Steph is recognized as one of the most stylish surfers in the world, and her performances at everywhere from Supertubes in JBay to the Kelly Slater Surf Ranch lay testament to the claims of her stylishness.
Gilmore is a joy to watch and is one of the most popular and respected surfers of her time.
Her multiple world titles are a testament to this, and she continues to define high-line speed runs and the smoothest arcs.
Table of Contents
Background
| Place of Birth | Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Australia |
| Hometown | Kingscliff, New South Wales, Australia |
| Year of Birth | January 29, 1988 (age 33) |
| Weight | 147 lbs (67 kg) |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (177.80) |
| Stance | Regular |
| First Season | 2005 Women’s CT |
Milestones
- #5 Women’s CT 2021
- 8 Heat wins
- 12.20 Avg. heat score
- 2007 Rookie year
Event Wins
Women’s Championship Tour
| 2019 | Corona Bali Protected – 1st place 10,000 points Lululemon Maui Pro – 1st place 10,000 points |
| 2018 | Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach – 1st place 10,000 points Oi Rio Women’s Pro – 1st place 10,000 points Corona Open J-Bay – Women’s – 1st place 10,000 points |
| 2017 | Roxy Pro Gold Coast – 1st place 10,000 points Maui Women’s Pro – 1st place 10,000 points |
| 2014 | Roxy Pro Gold Coast – 1st place 10,000 points Swatch Women’s Pro Trestles – 1st place 10,000 points Cascais Women’s Pro – 1st place 10,000 points |
| 2012 | Roxy Pro Gold Coast – 1st place 10,000 points TSB Bank NZ Surf Festival – 1st place 10,000 points Roxy Pro France – 1st place 10,000 points |
| 2011 | Roxy Pro France – 1st place 10,000 points |
| 2010 | Roxy Pro Gold Coast – 1st place 1,200 points Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach – 1st place 1,200 points Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic – 1st place 1,200 points Rip Curl Search – 1st place 1,200 points |
| 2009 | Roxy Pro Gold Coast – 1st place 1,200 points Billabong Pro Maui – 1st place 1,200 points |
| 2008 | Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach – 1st place 1,200 points Rip Curl Pro Mademoiselle – 1st place 1,200 points Movistar Classic Peru – 1st place 1,200 points Roxy Pro Sunset Beach – 1st place Billabong Pro Maui – 1st place |
| 2007 | Rip Curl Women’s Pro – 1st place NAB Beachley Classic – 1st place Mancora Peru Classic – 1st place Billabong Pro – 1st place |
| 2006 | Havaianas Beachley Classic – 1st place |
| 2005 | Roxy Pro – 1st place |
Women’s Qualifying Series
| 2010 | Swatch Girls Pro – 1st place 3,000 points |
| 2008 | Midori Pro – 1st place 2,500 points |
Backhistory
- Gilmore’s life as a surfer began at age 10 when she stood on a bodyboard.
- By age 17 she was entering world tour events as a wild card competitor, which paid off with a v victory at the 2005 Roxy Pro Gold Coast.
- In her next season she won another wild card event, the 2006 Havaianas Beachley Classic.
- Gilmore’s success on the WQS (World Qualifying Series) tour qualified her for the 2007 Women’s ASP World Tour and she did not disappoint. She won four of the eight events and claimed the 2007 World Title. She would repeat her success in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2018.
- Gilmore also won the inaugural Swatch Girls Pro France in 2010.
- Also in 2010, she was inducted into the Surfers’ Hall of Fame and won the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the year award.
- Gilmore is currently the top athlete on the ROXY Surf Team.
- In 2014, Gilmore starred in a feature length documentary titled Stephanie in the Water.
- Although the 2007 season was Gilmore’s rookie year, she captured the Foster’s ASP Women’s World Title. She won three events in 2007 to enter the final event of the season, the Billabong Pro Maui, ranked in first place; when the other contenders – former world champion Sofia Mulanovich and sophomore Silvana Lima – bowed out before her, she won the title.
Sponsors
Stepanie Gilmore’s sponsors are Roxy, Nikon Australia, Breitling Watches, Audi.
Surfboards
Stephanie Gilmore’s rides surfboards shaped by Darren Handley of Darren Handley Designs.
| Model | Ducks Nuts |
| Dimensions | 5’9″ x 18 3/16″ x 2 1/8″ |
| Fins | FCS |
| Tail | Square/Pintail |
| Volume | 24.41 liters |
| Materials | Polyurethane |
Quotes by Stephanie Gilmore
1. “The ocean humbles you. You can go and win a world title, but you’re never going to beat the ocean.”
2. “Life’s too short to sit around and wait.”
3. “I’ve always had a determination to perfect whatever I’m doing. If I can’t do something, I work on it until I figure it out.”
4. “Fear – It’s a fine line between that and pushing yourself. You definitely reach new heights when you push. But fear is good. Fear keeps us alive. If we didn’t have it, we’d be doing crazy things and getting in sticky situations.”
5. “Experiencing different cultures is one of the best things a human being can do. It puts your whole world into perspective.”
6. “As long as I’m still surfing wherever I am, I’ll always be happy.”
7. “Winning is euphoric, but it lasts a short time. You’ve got to lap it up, then move on to the next thing. I think I’ve kept winning because I haven’t attached myself to past successes.”
8. “What I love the most about surfing is that it’s my first love. It’s the first thing I can remember being consumed by.”
9. “Waves are fascinating, the way they are created by wind far out at sea and groomed by different winds as they come closer to shore. We surfers ride the very last part of the wave’s life before it crashes and disappears, never to be seen again.”
10. “Surfers are in tune with the weather because if there’s a storm coming, there are waves coming. I love the rain.”
11. “My sisters did ballet when we were younger and I remember sitting in the car with my dad and going ‘can we hurry up and go surfing!?, I’m sick of waiting for my sisters and their ballet classes.”
Other Activities and Interests
1. Stephanie Gilmore plays Ping Pong.
2. If she ever goes quiet for a long period of time, Stephanie is likely on Google Earth, zooming in a far-away coastline, analyzing the reef set-up and swell direction.
3. Stephanie is always adding to her vintage guitar collection
4. Growing up, one of Stephanie’s ambitions was to be an Olympian. She will have her chance when surfing premiers at the 2020 Olympics Games in Tokyo.
Interesting Facts
1. Stephanie Gilmore’s favorite waves are Greenmount, Macaronis (Mentawai Islands), Honolua Bay.
2. 90% of time, disco music is playing in Stephanie’s car.
3. Stephanie’s go-to snack while competing are hard boiled eggs with salt & pepper.
4. A huge Rihanna fan, Stephanie often stalks the bad Gal’s Instagram to feel impowered.