Shahla Yasini
onto a surfboard and ridden the waves in the Gulf of Oman at the beaches of Chabahar. This small but re-
Baluchestan province in southeastern Iran. Until 2010, being practiced in Iran. It was only with the Irish marine researcher and surfer Easkey Britton, who surfed there during a research trip to Iran, that the locals became aware of it—and followed the Irishwoman onto the waves. In 2013, particularly young women followed the example of Easkey Britton and started to take an interest
young Iranian women, who continue to be pioneers in it.
the then twenty-one-year-old Shahla Yasini, who had previously preferred to spend her time in and under the water as a professional lifeguard and hobby diver.
“Since I was eighteen, I have
and also my mother, who is a housewife herself, always encouraged us to stand on our own feet.”
The twenty-eight-year-old has been living in Tehran with her sister for several years and is studying sports science. When she still lived with her parents in Zahedan, she regularly traveled to Chabahar, which is a seven-hour drive away, and spent several weeks, or even months, of the year with her friends there.
“The presence of women in society is very important, and they should not just stay at home. Even the smallest social activities are valuable and should be appreciated. But for me, the joy of the people I was able to help is enough,” says Bibi Zeinab. She, along with ten other women from her neighborhood, volunteers once a week at the state health center to receive training from a doctor on personal hygiene and family health. Each of these women is responsible for educating forty families on these basics.
“Climbing gives me a sense of vitality. I feel physically
Farnaz has been a member of the national team for sixteen years. In competitions, she has to wear a headscarf, and her jersey is long-sleeved. She emphasizes: “The biggest obstacles on the path to championship are the lack of appropriate training conditions, such as a standardized climbing wall. Additionally, there’s a has often forced me to cancel or miss international competitions, causing great sorrow as I prepare intensively for each of them. It’s not uncommon for us to receive no support, and unnecessary obstacles are placed in our way.”
her national and international competitions out of her “Despite all the restrictions and obstacles, I have forged my own path.”
Her efforts and determination have been rewarded with numerous national championships in speed climbing, as
climber (gold and silver medals at the Asia Championships) and an impressive 6th place in the global rankings.
