From News.com.au…
West Australian longboarder Sasha Jane Lowerson, the first transgender woman to compete in surfing, has claimed a historic victory in the West Coast Suspensions Longboard and Logger State Championships on the weekend.
The 43-year-old, who was crowned the men’s champion three years earlier, won both the Open Women’s and Open Logger divisions on her home beach at Avalon, putting together a dominant performance in the left hand waves.
Georgia Young placed second in the Open Women’s event, while Emily Gibbs claimed silver in the Open Logger division.
Lowerson, an outspoken advocate for transgender athletes, is a former World Surf League longboard tour competitor and surfboard shaper who transitioned last year.
She won the 2019 West Australian state title, competing as Ryan Egan, before transitioning to a woman a couple of years later.
“To be the first transgender woman competing in surfing hasn’t been an easy ride emotionally, but the amount of support I’ve been showed has been phenomenal and I’m so grateful to be involved, welcomed and embraced within the longboard community in Australia,” Lowerson said, as reported by The Australian.
