On February 3, the World Surf League (WSL) announced a new policy allowing trans women to compete in its women’s category if they prove their testosterone levels fall within a defined range. For Sasha Jane Lowerson, a 43-year-old Australian trans woman and professional longboarder, the decision represented years of effort to create a more inclusive environment for trans women in sports.
In March 2022, Lowerson placed ninth in the Noosa Festival of Surfing, becoming the first trans woman to compete in surfing at the professional level. Two months later, she placed first in the Open Women's and Women's Logger divisions at the Western Australian State Titles. Although she made less than a splash when she initially competed and lost, the anti-trans internet very much took notice when she won. Lowerson described the online fallout after her podium as “breaking the internet.” It also helped spur an inevitable conversation in the world of professional surfing about the inclusion of trans athletes.
The WSL news has also garnered some negative responses. Pro surfer Bethany Hamilton has publicly opposed the new WSL policy. “The world surf league has made the rule that male-bodied individuals known as transgender athletes can officially compete in the women's division,” she said in an Instagram Reel, also announcing that she plans to boycott WSL events until the rule is reversed.
The WSL’s policy was adopted directly from existing policies used by the International Surfing Association and the International Olympic Committee. Olympic events have allowed trans athletes since 2003, and there is no evidence of trans women dominating sports under this policy. Per the policy, female trans athletes must have less than five nmol/L of testosterone for at least a year before the competition. In an interview with the inertia, Sasha explained that she falls well below that margin, with a lower level of testosterone than most women. As of now, Lowerson is the only openly trans athlete at the professional level of surfing.
Soon after the WSL policy was announced, Them spoke to Lowerson about her experiences competing and what’s next in the movement for inclusivity in sports.
What are you focusing on this week after the policy change?
It's pretty noisy in the surf world this week. We’ve got a lot of the far right just going mental. I’m just weathering out the storm. The positive side of it is the number of allies that have popped their head up just in the past 24 hours for me. The women who have stood up and said, “We’ve surfed against Sasha, and she’s awesome,” and “regardless of gender, she’s an amazing surfer.” One girl said, “She smashed me in one final, and then I got her in the next, and it's no different than surfing with any other girl.” It's just weathering the storm of bigotry at the moment, and having good allies who are willing to stand up with us.
What is it like to be at the front of this movement?
I’ve, luckily, got a really large support system. I’ve got my boundaries. Right now, I’m off social media. I basically turn it off for my own safety and mental health to be able to perform. My biggest goal is to do what I do respectfully, with integrity and pride. Hopefully, I can set a good example for the next generation. And build a road for the next lot of girls to walk down. For me, that's really important because I didn’t have any role models. I endured a lot of hurt and trauma because I never thought this was possible. If I can help one girl, I’m successful.
What opportunities are you going to pursue now that this policy has changed? Does this policy change any of your plans for the season?
My plan is to be a role model and build a pathway. It's going to allow a pathway by my inclusion that's opening up a pathway for girls in the future. That's my whole goal, to build the road for the future to walk down. I’ve been a professional longboard surfer for many years. And in that time, I hid in the closet basically. I tried to transition at 19 and again at 29. And now, in my early 40’s, I’ve been successful.
How does your trans experience reflect in surfing, do you experience any trans joy specific to your sport?
I’d be in heats and getting my name called in the men’s divisions, and it gets to you. I’d be out there throwing 8s and then I’d be throwing 2s. I’d have good scores in one heat; then it'll get to me in the next heat. I surfed in the Noosa Surf Festival, and I got ninth in the open women's against some of the best longboarders on the planet. When I was in the pro division, I was on the ropes. The next event I did broke the internet, I won the Open Women’s and the Open Women’s Logger at Australia State Titles. I was just out there being included. I was so happy just being included.
After those results, there was a big reaction online, but what was the reaction among your peers in the surf community?
There was a mixed reaction. A little bit of negative but a lot of positive. Much like what you see is going at the moment. There's a group being negative, and generally, they're not the ones being affected by it. There's support from a lot of the girls and some guys. A lot of the girls I compete with on the longboard tour are really supportive and pro-trans athlete inclusion and inclusive of the queer community. A majority of people opposing it are middle-aged men. It's all the same as it was a year ago, and ten months ago. I‘m sure it's gonna get pretty loud in a month when I actually have a world surf league jersey on at the start of March.
Do you find queer community in surfing?
When I was in France in the Queen Classic, some people had driven two hours just to meet me. Trans men and women coming to me and saying things like, “I’m going to buy a women’s wet suit. I'm buying one because of you.” I was blown away that just me being me made them feel safer.
What advice would you give to other queer and trans surfers?
Have a good support network, and if any of them want to reach out to me on Instagram, I will answer. Make sure you’ve got your safe place with your people. That's the biggest thing I’ve had to do. And go surfing, have fun.
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