Dunsborough surfer Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ Nunn was only 19 when she became the National Women’s Director for Surfing Australia. Among the long list of achievements and steps forward she’s made for women’s surfing, she was one of the first female contributors to Tracks Magazine. She called her column the G Spot, “Because it was up the back and hard to find.”
Lizzie Nunn “Back when I was 19, I became the National Women’s Director for Surfing Australia and women’s surfing was in its infancy. During that time, female surfers were like endangered species; meeting at secret locations, surfing in packs for protection and wearing men’s wetsuits, corduroy jeans, duffle coats and desert boots as there was no Roxy, no Rip Curl ladies clothing, no female apparel anywhere.
For the next 10 years, I was heavily involved in changing the landscape for female surfers around the Nation. I was the first regular female contributor for Tracks Surfing Magazine and was an Associate Editor of the first Australian all girl surf magazine, Shred Betty, which hit the shelves in 1997. We pushed every surf media outlet for greater (and better) representation of female surfers in their magazines. The aim was to shake the ‘butch’ image and second-rate treatment of female surfers that dogged us during the early years.
The outcome? Australian female surfers now dominate the World Surf League and have the same prize money as men (since 2019), increased exposure in surf and mainstream media and surf companies such as Roxy have gone global with their female surf brands.
Flash-forward from then to a decade ago, and I was a published writer for Surfing World Magazine and Waves Surf Girl. In 2006, my short story Boarding House Blues, was Selected for Performance at the Shorelines Writers’ Festival.”
1990s Lizzie’s G Spot column Tracks Surfing Magazine.
Mark Lane CEO Surfing WA.Lizzie Nunn was a driver. We actually taught her through the Surfing WA surf school and then she went on to become a coach, and then an administrator, then a Surfing WA board member. She was a significant influence and driver and women’s surfing was arguably at its strongest when Lizzie was coordinating the women’s division. There are still things that linger on today from her initiatives back then.
If there is any person who has contributed to WA surfing and has left a great legacy behind, its Lizzie. She worked her way to become the National Womens Director at Surfing Australia, and she held that position largely from what she achieved in WA.
Lizzie name developed its own currency, and she never afraid to put herself forward. She is a good honest girl with integrity and women’s surfing today wouldn’t be the same without her.”
In 2000, Lizzie was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for her contribution to the sport of surfing by sport-mad, then PM, John Howard.
2000 Lizzie’s Australian Sports Award signed by PM John Howard.
In 2004, Lizzie documented women surfers struggle to be accepted as surfers in a male dominated sport in her Busting Down The Door article in Surfing WA’s Celebrating 40 Years book.
2004 Lizzie’s Busting Down The Door article in SWA Celebrating 40 Years book. Page 1 of 3.2004 Lizzie’s Busting Down The Door article in SWA Celebrating 40 Years book. Page 2 of 3.2004 Lizzie’s Busting Down The Door article in SWA Celebrating 40 Years book. Page 3 of 3.
In 2022 Lizzie was granted Life Membership of Surfing Western Australia for her services to surfing. Samatha Vanderford SWA member and Elected Director of the Board of SWA nominated Lizzie and Bob Monkman, SWA Life Member (2008) and longtime keen competitor at club, state (multiple-time WA State Champion) & national levels (multiple-time Australian National Champion), seconded the motion.
2022 SWA Life Member awards Mark Lane & Lizzie Nunn. Photo Raeley Jones SWA.2022 SWA Life Member awards to SW surfers Bill Gibson, Lizzie Nunn, & Mick Marlin. Photo Raeley Jones SWA.
Lizzie has contributed to and raised the profile of surfing in Western Australia by her efforts as a SWA Board Member, the National Women’s Director at Surfing Australia, a coach, a surfer and a writer.
Photo Album
1995 Lizzie surfing The Bluff WA. Photographer unknown.1996 Aust Longboard Titles Yallingup. WA state team Lizzie (front left) at Caves House. Photo the late Kevin ‘Twiggy’ Sharland.2004 SWA President Gary ‘Gooselegs’ Vaughan with Lizzie Nunn & Chris Lowe Surfing WA 40th Anniversary @ AQWA. Photo the late Loz Smith.2000s Surf coaching for Surf Diva all female surf school on La Jolla beach in San Diego USA. L-R Lizzie Nunn & Crystal with boss Izzy. Photo courtesy Crystal Wallace (nee Simpson). 2010 Gnaraloo surf camp. L-R Crystal, George & Lizzie Nunn with surf boards & jet-ski. Photo Crystal Wallace nee Simpson.2019 Women in the Waves launch WA Surf Gallery Yallingup. L-RRachael Dawe, Jodi Cooper, Sam Vanderford, Jaala Ayliffe (nee Baldock)& Lizzie Nunn. Photo Mick Marlin.
Thanks Lizzie, Samantha Vanderford and Mark Lane for your contribution to this article.
Related Content
In 2016 Lizzie documented Crystal Wallace (nee Simpson’s) beach life for Surfing Down South. It details how Lizzie became business partners with Crystal in the Yallingup Surf School & Vintage Surf after they had worked for three months in California at Surf Diva, the world’s largest all female surf school.
Dunsborough surfer Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ Nunn was only 19 when she became the National Women’s Director for Surfing Australia. Among the long list of achievements and steps forward she’s made for women’s surfing, she was one of the first female contributors to Tracks Magazine. She called her column the G Spot, “Because it was up the back and hard to find.”
Lizzie Nunn “Back when I was 19, I became the National Women’s Director for Surfing Australia and women’s surfing was in its infancy. During that time, female surfers were like endangered species; meeting at secret locations, surfing in packs for protection and wearing men’s wetsuits, corduroy jeans, duffle coats and desert boots as there was no Roxy, no Rip Curl ladies clothing, no female apparel anywhere.
For the next 10 years, I was heavily involved in changing the landscape for female surfers around the Nation. I was the first regular female contributor for Tracks Surfing Magazine and was an Associate Editor of the first Australian all girl surf magazine, Shred Betty, which hit the shelves in 1997. We pushed every surf media outlet for greater (and better) representation of female surfers in their magazines. The aim was to shake the ‘butch’ image and second-rate treatment of female surfers that dogged us during the early years.
The outcome? Australian female surfers now dominate the World Surf League and have the same prize money as men (since 2019), increased exposure in surf and mainstream media and surf companies such as Roxy have gone global with their female surf brands.
Flash-forward from then to a decade ago, and I was a published writer for Surfing World Magazine and Waves Surf Girl. In 2006, my short story Boarding House Blues, was Selected for Performance at the Shorelines Writers’ Festival.”
Mark Lane CEO Surfing WA. Lizzie Nunn was a driver. We actually taught her through the Surfing WA surf school and then she went on to become a coach, and then an administrator, then a Surfing WA board member. She was a significant influence and driver and women’s surfing was arguably at its strongest when Lizzie was coordinating the women’s division. There are still things that linger on today from her initiatives back then.
If there is any person who has contributed to WA surfing and has left a great legacy behind, its Lizzie. She worked her way to become the National Womens Director at Surfing Australia, and she held that position largely from what she achieved in WA.
Lizzie name developed its own currency, and she never afraid to put herself forward. She is a good honest girl with integrity and women’s surfing today wouldn’t be the same without her.”
In 2000, Lizzie was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for her contribution to the sport of surfing by sport-mad, then PM, John Howard.
In 2004, Lizzie documented women surfers struggle to be accepted as surfers in a male dominated sport in her Busting Down The Door article in Surfing WA’s Celebrating 40 Years book.
In 2022 Lizzie was granted Life Membership of Surfing Western Australia for her services to surfing. Samatha Vanderford SWA member and Elected Director of the Board of SWA nominated Lizzie and Bob Monkman, SWA Life Member (2008) and longtime keen competitor at club, state (multiple-time WA State Champion) & national levels (multiple-time Australian National Champion), seconded the motion.
Lizzie has contributed to and raised the profile of surfing in Western Australia by her efforts as a SWA Board Member, the National Women’s Director at Surfing Australia, a coach, a surfer and a writer.
Photo Album
Thanks Lizzie, Samantha Vanderford and Mark Lane for your contribution to this article.
Related Content
In 2016 Lizzie documented Crystal Wallace (nee Simpson’s) beach life for Surfing Down South. It details how Lizzie became business partners with Crystal in the Yallingup Surf School & Vintage Surf after they had worked for three months in California at Surf Diva, the world’s largest all female surf school.
Crystal’s beach life by Elizabeth Nunn – Part 1. 1985-2000 posted 23 Nov 2016
Crystal’s beach life by Elizabeth Nunn – Part 2. 2000-2016 posted 26 Nov 2016.
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