| 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]
- ^ 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.
- ^ Todd, Jan S (April 1992). "Origins of Weight Training for Female Athletes in North America". Iron Game History. 2 (2).