Kim Wooldridge will be the wildcard in the female division 50 to 59 at the upcoming International Surfing Association World Masters Surfing Championship. Photos: Matty Williams.
Austinmer surfing legend Kim Wooldridge hasn’t competed in a pro surfing event since 2016, but the sabbatical will soon come to an end somewhere off the coast of Central America.
Kim has been given a wildcard entry to the upcoming International Surfing Association World Masters Surfing Championship (ISA WMSC) from 18 October in the female division 50 to 59.
The WMSC returns after a decade-long hiatus, hosted by Surf City El Salvador at the iconic El Sunzal point break.
“It’s been a long time since I last represented Australia, so it’s going to be amazing. I have competed at the WQS (World Qualifying Series) and WCT (World Championship Tour) event a lot before, but not with the ISA,” Kim says.
“I am looking forward to a new place and country that I haven’t been to. I haven’t competed in a while, so will have to dial that back in.”
Kim’s surfing journey started when she was about five years old on a surf mat that resembled a “blow-up mattress”.
“They were all the rage in the ’70s because they’re easy to get in the water on, but I think they’re only meant for lying down on,” she says.
“Dad literally blew it up and had me standing up on it. It probably wasn’t very safe, but it was the ’70s! Dad knew what he was doing. He was a surfer since he was a little kid and I myself was swimming before I was walking.”
Kim started her surfing journey at age five.
Kim went through the amateur years before turning professional in 1993 on the Association of Surfing Professionals tour. She won Rookie of the Year in 1993, a couple WQS events, and made many semi-finals and finals of WCT events, until moving away from full-time competition in 2006.
Kim says while there are signs of improvement, it’s a struggle for women on the pro surfing circuit.
“I was pretty much self-funded, and cash was always an issue,” she says. ”The prize money wasn’t cutting it, and it ended up taking me four years to pay off my credit card after I stopped.
“I don’t know how some of the girls manage to compete in all those challenger series … You have to have a real passion to pursue it.”
Kim says she’s psyched for El Salvador, and preparing herself not just for a return after a long time off the professional circuit, but also, unfamiliar conditions.
“I have heard even the water itself is 29 degrees, so it’s not refreshing … People say the wax melts off your board!” she says.
“I am excited to see the friends I’m competing with, and hopefully I don’t get too nervous putting the jersey back on. Putting it on always gives me butterflies.”
To help fund her trip, Kim is selling a bunch of surfboards priced from $150 to $1000 via Facebook.
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