The World’s Largest Women’s Surf Competition Returns to San Diego

At 12-years-old, Encinitas surfer Alyssa Spencer sat on the sand as an alternate and finally heard her name called over the muffled speakers. It was 2015, and the Super Girl Pro was her first qualifying series ever. “I surfed a heat against Coco Ho and that was a dream come true for me at that age,” she says. Now, the next generation of surfers are equally as stoked about the opportunity to surf with Spencer at this year’s Nissan Super Girl Pro in Oceanside Sept. 22-24.

“The event is all about female empowerment which is so inspiring and powerful to be a part of,” Spencer says. “It’s one of my favorite events of the year.”

Started in 2007, the Super Girl Pro is the largest women’s surfing competition in the world, with 140 world-class professional surfers expected to compete, including US Open Champion Sawyer Lindblad and Oceanside’s Caitlin Simmers. The event is free and features musical artists at the Oceanside Pier Amphitheater, a women’s beach volleyball tournament, a fashion show, a women’s skimboard competition, and surfing mentorship classes. Spencer serves as a mentor.

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She got her first competitive surf sponsorship with RipCurl at age 11, so being able to mentor young girls is a very full-circle experience, Spencer explains. “I always look forward to spending time with the younger girls and watching them rip with us in the lineup,” she says.

The mentorship program kicks off Friday, Sept. 22, preceding the start of the WSL (World Surf League) first round. The mentorship unites pros like Spencer with young up-and-coming surfers, inspiring the girls to stay passionate in a male-dominated sport.

When asked what she tells younger surfers, Spencer explains it’s about loving what you do.

“The reason why I love surfing so much is because I have fun doing it and I love being in the ocean. I have a huge competitive drive but I also love what I do,” Spencer says. “So don’t be hard on yourself, enjoy the process and the journey of all the ups and downs, and most of all just have fun.”