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Pam Burridge is the familiar name of women’s surfing from the past 20 years. Her professional career began at 15 and retirement didn’t fully set in until 1999 when, at age 34 she gave birth to her first child, Isobel.
Pam was born in 1965 in Sydney to non-surfing parents and siblings, and lived in the slightly landlocked northern suburb of Clontarf. Skateboarding and other tomboyish activites guided Pam into her deisre for surfboard riding. At the age of 10 she was given her first, very much homemade, surfboard. A good history of surf swimming and ocean knowledge provided a good base for quick progression. A summer stint at the Northern Beaches run Surf School with instructors like Nat Young, Bill McCausland and Tony Hardwick added to the speed learning and calmed the fears of Pam’s non surfing parents.
By 1977 Pam entered her first surfing competition - the local Manly Pacific Boardriders’ winter point score event. Although nervous and completely bereft of any knowledge of the rules of competition, Pam came away with the winner's cheque: which turned out to be a rather large Sloppy Joe and plastic trophy.
A thirst regular for competition was satisfied in the many junior events of the day. Sometimes competing against other girls, but often against the young boy, helped Pam keep improving while she gained some tactical knowledge.
The usual amateur contests were pursued and victories followed in both NSW State (1979, 80, 81) and National Titles in 1980 and 81. An all too quick transition to the professional ranks followed, when the ruling amateur body declared that anyone who had surfed in a professional event would be ruled as 'professional'. As a National Australian Champion, Pam had gained invitation to the elite Hawaiian North Shore events the previous winter and therefore was deemed 'professional' at age 15.
So, on to the International Professional Surfing circuit she went and by the age of 17 had her first, of what would end up to six times, runner up finish. A strong field of female surfers filled the top spots when Burridge started her career. Lynne Boyer and Margo Oberg ruled with their big wave acts winning over at the title deciding events at Sunset and Haleiwa. In the mid to late 80’s it was a new crop of young girls that would be taking events and world titles. First, Kim Mearig won with a speedy small wave act followed by Freida Zamba’s rule of world titles that could only be interrupted by a fiery South African, Wendy Botha. Both women won four world titles.
Burridge had to settle for a series of second places to both these surfers but finally broke through and won the Women’s world title in 1990, by what was then a record margin. She clinched the title at Sunset Beach when her only contender, Wendy Botha, bowed out in the semi finals. Burridge went on to win the event and her much sought after world title.
After many years travelling the world circuit, Burridge and her partner, surfboard shaper Mark Rabbidge, moved down the South Coast of New South Wales to the tiny hamlet of Bendalong. Pam did fewer events and spent lots of time free surfing the many uncrowded breaks of Bendalong.
The new World Championship Tour structure tempted Burridge back to full time competition, qualifying for the elite top 11 as a trialist from round one in most events. A winning streak early that season saw Pam take the ratings lead but she resisted the urge to chase another title and only surfed enough events to clinch a berth on the following year's tour.
As a WCT surfer she finished the year in 3rd position behind the guns of the new crop Lisa Andersen and Layne Beachley. This result, although not so remarkable in the record books, would turn out to be one of the most satisfying for Burridge as it showed she could compete and often win against the much heralded new talent in women’s surfing.
In 1998 she quit the tour before year's end expecting her first child. Life would now be fulltime on the South Coast and surfboards would again be the main thrust of life for the professional surfing couple. In between breastfeeds and other irrefutable demands from baby one (Isobel) then 2 years later baby two (Otis), Pam still got out in the water when she could. As the babies grew into energetic kids who themselves have the occassional surf life would morph into your usual coastal existence. Work, surf, school, sports, shop, surf and then try to surf again.
Since 2003 Pam has run her surf lessons at Bendalong and Mollymook for locals and visiting tourists and continues to enjoy passing on the surfing message and lifestyle.
Pam was born in 1965 in Sydney to non-surfing parents and siblings, and lived in the slightly landlocked northern suburb of Clontarf. Skateboarding and other tomboyish activites guided Pam into her deisre for surfboard riding. At the age of 10 she was given her first, very much homemade, surfboard. A good history of surf swimming and ocean knowledge provided a good base for quick progression. A summer stint at the Northern Beaches run Surf School with instructors like Nat Young, Bill McCausland and Tony Hardwick added to the speed learning and calmed the fears of Pam’s non surfing parents.
By 1977 Pam entered her first surfing competition - the local Manly Pacific Boardriders’ winter point score event. Although nervous and completely bereft of any knowledge of the rules of competition, Pam came away with the winner's cheque: which turned out to be a rather large Sloppy Joe and plastic trophy.
A thirst regular for competition was satisfied in the many junior events of the day. Sometimes competing against other girls, but often against the young boy, helped Pam keep improving while she gained some tactical knowledge.
The usual amateur contests were pursued and victories followed in both NSW State (1979, 80, 81) and National Titles in 1980 and 81. An all too quick transition to the professional ranks followed, when the ruling amateur body declared that anyone who had surfed in a professional event would be ruled as 'professional'. As a National Australian Champion, Pam had gained invitation to the elite Hawaiian North Shore events the previous winter and therefore was deemed 'professional' at age 15.
So, on to the International Professional Surfing circuit she went and by the age of 17 had her first, of what would end up to six times, runner up finish. A strong field of female surfers filled the top spots when Burridge started her career. Lynne Boyer and Margo Oberg ruled with their big wave acts winning over at the title deciding events at Sunset and Haleiwa. In the mid to late 80’s it was a new crop of young girls that would be taking events and world titles. First, Kim Mearig won with a speedy small wave act followed by Freida Zamba’s rule of world titles that could only be interrupted by a fiery South African, Wendy Botha. Both women won four world titles.
Burridge had to settle for a series of second places to both these surfers but finally broke through and won the Women’s world title in 1990, by what was then a record margin. She clinched the title at Sunset Beach when her only contender, Wendy Botha, bowed out in the semi finals. Burridge went on to win the event and her much sought after world title.
After many years travelling the world circuit, Burridge and her partner, surfboard shaper Mark Rabbidge, moved down the South Coast of New South Wales to the tiny hamlet of Bendalong. Pam did fewer events and spent lots of time free surfing the many uncrowded breaks of Bendalong.
The new World Championship Tour structure tempted Burridge back to full time competition, qualifying for the elite top 11 as a trialist from round one in most events. A winning streak early that season saw Pam take the ratings lead but she resisted the urge to chase another title and only surfed enough events to clinch a berth on the following year's tour.
As a WCT surfer she finished the year in 3rd position behind the guns of the new crop Lisa Andersen and Layne Beachley. This result, although not so remarkable in the record books, would turn out to be one of the most satisfying for Burridge as it showed she could compete and often win against the much heralded new talent in women’s surfing.
In 1998 she quit the tour before year's end expecting her first child. Life would now be fulltime on the South Coast and surfboards would again be the main thrust of life for the professional surfing couple. In between breastfeeds and other irrefutable demands from baby one (Isobel) then 2 years later baby two (Otis), Pam still got out in the water when she could. As the babies grew into energetic kids who themselves have the occassional surf life would morph into your usual coastal existence. Work, surf, school, sports, shop, surf and then try to surf again.
Since 2003 Pam has run her surf lessons at Bendalong and Mollymook for locals and visiting tourists and continues to enjoy passing on the surfing message and lifestyle.