The Paul Mitchell Supergirl Pro has been around for almost a decade. This year, in fact, is its ninth year running, and it’s the biggest festival in the event’s history. Over 120 competitors from more than 15 countries turned out this year.
“The girls are all so excited about this event,” said Malia Manuel, winner of the 2013 Supergirl Pro. “I’ve been to the event every year and it gets bigger and better each time.”
It’s the only qualifying event in the United Stated for women in the WSL, which seems strange. But that fact brings in a whole whack of supremely talented surfers. This year, Carissa Moore, Courtney Conlogue, Alana Blanchard, Coco Ho and Tatiana Weston-Webb are all competing.
“This is all about women, which is nice because most of the surfing competitions are geared toward men,” said Kristi Faramarzi, whose daughter Malia is competing. “Women usually get the crappier waves and the lower paychecks. Here, girls are the main attraction.”
It’s not just a surf event, either. There’s everything from musical events to dance classes, yoga seminars, a skateboarding competition, an all-female DJ contest, and a hairstyling booth.
In a part of the sport that has dealt with sexism for a long time, the Supergirl Pro is a breath of fresh air. It is, though, being used as a platform to talk about bigger issues.
“If you’re good-looking you can have a good career but if you don’t fit the mold of the standard beach model, you’re going to have a tough time making a living,” said Keala Kennelly. That’s one of the reasons why the Supergirl Pro is such a great event. “With the sport getting more exposure at events like this,” Kennelly finished, “young girls have role models to look up to.”
