Jodie Cooper and Pauline Menczer took different paths to the top, but faced the same macho surfing culture

Jodie Cooper could ride the biggest waves the Australian ocean hurled at her. "People thought she was absolutely gorgeous," says her protegee and fierce surfing competitor, Pauline Menczer. Jodie says Pauline was "lucky, really, to have us around". "He said: 'I have to tell you this off-record, but one of the major surf brands doesn't want to sponsor you because you don't have the look they want,'" Pauline says. When describing the surf culture of their era, Jodie and Pauline use the words "homophobic" and "misogynist", but speak about their careers without the kind of bitterness they could have held onto in retirement.