MALIBU - At the second annual Rip Curl Malibu Pro Surfing competition, scheduled October 1-9, Chicks Rule.  This event is the only “stand alone” World Championship Tour event on the U.S. mainland, meaning only women surfers will compete.  That the popularity of women’s competitive surfing has surged past men’s events in recent years and that the competitive field here is made up entirely of young, sleek, attractive, fearless athletes packed with estrogen might be just a few reasons Rip Curl was expecting to draw record crowds to the Malibu Surfrider Beach this week.

The event was capped on Saturday, October 8 with a Celebrity Surf bout, pitting Rip Curl team pro surfing goddesses like Bethany Hamilton and Jacqueline Silva (ranked 6^th in The World) against professional actors with dubious surfing credentials such as Rick Schroeder (“NYPD Blues”) and Chris Pontius (“Jackass”).  Any bets on who surfed circles around whom?

With surfing becoming an exploding sports phenomenon around the world, this week’s field drew competitors from as far away as Brazil, France and Australia.  What makes them ride?  “I’m just doing what I love,” voiced Peruvian Sofia Mulanovich, current World Champion.

The $62,500 prize purse being offered by Rip Curl has nothing to do with it, of course.  Where the prize money for most women’s professional sporting events continues to lag feebly behind that of men’s events, chick’s pro surfing purses are beginning to catch up with their more masculine counterparts.  And why not?  In an age when professional athletics are plagued by doping and cheating scandals, surfing is a sport that can be won only with gender-neutral grace, skill and a zen connection with the wave.

Perhaps that is why surfers continue to set examples of integrity and humanity that should make the Jose Cansecos of the world blush with shame.  “It’s never about the money,” said 15 year old Bethany Hamilton.  “If I win, I’ll just donate the money to Hurricane Katrina victims.” 

Bethany has more than her share of disadvantages as a professional athlete.  She lost her left arm to a fifteen foot tiger shark off the northern coast of Kauai almost two years ago.  Astoundingly, she was back on her board within a month and competing in world class events within a year. “I have to plan a little more in advance how I am going to catch a wave, since I paddle with only one arm,” explained the blonde teen from Hanalei, “But it doesn’t really affect my balance too much.”  Bethany, by the way, defies the laws of gravity while on her board.

Fittingly, the Rip Curl event returns competitive surfing to its California birthplace – Malibu – home of Beach Blanket Bingo, Moon Doggie and awkward men’s swim trunks.  In fact, this championship contest is blessed with the inspiration of the original Gidget.  Kathy Koehner-Zuckerman, Malibu native, is still as pert and feisty as Sandra Dee portrayed her all those years ago.   With a Plumeria blossom tucked behind one ear, little Kathy Koehner offered her wishes for some gnarly breaks to the world class line up of professional women’s athletes assembled here.  “Let ‘em rip!” 

Event web site: www.ripcurl.com.