One local group that played a unique role behind-the-scenes of the WSL was The Dames, Raglan’s women-focused surf community.
The Dames helped keep thousands of single-use items out of landfill during the event. Annika caught up with founder Nina Dunyach-Ramos to reflect on the WSL, and her hopes for the future of women’s surfing in Whaingaroa.
Tell us about your involvement behind the scenes of the World Surf League event in Raglan.
The Dames were involved through the Go Eco Wash Trailer initiative, helping wash and reuse plates, cups, and cutlery throughout the event. For us, it was really important to be involved in something environmentally focused. As surfers, the ocean is our playground, our workplace, and where we spend most of our time, so protecting it is something we care deeply about.
A big shout-out to Xtreme Zero Waste, who helped bring the project to life and provided a bit of funding to get it running. Without their support, it would have been much harder to make it happen.
What was a standout moment from the WSL that you’ll remember?
One of the funniest things for me was that we’re all surfers, and suddenly we found ourselves spending our days washing dishes! It wasn’t exactly what we imagined when we got involved in a world-class surfing event, but we had an absolute blast. We had music pumping, lots of laughs, and somehow turned dishwashing into a pretty good time.
What makes it even more memorable is knowing the impact it had. Through the Eco Wash Trailer, we helped save around 65,000 single-use items from going to landfill. When you stop and think about that, it’s huge. If all those plates, cups, knives, forks, and containers were laid out end to end, it would probably stretch from Manu Bay past Indicators and halfway towards the harbour! Knowing we helped prevent that amount of waste from ending up in the environment is something we’re incredibly proud of.
What was the atmosphere like during the WSL event from your perspective?
It honestly felt a little bit like being back home in France! There were people from all over the world, creating an amazing atmosphere in Raglan. The competition side of things brought a lot of excitement too, with supporters cheering passionately for their athletes. The Brazilians were definitely making themselves heard!
It was great seeing people from Raglan at Manu Bay who never normally come down there. Suddenly, because of the event, everyone was there. It really brought the whole community together. There was a real sense of excitement, connection, and pride in seeing Raglan showcased on the world stage.
What would you encourage the WSL to do differently next time?
I’d love to see even more involvement from local community groups and environmental initiatives. The event already does a lot, but creating more opportunities for local organisations, youth programmes, and grassroots clubs to be involved would leave an even stronger legacy after the competition finishes.
What opportunities did the event bring for local women surfers and The Dames?
Events like these shine a spotlight on surfing and inspire more people to get involved. It also gave The Dames an opportunity to connect with other organisations, local businesses, and members of the community. For women surfers, seeing female athletes competing at the highest level can be incredibly motivating and empowering.
What would you love to see happen next for women’s surfing in Raglan?
I’d love to see more women feeling confident enough to give surfing a go, regardless of age or ability. Raglan has such an incredible surf community, and there is room for everyone. It would also be amazing to see more programmes, coaching opportunities, and pathways that support women and girls throughout their surfing journey.
