Layne Beachley, 45 - Seven-time World Champion, Sydney Australia

When you know who you are, external pressures, judgments and projected opinions don’t seem to matter as much.

- Todd Prodanovich

Surfing is a unique sport in that you can enjoy it without competition. I’m no longer a competitive surfer, but I still surf all the time, so my connection with the sport is still incredibly strong. I don’t miss competition and I don’t miss the anxiety and weight of expectation that surrounds being at an event. Just being in the water and enjoying my surfing is enough.

The best way to learn is by making mistakes. Some of the World Tour athletes today might make a mistake in a heat, but they can always correct themselves and fight their way out of a bad situation. I love seeing that. I love seeing the battle.

The improvements in women’s professional surfing have been dramatic. There’s more prize money, recognition, acceptance and opportunities for women within the industry. It has been incredibly profound to see how much the WSL has invested in women’s surfing. But there’s always room for improvement and there are still some antiquated, deep-seated beliefs that sometimes hold women back in surfing. Also, prize money is getting towards parity but sponsorship is not. If the industry wants to be considered progressive, why aren’t they paying the number one girl what they’re paying the number one man?