The Air Force Super Girl Pro brought to you by Jersey Mike’s is returning to Jacksonville Beach November 8, 9 and 10, 2024, offering a multitude of events that have interest to locals, travelers, families and businesses across the First Coast. First and foremost, the Super Girl Pro is a professional surfing contest that features both top female professional surfers from the WSL (World Surf League), and local female surfers looking to make a name for themselves in their own back yard.
The U.S. Air Force Super Girl Surf Pro is a World Surf League women’s only Qualifying Series (QS) 3,000 event. Some of the world’s top-level contenders and rising stars compete for 3,000 points towards 2025 Challenger Series qualification and the coveted Super Girl cape and prize money awarded on Sunday.
Eden Walla became the youngest Super Girl Surf Pro victor at age 15 at the Super Girl Surf Pro in San Diego in September. The Californian now prepares to keep her momentum alive in Jacksonville Beach. Plus, Keala Tomoda-Bannert, the defending Super Girl Surf pro from the 2023 Jacksonville Beach event returns to defend her title. Local talent Lanea Mons will compete in the event and is currently ranked ninth overall in the WSL QS rankings.
The surfing competition runs each day beginning Friday at 8 a.m. on the beach near the Jacksonville Beach Pier. In addition, from 1:30 – 5 p.m. on Nov. 8 the World Surf League is hosting a group of young women from the community for their Rising Tides Mentorship Program. Young rippers will learn from seasoned women on the professional women’s surfing circuit.
Festival promoter, Rick Bratman told First Coast Life, “This is the eighteenth year of the Super Girl Series, but only our fourth year in Jacksonville Beach. The growth, and the community support has been nothing short of amazing there in North Florida. We add something new to the roster every year to make it a better experience for those attending, and this year our musical lineup includes Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and Ceelo Green, which adds a world class musical experience and it’s all available at no cost to anyone!” Other event highlights include a women’s skateboarding competition, an all-female DJ competition, food trucks and more.
Beginning Saturday, the beachfront becomes a festival village humming with activities including family-friendly interactive activities from the U.S. Air Force and a free concert series on stage at the SeaWalk Pavilion.
Concert headliners for this year’s event are Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (Nov. 9, 8:30 p.m.) and CeeLo Green (Nov. 10, 6:45 p.m.). For the first time, Saturday features an all-female line-up with shows beginning at noon. On Sunday, The Expendables take the stage; the band also performed to a packed lawn at last year’s event.
Local PR guru, Nancy Seely, said, “Even in a pandemic year we had a great event, but over the past four years I have just been blown away by the increase in attendance. The Super Girl Pro offers so much to so many people that Jacksonville is so blessed to have the WSL bring this event to our community.” Seely added, “The local girls who get to compete and see how a professional event is run, not to mention that our locals get to actually surf with their heroes is beyond amazing.”
Jacksonville Beach Mayor, Christine Hoffman is thrilled to have the event in our backyard and told us, “The Supergirl surf pro event is right in line with the city’s vision to be “a vibrant coastal community that embraces ‘the beach life.'” From surfing, skateboarding, great music, awesome vendors, and engaging panel discussions, there is so much to love about this event right in the heart of Jacksonville Beach.”
Other highlights include a women’s skateboarding competition with prize money on the line, an all-female DJ competition with the fans choosing the winner, free fitness classes, food trucks and a beer garden. There are special activities for veterans on Saturday, and it’s Mom’s Day Out on Sunday from 12-4 p.m. with gift bags, special activities for children and drink deals for mom. Throughout the weekend, there are also other women’s sports competitions featuring more than 1,000 women athletes showcasing their talents in beach volleyball, beach lacrosse, beach soccer, cheerleading and flag football.
One of Jacksonville Beach’s most popular surfers, Kayla Durden has surfed the Super Girl quite a few times since it began in San Diego eighteen years ago and will be on hand to oversee the event this week. Durden has surfed competitively for over fifteen years, both as an amatuer and a professional, and now works for the WSL overseeing professional competions all over the world. “I surfed it the first year it came here,” Durden said, “but now in my job with the WSL I just help run the event with contest organizer, Rick Bratman.”
Another local surfer, Lanea Mons will be competing in this year’s event and Sunrise Surf Shop’s Garrett Carmichael told First Coast Life, “Lanea is not only only Jacksonville’s hottest up and coming young surfer, she is getting recognition all over the world for her meteoric rise in the amatuer surfing world. We are proud to have her representing Sunrise Surf Shop and we are all looking forward to seeing her compete this week!”
ASA Entertainment produces the U.S. Air Force Super Girl Surf Pro and is pleased to announce the event will continue to be hosted in Jacksonville Beach for the next four years.
For more information on the concert lineup, surfing, classes, schedules and more, visit, www.supergirljax.com. To connect via social media, follow @SupergirlPro on Instagram and Facebook and @officialsupergirlpro on TikTok.
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Mike is a native First Coaster and was a leading figure in surfing and skateboarding for most of his life. After promoting music for many years on the local music scene, Mike now brings a unique perspective to FirstCoast.Life as a contributing writer.
