Jacksonville — The Super Girl Pro Series, the world’s only large-scale all-women’s action sports series, will showcase its inaugural event in Jacksonville, November 11-14 at the Jacksonville Pier and Sea Pavilion.
Touted as the world’s largest women’s surf event and musical festival, the outdoor sports gala will feature surfing pros the likes of Olympic Gold Medalist and five-time World Champion Carissa Moore. Jacksonville’s pros include Kayla Durden, Sophie Falzone, and Molly Kirk. Florida native, Caroline Marks, along with former Super Girl champion Sage Erickson will also grace the lineup of competitors.
The World Surf League (WSL) competition, will kick-off the event’s jam-packed everything fun in its festival village. To do’s include women’s beach volleyball, beach soccer and skateboarding competitions; free fitness classes – yoga, Pilates and Zumba; a Lenovo Legion Video Gaming Lounge; a military appreciation component; twelve free concerts; plus a female DJ competition at the SeaWalk Pavilion. And let’s not forget the beer garden and food trucks.
Designed to celebrate strength and empowerment, this all female platform encourages social, athletic, cultural, educational, business, and entertainment opportunities for young women.
“When Super Girl was ready to add an East Coast venue, we couldn’t think of a better location for incredible surfing and a cool, welcoming vibe than Jacksonville Beach,” said Rick Bratman, CEO of ASA Entertainment, the event’s producer.
Although only winner will don the iconic super girl cape, Jacksonville will feature two of its hometown pros Kayla Durden and Sophie Falzone.
Falzone, a 22 year old graphic design student at the University of North Florida (UNF) began surfing at age four and competing at age seven. She’s as thrilled to have the event in her backyard as she is to see the “cool progression of women surfing.”
“This is a great opportunity for girls from the east west coast to compete,” she said. “So many pros - it’s crazy to see these inspiring women.”
Durden, also born and raised in JAX Beach, began surfing at age 5 and began competing at age 12. Sporting a degree in marketing form UNF, she surfed on the school’s team, finishing second in Nationals twice. She says that she’s better on a board “than I am on anything else.”
“Surfing is a lifestyle,” she said. “You’re at the hand of the ocean. It’s a different world full of the weather and wind. You never know what you’re going to get. It’s thrilling.”
Durden plans to take one heat at a time with “winning” as the goal.
Moore will also lead her Moore Aloha Mentorship Program to 24 Duval County young women will spend a day surfing and learning from Moore and other top pros.
Her charitable foundation, Moore Aloha, will host 24 Duval County young women between the ages of 10-16 through her mentorship program. Over 125 applicants were required to submit their latest report card along with an essay and/or video explaining what a Super Girl means to them. Hopefuls were also asked to share how they spread the “Moore Aloha” spirit by giving back to others.
“Carissa Moore has opened many doors for young female surfers,” said Bratman. “Carissa is a powerful and positive influence for girls in sports and beyond. We are honored to partner with Carissa and her foundation to provide this incredible experience.”
In betwixt and between the athletic activities, the festival will host an all-women’s leadership panel.
“The term Super Girl has long been a universal symbol for feminine strength and leadership,” continued Bratman. “Today’s girls are confident, independent, active, and socially aware. This series celebrates a new breed of Super Girl that can outperform most guys in their chosen pursuit, while being fun, stylish, interesting, creative, unique, fearless, and unabashedly feminine.”
Surfing will run at the Jacksonville Beach Pier beginning Friday, November 12, and run through Sunday, November 14, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Jacksonville Sports Edge will coordinate Open, AA, 18U and 14U volleyball competitions on Saturday and Sunday. The soccer competition, hosted by Prime Sports, will feature 10U, 12U, 14U and high school divisions. An all-female (of course! ) skateboarding competition will be held in Pro/Advanced and Intermediate divisions.
The Festival Village at Sea Walk Pavilion will open on Saturday, November 13, from Noon until to 10 p.m. and on Sunday, November, 14 from Noon until 8 p.m. Access to the surfing, sports, concerts, panels, classes and all elements of the festival village activities are free and open to the public.
“The Super Girl Surf Pro has made a long-term commitment to hosting an inspirational event that will empower young women, as well as showcase successful women in professional surfing and from many other walks of life,” concluded Bratman.
The Jacksonville Beach Super Girl Surf Pro is sponsored by Florida Blue, CSI Companies, Atlantic Self Storage, the US Air Force, Jeep, CELSIUS, Gillette Venus, Jolyn, Legion by Lenovo, the Courtyard Jacksonville Beach Oceanfront and the City of Jacksonville’s Tourist Development Council.
Super Girl Surf Pro will be televised on FOX Sports and ROOT Sports / AT&T SportsNet RSN’s January/February of 2022. A two-day live webcast can be viewed on Twitch, YouTube, World Surf League, Surfline, The Inertia, Fuel TV and Facebook.
For more information visit www.supergirljax.com/event-schedule.