ASA Entertainment recently announced that the World Surf League (WSL) 6-Star Paul Mitchell Supergirl Pro will celebrate its 12th year at the Oceanside Pier in Oceanside, July 27-29. The nationally televised event is the largest female surf contest in the world, with more than 100 of the planet’s top pros expected to compete. Admission to the event is free.
The Paul Mitchell Supergirl Pro will serve as the lone women’s WSL qualifying event scheduled in the U.S. for the 2018 season and plays a critical role for surfers looking to solidify their position on the 2019 WSL Women’s World Championship Tour (WCT). The event will run daily from Friday, July 27 through Sunday, July 29, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Access to the surfing, concerts, esports, classes and all event elements is free to attend.
“With the Paul Mitchell Supergirl Pro currently representing the only major all-women’s qualifying event in the U.S., this contest is extremely important in the girls’ qualification process for next year’s WCT,” said Jessi Miley-Dyer, WSL women’s tour manager. “The event is an amazing combination of the best surfers on the planet with many of the newer faces just beginning their pro journey. That’s just one of the things that makes this all-women’s contest so unique within competitive surfing.”
Some of the world-class surfers resgistered to compete include six-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore (Kingscliff, Australia) making her Supergirl debut, three-time world champion Carissa Moore(Oahu), No. 1 ranked Lakey Peterson (Santa Barbara), No. 3 ranked Tatiana Weston-Webb (Kauai), No. 5 ranked Johanne Defay (Reunion Island, France), Malia Manuel (Kauai), Sage Erickson (Ojai), rookie sensation Caroline Marks (Melbourne Beach, Fla.), three-time Supergirl Pro champion Coco Ho (Oahu) and defending champion Courtney Conlogue (Santa Ana).
“I can’t begin to explain how excited all of the women are about this event,” said Erickson, one of the world’s top surfers and a two-time Supergirl Pro champion. “It’s so awesome to have a contest like this in the U.S. that focuses entirely on women’s surfing. “The whole festival around the event gets bigger each year, and the crowds are huge. It’s amazing to see how many incredible things are going on at the event beyond women’s surfing that all speak to the female empowerment theme. Winning the iconic Supergirl Cape is one of the highlights of my career and something that every pro wants to achieve.  It’s my favorite event of the year!”
In addition to the best surfing talent in the world, the Paul Mitchell Supergirl Pro features an action-packed Festival Village with 20 live concerts from some of today’s top young artists, the only female-driven multi-title esports tournament in the U.S., an all-female DJ contest, a women’s skateboarding competition, female comedians, fitness classes, dance classes, art, yoga, seminars, autographs from the pros, hair styling by Paul Mitchell, an international food court and beverage garden, a Celebrity Surf Invitational to raise money and awareness for event charities, giveaways, more than 40 vendor booths, and many other activities.
“We are really pleased about the expansion of the Paul Mitchell Supergirl Pro in 2018, both in and out of the water,” said Rick Bratman, CEO of ASA Entertainment, the event’s management company and one of the leading producers of action sports event and television programming in the US. “Each year we look to add elements that will not only be additive to the entire event experience, but will also further the event’s mission of providing opportunities for young women in areas where they are traditionally under-represented. “Paul Mitchell is honored to be involved with this powerful group of women again, and we are thrilled to have the largest field of talent in women’s surfing competing at this event,” said Julie Solwold, vice president of Lifestyle Sports at John Paul Mitchell Systems. “These athletes epitomize style, grace, elegance and strength both on and off their boards, and we are excited to support an event that showcases their incredible skill and gives their sport the exposure that is long overdue.”For more detailed information on the Paul Mitchell Supergirl Pro and to learn how to sign up for the female DJ competition and the esports tournament, please visit SupergirlPro.com.