As we peer out towards the ocean, the glistening sun sparkles over the glassy water. It’s a rare occasion for an October day in Norway, with blue skies and longboarders dancing across the waves, their silhouettes framed by the golden light of the setting sun. But something else catches my eye. Something else out of the ordinary, this time in the lineup. Of the 10 or so people out here freesurfing, the majority are women.

It’s the last day of the annual Surf Fest Scandinavia festival in Stavanger, Norway. Every year, Nordic surfers from across Scandinavia heed the call of Stavanger’s waters for this uniquely intimate weekend of surfing, music, festivities, and community.

This year, I returned to the festival with a specific question in mind.…