Women's International Surfing Association (WISA)

First all-women's competitive surfing association, based in Huntington Beach, California; founded on March 8 (International Women's Day), 1975, by pro surfers Jericho Poppler and Mary Setterholm, in part to help address the sport's gender inequities. "Surfing does not demand aggressive strength," Setterholm noted when she introduced the Women's International Surfing Association (WISA). "Waves treat everyone equally; men and women are on the same terms as far as nature is concerned."

Launched...