Ruby's rise reflects girls' place on the board

The tide is turning on a long-held tradition of male-dominated elite Australian surfing as success stories continue to evolve among the Illawarra’s youngest athletes, including a growing cohort of girls from Kiama Downs.

“Our girls have just been on fire,” says Hayden Bombaci, president of Jones Beach Boardriders. “Over the last three, four years, you can see that focus around the girls really owning their own space, certainly in our southern boardriders down here.”

Throughout the season, a strong group of stand-out girls from Jones Beach Boardriders have taken the win at a number of events. “Jones girls” – such as Alice Hodgson (under 18s) becoming the first female to win the annual Robbo’s Round competition (against women and men of all ages) last year and 16-year-old Lani Cairncross taking first place (under 18s) and third place (open) at Tasmania’s Red Herring Pro-Am in January – are making their small community proud.

“Everyone’s really loving watching them surf and you see them all stoked for each other, and it’s good to see that they’ve got that competitive nature in the water as well as being kind to each other,” Hayden says.

“It’s not just the girls, either. It’s pushing the lads to check themselves. It’s not the old school view from 20 years ago; the girls are ripping the boys back.”

Thirteen-year-old Kiama Downs talent Ruby Neill is at the forefront of this shift. The Illawarra Sports High School student has been carving out a name for herself on the national stage, achieving an impressive equal third-place finish in her first Australian Junior Surfing Titles in December – a feat made possible by her personal dedication and changing attitudes toward girls in surfing.

“Back in the day, the sport was very different,” says Ashleigh Neill, Ruby’s mother.

“The girls surfed in bikinis, and you hear the stories of Layne Beachley and all that. Culturally, it’s definitely changing. Now it’s all about the athleticism behind it. It’s seen as a sport with a real career path.”

Ruby’s trajectory began early when she hit the water on a foamie at just four years old. Both of her parents grew up competing in local sports, father Grant having surfed Illawarra beaches since he was a teenager. Ashleigh grew up in Kiama playing touch football with no interest in surfing, but eventually hit the waves to enjoy the activity in family mode.

“Ruby is surfing seven days a week – just every single day, and that promotes a healthy lifestyle,” Grant says.

“She's eating healthier because of it, she's training harder. We surf, we live close to the beach, she and her friends and the community surf – it's just a sense of community that keeps her surfing.”

Ruby’s love of the sport and athletic drive led to her being selected as one of 13 girls nationwide for Talent UNLSHD, the Surfing Australia high performance program. The program will provide elite pathways, including trips to the High Performance Centre in Queensland, funded by Surfing Australia and the government.

"I like how I can go surfing with all of my mates, and it's just a good thing to bring us all together," Ruby says.

"I just find it so peaceful. When I go surfing, it just takes all my stress away from school and stuff, and it's just fun."

For Ruby and her peers, these impressive podium finishes start with inclusive connections made through boardriding groups. Girls aren’t a minority among Ruby’s clubmates at Jones Beach Boardriders; they’re a supportive group of thriving athletes.

“The level of coaching and support the local boardriders give them is incredible,” Ashleigh says. 

“There’s no rivalry or comparison culture there. They’ll be competing in a heat and then next minute they’re all wrestling and hugging on the beach saying 'well done'. It’s a really positive environment that’s building a generation of young, confident women.”

Beyond technical and competitive achievements, the sport is providing young people with vital life skills. A member of both Jones Beach Boardriders and Southbridge Boardriders, Ruby is a multi-talented athlete, competing in OzTag and League Tag, which complements the physical and mental demands of the surf.

Looking ahead, she is eager to dive back into competition with plans to return to the Ocean Queen Classic in Woonona in March.

“Ruby’s developed a lot of resilience through being involved in so many competitive sports – especially in a sport like surfing where you lose more than you win. She’s got a lot more confidence in herself, very resilient and a good sense of belonging,” Ashleigh says.

As a surf parent, Ashleigh’s proudest moments don't always involve a trophy. She is proudest when Ruby demonstrates the sportsmanship that her sporting culture has instilled in her.

“To be honest, we’re proud every time she comes out of the water and she’s happy with how she’s gone in herself. That is when I’m most proud, regardless of the result," says Ashleigh. 

"If she comes off the beach and she's hugging all the other girls and congratulating them all... that makes me so proud because I know she’s having fun and enjoying what she’s doing.”

Keep up with Jones Beach Boardriders on Facebook and follow Ruby’s journey on Instagram.