to be, seemingly at odds with the nature of surfing; the other at the furthest ends of the surf exploratory world, seemingly embodying the nature of surfing. 

It was surprising then that the two events actually shared a few similarities that get at the heart of modern-day competitive surfing - at least according to the two semi-surf-nerds co-hosting this podcast.

Either way, there has been no shortage of opinion on the two events and this episode holds plenty more...

Go Deeper
Watch: Alyssa Spencer - Island Rhythm

Chapters
00:00 - Intro
09:17 - Monthly Round-Up: Babies, Bronte Macaulay's retirement, Alyssa Spencer's edit, Capitulo Perfeito
19:12 - Contest Corner: Surf Abu Dhabi Pro
1:01:41 - Contest Corner: Natural Selection

Info
Music: Dry Grass, courtesy of Body Type
Contact: [email protected]
Instagram: @the.double.up
Web: www.womensurf.net

Growing up on the Hawaiian island of Maui, Annie Reickert has spent her life embedded in the harsh elements of the windy isle, embracing them to grow into a waterwoman of the highest order.

After receiving her first full invite to the 2024/2025 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, the 23-year-old placed highest out of the ten women who took part, despite surfing Waimea for the very first time in her opening heat.

This episode we catch-up with Annie to learn more about her experience at the Eddie, as well as her overall big-wave journey and how she navigates a profession that hasn't necessarily opened wide yet for women.

Go Deeper
Follow: Annie Reickert
Listen: Laura Crane on Looking Sideways

Chapters
00:00 - Intro
07:28 - Annie Reickert Interview

Info
Music: Dry Grass, courtesy of Body Type
Contact: [email protected]
Instagram: @the.double.up
Web: www.womensurf.net

It took some time to get there but the 2025 CT season is off and running with Pipe run and won by two-time World Champion Tyler Wright, who is now wearing the yellow jersey for the first time in nearly two years...headed into Abu Dhabi.

It wasn't peak Pipe (for the women!), but wow did they have some moments. This episode we debrief that event, talk about Abu Dhabi as a CT venue, and preview the fast-approaching contest. We also catch up on a jam-packed North Shore season, talk Caity Simmers' Blouse and plenty more. 

Go Deeper
Read: The Middle East's play to rule global sports, Tyler Wright's wife criticises World Surf League, Abu Dhabi Petition, Surfers vs Apartheid
Listen: In Deep, Football Weekly: Why does Saudi Arabia want to host the World Cup?
Watch: Blouse

Chapters
00:00 - Intro: Rach's Travels and Shan's Big News
22:58 - Monthly Round-Up: In Deep, Blouse, Natural Selection, North Shore Season
49:59 - Contest Corner: Pipe Pro
1:10:54 - Abu Dhabi Discussion
136:02 - Contest Corner: Surf Abu Dhabi Pro Preview

Info
Music: Dry Grass, courtesy of Body Type
Contact: [email protected]
Instagram: @the.double.up
Web: www.womensurf.net

Vahine Fierro needs no introduction. As one of the most beloved figures in modern-day surfing, Vahine has carried herself throughout her career with an air of joy and beauty, buoyed by her frank honesty. She won the 2017 WSL World Junior Championship in a small beachbreak and the 2024 SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro as a wildcard at large, barreling Teahupo’o.

In this episode we chat with Vahine about her unique upbringing, her long road to CT qualification, her relationship with Teahupo’o and the rollercoaster of winning and losing there this year.

Chapters
00:00 - Intro
3:43 - Vahine Fierro Interview

Info
Music: Dry Grass, courtesy of Body Type
Contact: [email protected]
Instagram: @the.double.up
Web: www.womensurf.net