This week 4th-10th March 2024 is Sport Ireland Women In Sport Week. To celebrate this we have been talking to some of the most incredible Irish women who are achieving inspiring things in the outdoors about how we can encourage more women and girls to engage in outdoor sports.
At Outsider we are huge advocates of women in sports, especially outdoor sports. However, there is a noticeable disparity between the number of women and the number of men participating in outdoor sports such as surfing, and mountain running. The women we talk to in this article are all from different walks of life and share their unique perspectives on how we can continue to encourage women and girls to get outdoors, back themselves, set goals, and fall in love with Ireland’s outdoor spaces.
Lead by example
“As a woman and especially as a mother, we should encourage our young girls and women by leading by example.” Brianna Jackson who lives in Dublin, taught herself to swim three years ago and now she has completed eight marathon swims (swims over 10km in distance)!
One of the core tenets of the movement to get more women involved in sports is leading by example. “If she can do, so can you”, was the tagline of the campaign which followed Dr Karen Weekes’ successful journey to become the first Irish woman to row across the Atlantic solo. It is undeniable that highlighting the achievements of driven and motivated women has a huge impact on encouraging other women (and men) to participate in their own sporting challenges.
Find your tribe
Jessika Robson was born into a supportive environment, “As a little girl and one of three sisters, I was lucky enough to have parents who taught us from a young age, that girls and women could do and be anything they wanted, with commitment and hard work.” However, all young people are not as fortunate to have a supportive family regarding physical endeavours. Jessika continues, “As parents, teachers, community groups, clubs and coaches – give the young people in your life opportunities to try anything and everything. There will be something for everyone.”
What if I’m not a child anymore? What if I don’t know where to start? I hear you ask. In the past few years, run clubs, hiking groups, group yoga classes and swim groups, are popping up nationwide. Karen Weekes, the first Irish woman to row an ocean solo, urges women to “Consider joining a community group, contacting your local sports partnership, or grabbing a friend and trying something new!” You’ll never know what your outdoor “thing” is if you don’t try!
Back Yourself
“We ladies sometimes don’t back ourselves enough. We lack confidence in trying those hard things. So back yourself, practice the technique and you will get there.” said Karen Weekes, a lady who knows a thing or two about doing hard things! Often traditional sports can become synonymous with competition, alienating people who want to participate or simply be active. When sport is taken into the great outdoors, however, it becomes about so much more than competition. Experience, journey, and process are all words that are used in outdoor sports so much more often than “result”. Brianna Jackson, who completed 8 marathon swims in 2023, believes that “we should see sport as a lifestyle choice beyond competition and comparison and see it as equally important as any other social outlet we might have.”
Connection with the earth
The outdoors is so much more than a place to exercise. In a recent conversation with Easkey Britton, the Donegal surfer, author, and water connection and protection advocate explained to us that there is something innately human about climbing a hill or jumping in the sea and when we move our bodies in the outdoors we restore our connection with the earth. “It goes beyond gender and becomes about how we relate to each other, nature, water, the world around us. It’s about being able to give expression to who we are – freely and truly, without conforming to social norms or cultural expectations.”
Have fun
There are a plethora of benefits to getting outdoors and engaging in physical activity, be it physical, mental, or social benefits. However for our young people, especially girls there is one thing that is vital to maintain if they are going to continue participating in sport and that is fun. It has to be fun. The achievements of the women featured in this article can inspire many of us. Jessika Robson swam to Scotland at 17, Karen Weekes became the first Irish woman to row an ocean solo, Easkey Britton won five consecutive Irish National Surfing titles, and Brianna Jackson had a breakthrough year in 2023, completing eight marathon swims. However, to transform this inspiration into action and cultivate a habit of participating in outdoor sports, the activities must be enjoyable. As Jessika Robson aptly puts it, “Entice them in, find something they can fall in love with, support and encourage them and make it fun! Give them the chance to build friendships and learn what they are capable of, how strong they are, and how incredible that feeling is.” We believe this approach will make a difference.
All of the women featured in this article have won Outsider Awards in the past two years for their accomplishments. To read more about their stories click the story below.
Outsider Awards Winners
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