First Woman Surfer To Surf Iconic West Australian ‘The Right’

Rouchelle Gilmore | | Post Tag for SurfSurf
Big wave , the right
The Right a famous wave for nerves of steel. Photo: ABC Perth / Chris Gurney.

West Australian local Laura Macaulay 28, is the first woman to successfully surf gigantic wave ‘The Right‘. Situated about 25-miles (40km) off the southwest coast of WA near Walpole, many regard the wave as not surfable. The specific location of the wave is a bit of a secret.

Waves on The Right can be some of the biggest in the world, when the Indian Ocean swells. 

The Southwest Aussie local Macaulay was brought up in Gracetown, which is only a few kilometers from world-famous surf mecca Margaret River. She is about as local as one can get, from a big surf family. Her father Dave Macaulay was a professional surfer and is the current Masters’ World Champion and, Bronte, her sister competes in the World Surf League. Macauly competed on the World Surf League’s qualifying circuit herself for a few years.

Macauly brushed off being the first female do conquer the giant wave. 

“There’s so many guys who are so skilled out there….I feel lucky to have the opportunity.”

– Laura Macauly.

She regularly surfs at some of WA’s black diamond breaks in the WA’s northwest, south coast, and closer to home.

Since Macauly’s rode the monster wave, Laura Enever, former world tour surfer from NSW has also surfed The Right and the equally terrifying Shipstern Bluff in Tasmania. These moments continue to push the envelope of surfing for women. Extending the path laid by other famous women surfers like Jodie Cooper and Layne Beachley.


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