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Riding the Wave; Surf Legend to Host Local Film Festival

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By San Diego 6 News Reporters

Story Published: Feb 22, 2012 at 11:30 PM PDT

Story Updated: Feb 24, 2012 at 10:33 AM PDT

A new film festival is highlighting women who are riding waves and making waves in the surf industry.

"Board Shorts" kicks off this weekend at the Loft at UCSD.

Hosting the event will be Linda Benson, a surf legend whose credited with paving the way for women in the surf community.

"I can imagine how a painter feels painting on a canvas although the wave is our canvas and our board is our brush," says Benson.

Even after 50 years of perfecting the craft Benson still remembers getting her feet wet for the first time on San Diego's coast.

"I first followed my brother down to Moonlight beach in Encinitas and I fell in love right away, I just thought i have to do this."

In 1959 Benson became the youngest contestant ever to enter and win the International Championship at Makaha and the first woman to ride Waimea Bay. Eventually winning more than 20-first place metals, she helped carve a spot for women in surf culture.

"Women have always been surfing but they haven't always had the spotlight that the guys have had," says Julie Cox, director of the California Surf Museum in Oceanside.

Last year the museum honored Benson with its Silver Surfer award.

This Saturday the museum will work alongside her and the San Diego Surf Ladies to host "Board Shorts" a film festival showcasing women in the industry and the art of surfing.

"Surfing in general is a very creative sport it's magical with a lot of imagery it's beautiful,"says Cox.

The Board Shorts film festival will be at the UCSD Loft, this Saturday beginning at 7pm.
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