Women on Waves 1999

A Tribute to some of the first Women Surfers

A tribute to some of the 1st women surfers

Shelia Anater Ralston

1st on the left

She and her family had a Summer house in Santa Cruz, California. She and her sister Sharon Anater Hansen (Hansen Surfboards) started surfing in 1956, after watching a young women Charlene Mohaus Prall, come down the beach with a big paddle board out at the river mouth, they looked at each other and said, "we can do that". Today Shelia and her husband surf Pleasure Point together and enjoy feeling the ocean.

Shelley Merrick

2nd from the left

Shelley was born in Texas where her father was stationed during World War II. Her parents settled in Malibu, CA in 1946 and was raised all her life on the beach at Latigo Shore Drive, a right point break. She started surfing in 1955 when she was 10 yaers old. There were three families in the cove from the beginning days of San Onofre who loaned her their Simmons redwood and Joe Quigg balsa boards and the rest is history. She surfed in her first contest at the age of 15 in the United States Championship at Huntington Beach in 1960. In 1963 she was the second woman to ride for Dewey Weber on the Weber Competition Team. (Rosemari Reimers Rice was the first).

Rosemari Reimers Rice

4th from the left

Born and raised in Hermosa Beach, California. Started surfing in 1954, at the age of 14. Learned to surf with the help of her first love and husband today, Johnny Rice. He also shaped and designed her first surfboard, a blue balsa with Rosmari written in yellow across the nose. Rosmari surfs every day and feels strong in the sense that at age 60, surfing keeps her physically and mentally fit and spiritually together. Rosemari lives in the Westside area of Santa Cruz with her husband Johnny. They run Johnny Rice custom surfboards. Together they have seven children and seven grandchildren.

Betty Ann Mardesich Van Dyke

5th from the left

Born and raised in Cupertino, CA. First saw surfing in Sunset Magazine in 1939 in an advertisment for Mattson Cruise Line. She knew someday she would be surfing, Later mat a long time friend Alonzo Weimers at San Jose State University where she expressed an interest in surfing and Alonzo showed her the way. Her first board was made by Ted Pearson and shaped by Dale Velzy. She later traveled to Hawaii to surf with her husband, Gene Van Dyke, There she ordered her first balsa board from a Navy man, Carter Pyle, which was shaped on an aircraft carrier in the Allusion Islands. Betty has three sons, three grandchildren and has resided at Pleasure Point for the past 40 years.