I first heard about three times longboard world champion and current Carlsbad city council member Cori Schumacher in 2013, at the height of the Roxy/Steph Gilmore controversy. That was an episode that shone a harsh light on some of the more retrograde and toxic attitudes at play in the surf industry; and almost perfectly encapsulated the intricacies, nuances and challenge involved in debating issues of feminism, misogyny and sexism in an inherently conservative industry like surfing.

Cori was at the forefront of the efforts to point out this rather obvious truth, and I remember at the time being hugely impressed by her bravery in steadfastly trying to reclaim the narrative in the face of relentless ad hominem attacks.

But then, speaking truth to power in this unerring, unflinching way has long been a courageous hallmark of Cori Schumacher’s life and career.

Read more from Matt Barr at “Looking Sideways” and listen to the interview.

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