Surfing is a sport widely associated with sandy beaches, crashing waves, and a carefree lifestyle. For many, it represents the ultimate escape from the mundane routines of daily life. However, it is also a sport that has long been dominated by men. In this male-centric world, female surfers have had to fight tooth and nail to prove their worth. One such trailblazer was Judy Dibble – a woman who defied the odds and left an indelible mark on the world of surfing.

Judy Dibble was born in 1947 in Ocean Beach (OB), California, first living a little house feet from the ocean and at the foot of what would later become the famed OB pier. She was exposed to the ocean almost from her birth, learning to swim at a young age from her grandfather, a long time OB resident. Her grandfather was a well-known OB “waterman”, who swam without a wetsuit beyond the breakers at OB every day, winter and summer, until his late 70s.

Dibble’s passion for surfing began at age 10, when she borrowed a friend’s surfboard and struggled to stand up in the “soup” of already broken waves. Determined to become a proficient surfer, she spent hours perfecting her technique, mostly in waves at OB and later Sunset Cliffs.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, when Dibble was growing into her surfing journey, the sport was heavily male dominated. Almost all surfers were men who saw themselves as the epitome of lifestyle cool, riding the waves with a sense of rebellion and freedom. Women were largely excluded from this scene, considered mere spectators rather than active participants. However, Dibble refused to let these gender biases hold her back.

Dibble’s dedication to the sport paid off, and by the late 1960s, she had become one of the most skilled female surfers both the US and the world. Her commitment to improving her technique and pushing the boundaries of what was expected of female surfers made her a standout in the surfing community. Dibble’s graceful and sometimes radical style, combined with her ability to ride bigger waves, quickly earned her respect from her male counterparts.

In 1972, Judy Dibble entered the inaugural Women’s Professional Surfing Championship and emerged as the winner. This victory marked a turning point for her and for women in the sport, showcasing the talent and potential of female surfers.
Following her groundbreaking victory, Dibble continued to break barriers in the surfing world. She became an inaugural member of the Windansea Surf Club, at the time probably the greatest collection of world class surfers in history. Her skills on the waves earned her numerous accolades and titles, solidifying her place in the annals of surfing history.

Beyond her achievements in competitive surfing, Dibble also played a pivotal role in the development of women’s surfing. She worked tirelessly to promote the sport among women and encouraged young girls to take up surfing to empower women and instill in them a sense of confidence and self-assurance and a magical connection to nature and waves.