Who are the 10 best female surfers in the world currently?

Surfing is one of the sports that has made history regarding gender equality. Women surfers have come a long way in the last few decades when they faced and overcame several obstacles. Best female surfers from the past and present are responsible for developing women's surfing across all disciplines, from large wave riders on short boards to longboard surfers on ocean waves.

The World Surfing League (WSL) stated in 2019 that it would pay male and female surfers equally for their participation in the tour, making surfing the first U.S. sport to reward athletes of all genders equally. Below is a list of the best current female surfers.

Top female surfers in the world currently

The legendary surfer Layne Beachley is widely regarded as the best female surfer of all time. The outstanding Australian surfer won a record-breaking seven world championships. Here is a list of the best female surfers in 2023.

10. Isabella Nichols (Australia)

Isabella Nichols is 25 years old, and this is her third year in the Championship Tour, although she also participated in previous editions as a wildcard or by substitution. She could access it as a wildcard or substitution because since she was 16 years old, she has participated in the Qualifying Series and won 3 times in the different editions she has experienced.

In 2016 at 18, she became the world champion on the Women's Junior Tour. Last year, in 2022, she won her first CT victory at the Margaret River Pro. That victory in the 5th race allowed her to pass the mid-season cut and compete until the end of the season. Although she did not reach the final, as only the top 5 are in contention, she finished in tenth place but was fourth last year.

9. Stephanie Gilmore (Australia)

The 35-year-old Australian is the best female surfer in history, as she holds the most world titles, 8 to be precise. Stephanie Gilmore won the world surfing title in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2022 and is the most female winner in history.

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She is the only surfer to have won the world title in her first year as a rookie. She is the first surfer in history to do so in both men's and women's categories, simultaneously being rookie and world champion.

At that time, Stephanie was the youngest to achieve it at 19. The following year that milestone was dethroned by Carissa Moore, who won the world title at 18 years and 11 and a half months. Not only was it enough for her to win her first year, but she did it four more times in a row.

She is the last world champion, as she retained her title last year at 34, beating Carissa Moore, her "archrival". Stephanie has the highest number of victories in the WSL Championship Tour, with 34 wins throughout all the editions disputed; for all this, she is part of the surfers in the Hall of Fame, being the youngest to be included at that time.

8. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (Hawaii)

She is the youngest, along with Caitlin Simmers, who, unlike the American, Bettylou, has turned 18 years old. The Hawaiian said in an interview that her best moment professionally speaking was when she was awarded the wildcard in 2020 and participated in the Fresh Water Pro at only 16 years old.

She has yet to win a victory in CT, but she did win in the 2020 Qualifying Series, which allowed her to enter the Championship Tour in 2021 for the first time. Bettylou is one of the best female surfers of all time.

7. Gabriela Bryan (Hawaii)

The 21-year-old Hawaiian is participating for the second time in the Championship Tour. Although since 2019, she debuted participating in one of the events, specifically in the Freshwater Pro, in which she finished ninth.

Her next goal and dream is to be able to participate in the Paris Olympics in 2024. She has yet to achieve any victory in the Championship Tour.

6. Caroline Marks (United States)

The 21-year-old American surfer, who debuted at 15, is the youngest female surfer to qualify for the Championship Tour. Despite her youth, she has experience in the competition, as she has participated in up to 6 editions counting the current one, and achieved three victories and another three victories in the Qualifying.

In 2018, she was awarded Rookie of the Year and finished 7th in the women's world surfing ranking. The following year, she achieved a very unexpected second place, being the second-best female surfer in the world, only behind her idol Carissa Moore. Thanks to this second place, she qualified, representing the USA, for the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

5. Tatiana Weston-Webb (Brazil)

The 26-year-old Hawaiian, who recently changed her nationality to Brazilian, debuted on the Championship Tour as an 18-year-old in 2014. In 2015 she won the Rookie of the Year trophy. She has achieved four first places in different championships of the Championship and 2 in the Qualifying Series.

In 2021 she participated in the Tokyo Olympic Games representing Brazil. Her best position in the final WSL ranking was in 2016, when she achieved 4th place. She is currently 5th.

4. Caitlin Simmers (United States)

The American is the youngest female surfer in the championship, with a difference of 7 months concerning the Hawaiian Bettylou Sakura Johnson. This is the second year that she is competing in the Championship Tour, although it could have been the third year since last year (2022) she resigned from the Tour despite having qualified.

Despite her young age (she has not yet turned 18), this year in Portugal, she achieved her first Championship victory in the MEO Rip Curl Pro. This victory currently keeps her at number 4.

3. Carissa Moore, Hawaii

Carissa Moore has won eleven national championships and was the world champion four times. Her career highlights include winning five WSL Women’s World Tour Champions (2011,2013,2015,2019,2021) and the Olympic Gold Medal in women’s shortboard surfing in 2020.

Moore campaigns for environmental health, conservation, and women's wellness, particularly regarding body image and societal standards. She is adored and incredibly upbeat across the surf community. Moore participated in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as a USA women's team member. Carissa Moore is one of the accomplished Hawaiian professional surfers and multiple-time world champions with an Instagram handle(@rissmoore10).

2. Tyler Wright (Australia)

Another Australian in the top, being the most represented country in this ranking of the top 10 women surfers in the world. Tyler Wright is a much more experienced 29-year-old. It is the thirteenth time she has participated in the Championship Tour.

In 2011 at 17, she was awarded the Rookie of the Year trophy in her second year of competition on the Women's Championship Tour. Within this competition, which is the one that names the best at the end of the season, she has won quite a few victories throughout his career. She is also one of the best-looking female surfers.

Fifteen victories in total, being the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, one of her favourite tournaments, in which she has chained two consecutive wins in 2022 and 2023. In addition, in 2016 and 2017, she finished the entire season as number 1 in the world.

1. Molly Picklum (Australia)

The best surfer currently occupying the number 1 ranking is Molly Picklum, an Australian of only 20. This is her second year on the Women's Championship Tour, and today she is at number 1, several points clear of the second. Molly is the best female surfer in 2023.

After a debut season last year (2022) in which she failed to qualify for the next part of the season, competing in only five events, this year she has started in excellent form, with two 5th places, a 2nd place and a win at the Hurley Pro Sunset Beach. Molly is one of the best young female surfers.

The best female surfers have proven that they are not only famous for their extraordinary athletic skills. They represent the best of the best when it comes to female surfing. The queens of the waves have achieved great success in their careers, and they continue to write history in this sport.

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