Alana Blanchard, Surfer Girl (EP 2.1)

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HERE's something for the boys and the girls who aspire to be appreciated for ripping whilst wearing a bikini. Episode 2.1 of Alana Blanchard's Surfer Girl

Professional surfer Alana Blanchard finds out that she's been chosen to model in the 2013 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue - a lifelong dream! This video takes you behind-the-scenes during Alana's Las Vegas bikini photo shoot. Then it's back to Oahu, Hawaii's North Shore where Alana, her friends Leila Hurst and Camille Brady, and the whole surf industry have converged to surf the big winter waves.

Surfing is a patriarchal male-dominated sport, there is no doubt about that. Sex sells, which is great for a spot of titillation. Boys and girls want to look hot and if you can possibly get paid to look hot and surf all day then bonza. All power to you.

But there is a counter argument, one which states that swimsuit issues perpetuate gender stereotypes, regressing equality at a time when we should be past all this. A common argument goes something like this: "Women are judged by what they look like, not by what they do." This argument extends to pushing eating disorders on the losers of the genetic lottery and fermenting unrealistic expectations deep in young impressionable minds.

In opposition to this Alana looks 'good' but also 'does' - after all she is back on the ASP World Tour in 2013. Looking at her bank account you'd probably say she was having the last laugh, but is this enough? Should we rail against the commodification of sexuality? Or just get over it and accept it as part of surf culture whilst appreciating the beauty of surfing and the female form?

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