Becoming Westerly

Becoming Westerly is a biographical work by journalist and former professional surfer Jamie Brisick, published in 2015. The book chronicles the life of Peter Drouyn, a legendary Australian surfing champion who transitioned into a woman named Westerly Windina. Brisick, who shared a background in the surfing industry, approached the subject with the aim of capturing the complexities of identity, gender transition, and the immense social pressures faced by an icon operating within the traditionally hyper-masculine subculture of professional surfing.

The narrative design of the book prioritizes a long-form journalistic approach, blending interview transcripts with reflective prose to bridge the gap between Drouyn's past successes as a world-class athlete and Windina's new existence. Upon its release, the book was noted for its sensitive exploration of a subject that was largely taboo in the surfing world at the time. It serves as both a historical record of a pivotal era in surfing and a personal study of the psychological toll associated with public visibility and private reinvention.