SURFING IRAN

Ramin is a small village in the extreme south of Iran, located in the region of Baluchistan, the most remote and impoverished area of Iran and also the only place with potential to surf. Shahla Yasini is the first woman who ever surfed in Iran and the pioneer of a "revolution" for the Iranian youth

Shahla Yasini is the first woman who ever surfed in Iran. Diver and lifeguard, Shahla has always had a strong connection to water especially to the Indian Ocean. However, she would never known that in 2013 the professional Irish Surfer Easkey Britton would extend her the invitation of being among the first women surfing in that same Indian Ocean. Partnered with another Iranian sports lady ( Mona Seraj ) Easkey and Shahla found the perfect surfing spot in the beach of Ramin, a stretch of sea near a harbour with good waves throughout the summer. Back then, they didn’t know they were about to pioneer something that would change history for Iranian women (and men).

Considering the proximity to the border of Pakistan and the ethnic and social instability of this region and the entire country, no one ( local or foreigner) had ever explored Baluchestan so deeply to discover a spot for surfing before Easkey. Shahla is actually the only woman from Baluchestan who has ever attempted to surf and since she got introduced to this sport she has been dreaming to move to New Zeland and master it by being able to surf everyday.

In 2013, after the three women caught the interest of the local community , Easkey extended the invitation to surf to the boys of Ramin too. Since then a whole community of young Iranians has been populating the place, organizing events, calling foreign guests surfers and asking for sponsor to donate equipment and help sustaining the ‘Makran Moj surfing site’.

In Iran, sports are generally allowed to women, as long as they are fully covered and women’s hair are not visible. The lack of sportswear suitable for Muslim women in water sports is one the most annoying and biggest issue. The lack of freedom in movement is preventing women to move quickly and feel comfortable in water while consequently distancing other women who are not used to sports, reducing their chance to get closer to water.

The very male dominated mentality of Baluchestan is the other greatest obstacle which Shahla and the other women supporting ‘the surfing cause’ are fighting against. Baluchi women are still kept secret, away from the beach most of the time, married to the household and without any chance to wish for a different perspective. Luckily, although still incredibly young and new, the scene is slowly finding its audience through social media exposure and word of mouth. Young Iranians from all over the country get on planes to come to Ramin and try walking on the waves knocking on the door of the Indian ocean. It will take time, perhaps years or decades before new scenarios will become possible in Baluchestan, but a lot has already been done in a few years and everyone seems positive about Ramin’s nearest future. Of course women still are and will be a restricted section of this scene; Beside Shahla, the other women who are part of the surfing family are mostly Tehranian girls with a distinct social and economical background ( usually snowboarders) or women accustomed to sport already.

Long is the way to get Baluchi girls into the water, long is the way to change a settled mentality and stereotypes of Iran and Baluchestan. But Shahla doesn’t give up and covered from hair to feet she is on her way to the next wave, determined in making this sport becoming something big for the Iranian youth.

The aim of my project would be to expand the story into a long term documentary, showing the development of the surfing scene in the next few years while also featuring the life of the main female characters in their daily life in Tehran or outside of the surfing scenario. Since the surfing scene is at its initial stage and it's a quite unique to be able to have witnessed that, I would be extremely keen on documenting its future happenings and to see weather more women will be able to join in and create a whole community of female surfers with their own clothes , equipment and teams.