Why Sally Fitzgibbons Remains a Strong Presence in Surfing

Heading into a remarkable 16th year on the WSL tour, Sally Fitzgibbons has been at the forefront of big changes in women’s surfing, as well as navigating the highs and lows of her own career.

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While many of her original rivals have called time on their professional surfing days, Fitzgibbons not only has a love of the sport that is stronger than ever, but believes this era is the best time on tour to savour.

“Surfing is my life. I want to talk about it, I want to do it, I want to represent it. All these things drive me to keep a spot on the world tour,” Fitzgibbons told foxsports.com.au.

“It is the curiosity that keeps me going. I’ve really admired athletes both male and female that have pushed the age limits. For me it’s the drive, the love, and most importantly in surfing – the creativity. After 20 years if I displayed the same things to these judges, it would be getting a little bit drab, and I wouldn’t get the scores.”

Thirty-four-year-old Fitzgibbons is well renowned for her intense training ethic, the dedication to which has not faltered.

“I’ve also fallen in love with the process, or what they call ‘the grind’ as an athlete,” she said.

“That training and repetition can be for some people the thing that makes them depart the sport, you hear it all the time ‘I’m not really ready to do that work anymore to get to the top’ but I’ve always loved the work.

“Whether I was competing or not, I’d still find a challenge in my life, or an outlet for that. We’re never a perfect product, and when you stop seeking that perfection, you find the fun in remodelling it all.”

Another motivating force for Fitzgibbons is being well placed to appreciate all the changes in women’s surfing, both in and out of the ocean.

“I get asked so much more now about the actual surfing as a competitor, when I think back 15-20 years ago, it was definitely more about maybe what bikini you were wearing, what haircare you use, and how you looked on the wave,” Fitzgibbons said.

“First and foremost, you have to pay your respect to the generations before us, Layne Beachley and so many others paved the way and kept pushing the level and handing it over. Looking at how far we’ve come now since then, from equal pay, to the tour spots we get, and just the general respect in what we’re talking about.

“Those things are the biggest transition for me, and one of the reasons I give when people say ‘why are you still here?’ It’s like I’ve just arrived at this destination that I want to really appreciate and cherish.”

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If any time in competition were to test Fitzgibbons’ dedication, recent years would have to be right up there. Cruel near misses saw her fall off the WSL Championship tour in the mid season cut, and Fitzgibbons also narrowly missed out on qualifying for a second Olympics.

Sally, however, finds a bright spot even in those moments.

“I still always try and find one positive light in something that has been really challenging for me, and I guess the last two seasons I got the opportunity to be a rookie all over again,” Fitzgibbons said.

“When I was back surfing heats against 15 year olds, it reminded me of my moment going from rookie to being on the tour, which was one of the most joyful moments. To earn your place, stand there with pride and have that jersey – having that may seem like a simple thing, but I know seeing that championship tour jersey again, that will feel really special.”

Did the teenagers on the Challenger tour feel rattled coming up against the likes of Sally Fitzgibbons? Apparently not so much according to Sally.

“It’s actually the opposite to what you think,” she laughed.

“The young ones for sure respect what we’ve done in women’s surfing, but they have already redefined for themselves what’s possible. You see the fire in their eyes. It’s what we always hoped for the next generation, no fear and no limits of themselves.

“But it definitely means I have no advantage being a veteran against them, because my experience doesn’t intimidate them!”

With Pipeline the first stop on tour, the Gerroa local still takes inspiration from her home break when taking on one of the scariest waves for most.

“There used to be a barrier there in actually practising on the wave at a crowded Pipeline, to elevate the performance, and get the confidence to know when it is your turn, you can make it and not put yourself in a life threatening situation,” she said.

“That’s the other great thing I see about being on tour, I have an opportunity to have a crack at Pipeline, the line up is clear.

“There’s a push and pull on your mind at Pipe about whether you’re ready or not. I’m lucky growing up on the south coast, we’ve always had an amazing array of waves, and I still lean on that from when I was young.

“Getting to the edge, looking down and saying ‘I’m willing to have a go at this’ whether I make it or not. You never know, the best wave of your life could be waiting on the other side.’”

Should Fitzgibbons defy the impressive wave of rookies and new contenders, the new 2025 WSL finals spot happens to be one where she has found some of the biggest moments of glory in her career, with Fitzgibbons winning the Fiji Pro Cloudbreak big waves competition twice back in 2014, and 2016.

Fitzgibbons in action. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

“Fiji for me will always be synonymous with a bunch of different emotions,” she said.

“At that time it was a real sink or swim moment for women’s surfing. It had a lot of fear attached, it’s a wave of consequence, there’s a razor sharp reef there. At the time, we’d been surfing a lot of smaller beach breaks.

“I just remember thinking – this is our time. You get whatever swell you’re given. My heart rate is elevated thinking about it. It was wondering if you could put everything together on that wave.

“The emotional wave happening inside yourself is the scariest thing of all. It’s coming up against yourself. When I have spoken to people who surf the biggest waves in the world, they always say you need to know your ‘why’ before you can pursue those things.

“When you know why you have put yourself there, if consequences come crashing down you can make peace with the fact that was exactly where you wanted to be. Once you address that, you can show up to any wave in the world.”

Sally Fitzgibbons celebrates after winning the women’s finals during the 2024 International Surfing Association (ISA) World Surfing Games. (Photo by Ricardo ARDUENGO / AFP)Source: AFP

When it comes to goals, Fitzgibbons has reshaped her perspective if not her competitive edge when heading into a fresh professional surfing campaign.

“After all these years, you question yourself sometimes,” she said.

“Do I have big enough goals? Am I setting my sights on the right things? This will be my 16th tour season, and of course my junior surfing days started well before that. I think that internal drive of wanting a world title and being No.1, I don’t have to tell myself that anymore.

“It’s already there. It’s in your DNA. You can feel when you’re getting close to it. But a part of me also thinks – ‘you’ve arrived. Enjoy it.’ A beautiful opportunity lays in front of you that is called 2025…

“And I’m the ultimate surf fan, first and foremost. It is also about really rallying behind the young generation, and good on them! Put it up in lights. When you see that intensity, and that attack, I’m here for it all. I say watch out world – women’s surfing is elevating.”