This is the First Professional Women’s Surfing Competition to Come to Jacksonville Beach and the Waves, Competition and Event Message of Female Empowerment Shined All Weekend
JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 15, 2021) – Jacksonville Beach welcomed the inaugural Super Girl Surf Pro Nov. 12-14, 2021. Competitors in the World Surf League (WSL) event included a field of recognizable, decorated female surfing competitors from around the world, including several from the host city of Jacksonville Beach. Notable locals included Kayla Durden, Sophie Falzone and Molly Kirk.
The Super Girl Surf Pro drew surfers like 5X World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Carissa Moore and her USA Olympic teammate and Florida native, Caroline Marks – who finished as runner-up. From a field of 64 of the world’s best women’s surfers, Alyssa Spencer of California was awarded the Super Girl cape following the final round of competition on Sunday afternoon.
Caroline Marks is a Florida native and following the event she shared these comments. “To be back in Florida and have a Super Girl contest here is so fun. It felt really good to make the podium again.”
Jacksonville Beach was on the international stage with the event streaming live on several digital platforms. The event will be televised on FOX Sports and ROOT Sports / AT&T SportsNet RSN’s in January and February as well. Jacksonville Beach produced some great waves, resulting in several competitors snagging nine out of ten points during their heats.
A crowd of locals and visitors were able to watch the surf competition which began on Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, the Super Girl Surf Pro Festival opened, and the streets surrounding the Sea Walk Pavilion quickly filled with people who came to attend the free concerts, classes and other festival activities that were designed to showcase female empowerment. National recording artists like The Expendables, Hoobastank and the Plain White Ts took the stage as headliners; this is the first time these bands have played in Northeast Florida in several years. It is estimated that 60,000 people attended the event over the course of three days.
“This event had something for everyone to enjoy and Jacksonville Beach is pleased to host this festival for the next four years,” said Mayor Chris Hoffman. “There was a lot of activity for our beach community residents and visitors to enjoy and our businesses certainly felt the overall economic impact,” she added.
Sunrise Surf Shop owner, Dan Brooks said, “We had a tent at the Festival and our shop was open all weekend. Our sales indicated we had a great weekend – definitely better than any average weekend in early November.”
ASA Entertainment, the event’s owner and producer, has signed a four-year deal with the city of Jacksonville Beach so the event will return in 2022 and beyond. The event has been successfully hosted in San Diego for 15 years and ASA expanded the event to include an East Coast component this year.
“ASA Entertainment is a Florida-based company, so it was important for us to bring this successful event that showcases female empowerment and the world’s best surfers to the East Coast,” said Rick Bratman, Event Director. “We look forward to bringing this event back to Jacksonville Beach next year and building on the success,” he added.