The world of female big wave surfing has gone from strength to strength in the last couple of years.

From the success of Hawaiian surfer Paige Alms’ amazing documentary ‘The Wave I Ride’ at last year’s London Surf Film Festival, to women competing for the first time last November in the World Surf League’s big-wave surfing competition, there’s never been a better time to be a woman in the big wave scene.

This Autumn, the push for female big wave riders will be taken a step further as the first ever all-women’s contest will be taking place at Waimea Bay, Hawaii. The comp has an impressive invite list of 22, including Paige Alms, Keala Kennely, Bianca Valenti and Felicity Palmateer.