Dorothy Becker
| Dorothy Alden Becker | |
|---|---|
 Dorothy Becker | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | 1900 |
| Died | 1989 |
| Surfing career | |
| Major achievements | pioneer, headstand for 75 yards |
Dorothy Alden Becker Lineer (1900 – 1989) was an American surfer and competitive swimmer. Regarded as the first woman surfer from the mainland United States, she was better known as a swimmer during her era because surfing was a little-known sport on the mainland at the time. She was nicknamed the "California Mermaid."[1]
Becker was born in Sitka, Alaska. Given a grim diagnosis by a doctor, her family moved her to Santa Cruz, California for a "nature cure" and set her on a strict regiment of exercise including swimming and diving.[2]
Voyage to Hawaii
[edit]
She sailed to Honolulu in 1915, at the age of 15, to compete against champion American swimmer Ruth Stacker, who held the record of 50 yards in 31 seconds.[3] During the race, Stacker accidentally entered Becker's swim lane. Both swimmers became confused; the race took 35+1⁄5 seconds, won by Becker.[4]
While in Hawaii Becker "learned the trick of riding the surf boards"[5] with a board she borrowed from swimmer and surfer Duke Kahanamoku.[6] At this time, few people other than Pacific Islanders had learned to surf.[4] Becker took to the sport quickly, surprising onlookers by performing a headstand on the board.[7] Photos of Becker's tricks were published in the Chicago Tribune. The publicity introduced many Americans to the novel sport of "Waikiki surf-riding."[8]
Returning from Hawaii, Becker brought her surfing skills back to her hometown of Santa Cruz, where a small surfing community already existed, started by Hawaiians in the 19th century.[9] According to the Santa Cruz Sentinel she was first woman surfer from the mainland United States.[6]
In a letter to Bernarr Macfadden, Becker credits exercise with saving her life from illness. She says her well-developed muscles allow her to surf 75 yards while standing on her head. The letter is one of the earliest known references to a woman using resistance training to improve her sports performance.[2]
Swimming accomplishments
[edit]Becker was the first woman to be a member of several athletic organizations, including the first in the Pacific Division of the Amateur Athletic Union.[3] She resigned from the Pacific Athletic association in 1916 because of a dispute over a racing foul.[10]
In a time when swimming garments for women were typically bulky, Becker defied convention by swimming in a form-fitting, knit suit.[1] Her suit was similar to that of men of the era like Duke Kahanamoku.
Races won
[edit]| Event | Time | Date | Location | Opponent(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 yards | 30+4⁄5 seconds | March 27, 1921 | Neptune Beach | 6 women | [11] |
| 100 yard breast stroke | 1:39+1⁄5 seconds | June 19, 1920 | Del Monte | [12] |
Personal life
[edit]She married George Lineer
References
[edit]- ^ a b Harlick, Jeanene (Aug 29, 2003). "Santa Cruz surfers crash gender barrier / Beach town's women have been riding the waves for decades". The San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^ a b Todd, Jan S (April 1992). "Origins of Weight Training for Female Athletes in North America". Iron Game History. 2 (2).
- ^ a b "Dorothy Becker to Sail for Honolulu to Swim Against Ruth Stacker, United States Champion". San Francisco Call. Vol. 97, no. 11. January 11, 1915.
- ^ a b "Dorothy Becker Beats Fast Rival In Mid-Pacific Race". Santa Cruz Evening News. Vol. 15, no. 117. April 9, 1915. p. 7.
- ^ "Indianapolis Loses Fast Game to Angeis". San Francisco Call. Vol. 97, no. 62. March 11, 1915.
- ^ a b "World's best converge on Santa Cruz". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Vol. 141, no. 58. February 28, 1998.
- ^ Kempton, Jim (2021). Women on Waves: A Culture History of Surfing—From Ancient Goddesses and Hawaiian Queens to Malibu Movie Stars and Millennial Champions. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-64313-725-4.
- ^ "Chicago folks told of local surf-riding". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. August 16, 1915. p. 10.
- ^ Meares, Hadley (August 17, 2016). "Steamer Lane: The Saga of Surfing in Santa Cruz".
- ^ "Dorothy Becker Denies Signing Protest and Withdraws From P.A.A." San Francisco Call. Vol. 99, no. 62. March 13, 1916.
- ^ "Dorothy Becker wins at Neptune". San Francisco Call. Vol. 109, no. 69. March 28, 1921.
- ^ "Alameda wins swimming race". Morning Press. Associated Press. June 20, 1920.