Oceanside CA— The World Surf League (WSL) 6-Star Paul Mitchell Neon Supergirl Pro will celebrate its 10^th year anniversary at the Oceanside Pier in Oceanside, Calif., July 28-30, 2017. The nationally televised event is the largest female surf contest in the world, with more than 120 of the planet’s top pros expected to compete. Admission to the event is free.
The Paul Mitchell Neon Supergirl Pro will serve as the lone women’s WSL qualifying event scheduled in the U.S. for the 2017 season and plays a critical role for surfers looking to solidify their position on the 2018 WSL Women’s World Championship Tour (WCT).
“With the Paul Mitchell Neon Supergirl Pro currently representing the only 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 contest unique within competitive surfing.”
Some of the world-class surfers expected to compete include three-time World Champion Carissa Moore (Oahu, HI), #2 ranked surfer Courtney Conlogue (Santa Ana, CA), Malia Manuel (Kauai, HI), Tatiana Weston-Webb (Kauai, HI), Laura Enever (Sydney, Australia), Lakey Peterson (Santa Barbara, CA), Bianca Buitendag (Victoria Bay, South Africa), Nikki Van Dijk (Victoria, Australia), Pauline Ado (Anglet, France), Sage Erickson (Ojai, CA), and 2016 Supergirl Pro Champion, Coco Ho (Oahu, HI).
”I can’t begin to explain how excited all of the ladies are about this event,” said Malia Manuel, one of the world’s top surfers and the 2013 Supergirl Pro champion. “It’s so awesome to have a contest like this in the U.S. that focuses entirely on women’s surfing. I’ve been to the event every year, and it gets bigger and better each time. It’s just amazing to see how many things are going on at the event beyond women’s surfing.”
In addition to the best surfing talent in the world, the Paul Mitchell Neon Supergirl Pro features an action-packed Festival Village with 16 live concerts from some of today’s top young artists, an all-female DJ contest, a women’s skateboarding competition, female comedians, art, yoga, fitness classes, dance classes, 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 50 vendor booths, and many other activities.
New to the event in 2017 will be the only female-driven multi-title esports tournament in the U.S., and a Champions Dinner to celebrate the women that have won the coveted Supergirl “Cape” trophy during the first decade and to raise money for charity. This year will also mark the introduction of an all-new logo that celebrates the modern Super Girl.
“We are really pleased about the expansion of the Paul Mitchell Neon Supergirl Pro in 2017, 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. It is incredibly gratifying to have watched the event become the largest female surf contest in WSL history, and we are proud to have provided a platform for important causes such as sustainability, bullying prevention, breast cancer awareness and female empowerment.”
This year’s free concert series, by 20+ artists, including Aaron Carter, Bea Miller, Drake Bell, SD band Mittens, Chord Overstreet, and Skylar Steckler (who Parade Magazine called the next Lady Gaga)
“Paul Mitchell is honored to be involved with this incredible 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 PR and Lifestyle Sports at John Paul Mitchell Systems. “These athletes epitomize style, grace, beauty and elegance both on and off their boards, and we are excited to help them gain much-deserved recognition of their skill and exposure for their sport.”
“We value and encourage female empowerment, and are proud to continue supporting this decade-long event that celebrates strong and talented female athletes,” said Maryellen Zarakas, Senior Vice President, Franchise Management & Marketing, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “The skill, passion and drive that these athletes display, embody what it means to be a Supergirl, and we are proud to support this one-of-a-kind competition.”
The event will run on Friday, July 28 and Saturday, July 29, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday, July 24, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For more detailed information on the Paul Mitchell Neon Supergirl Pro and to learn how to sign up for the female DJ competition and the esports tournament, please visit www.SupergirlPro.com.
To connect with the event via social media, follow @SupergirlPro on Instagram and Twitter, visit Facebook.com/SupergirlPro and use #NeonSupergirlPro.