Day of the divas: Girls who shred in the Central Coast 

The Diva Cup is more than your average surf competition. 

Led by a team of fierce women, the Diva Cup was founded to provide female surfers in the Central Coast with their own surf invitational, as a growing number of women compete in local lineups. The event is organized annually by Femme Futures Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering women through surfing, arts and community.

The third annual Diva Cup took place on Nov. 22 at Cayucos Pier. Conditions were impeccable as the talented Diva’s danced in the waves.

The day was filled with 30 heats, or competition rounds,  including longboard, shortboard, and pro divisions. Following in Diva Cup tradition, there was only one men’s heat, dubbed “Men in Heat,” emblematic to the few women’s heats allotted in other surf competitions. 

A Menehune heat was also offered for girls aged 12 and under, who charged fearlessly into the water with support from parents and mentors. Following the end of their 15 minutes in the waves, the groms ran through a tunnel of hands and cheers from family and supporters. The crowd was nearly as stoked as these little girls with sun bleached hair and sunscreen coated smiles. 

Community members, friends and family were sprawled everywhere– some set up along the beach with blankets and beanies while others watched from the pier. A local hairdresser was  stationed on the beach, giving haircuts to salty-haired participants. 

Diva Cup competitors received swag bags with products from sponsors, including recycled resin jewelry from Surf Gems, a women-run business based in Morro Bay. The competition also partnered with Hidden Kitchen, another local female owned business, serving up fan-favorite blue corn waffles. Saunas were provided for Diva contestants following each heat from California Sauna Club.  

The Femme Futures Foundation team of female directors, interns and volunteers created a lively energy for the event outside of the water. Surf rock and pop music tumbled down the beach for spectators while bubble machines added to the day’s whimsy. Surfboards rested all along the beach wall, creating a 1970s color pallet of burnt oranges, warm yellows and pinks.

Environmental earth and soil science freshman Ella Pucci, a local from Arroyo Grande, was among the Diva Cup contestants. Pucci is on the Cal Poly Surf Team and has participated in the Diva Cup since it was first held in 2023.

“I just love how it’s so women centered,” said Pucci. “The boy’s heat is called ‘Men in Heat,’ it’s so funny because, in normal surf competitions, it’s very male dominated so it’s nice to be surrounded by a bunch of girls who are excited. No one’s like too aggressive, it’s just a great time.” 

When asked about the challenges female surfers face, Pucci responded, “It can be a little bit intimidating because as a woman they may assume that you don’t know how to surf or that you don’t know the etiquette.”

The Diva Cup is important not only because of its philanthropic focus and support of female surfers, but additionally for its efforts to reshape surf-culture narratives. The competition provides female surfers with a safe and welcoming environment to compete, connect and talk openly about women’s health. 

Other competitors, including Cayucos local Summer Ridout, appreciated the new round-robin format, allotting two heats per surfer and shifting the lineup so girls in each heat were not competing against one another. 

For Gina Andrews, who’s been surfing since age five, the Diva Cup is important for its grassroot energy and bringing the community together. Every detail of the event shows both care and attention, such as its logo design by local artist McKenna Lenhart.

“Diva Cup means to me, lots of fun, frolic, community, women empowerment and good vibes,”  Andrews said. 

After the Diva Cup’s final heat, an afterparty or “Afterglow” took place with an award ceremony and live music from Santa Barbara grunge-rock band Queentide, among other artists. 

“We are on a mission to empower women through film, surf events and all things art and health” said board president Sierra Emrick to the Afterglow crowd. 

In partnership with Surfline, the Diva Cup’s feminine product drive donated over 25,000 tampons to women in need, representative of the event’s effort to support and empower women in the community. 

Femme Futures Foundation represents the power of connection, working to combat a male dominated surf culture through events like the Diva Cup which foster community support and women’s empowerment.