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Californian swimmer and surfer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
| Dorothy Alden Becker | |
|---|---|
Dorothy Becker | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | 1900 |
| Died | 1989 |
| Surfing career | |
| Major achievements | pioneer, headstand for 75 yards |
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]
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]
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.
| 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] |
She married George Lineer
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