Battle of the boards bigger than ever for top female sufers

Rip Curl and leading youth brand Clean & Clear have joined forces to bring New Zealand the only Women’s Pro event on the national surfing calendar for 2008 – donating some of the proceeds to the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.


The prestigious event formerly known as the Women’s National’s will be held on March 15-16 in Mt Maunganui and is already receiving serious attention from the country’s top female competitive surfers


The Rip Curl Clean & Clear Women’s Pro competition offers $5,000 in prize money and boasts six divisions catering for women of all ages and level’s of ability; U12, U14, U18, Seniors 28+, the Clean & Clear U16’s, Longboard and the Rip Curl Open.


Rip Curl’s National Marketing Manager Leon Parkin, says the event is an outstanding opportunity for New Zealand women to showcase their boarding skills with many previous winners now competing on the highly-respected Australian junior circuit.


Over the last couple of years we’ve really noticed a huge improvement especially in the junior divisions and Kiwi girls are showing everyone that they’re serious competitors on an international scale. It’s events like this within New Zealand that give them confidence to take their expertise outside New Zealand and show the world what their capable of”, says Parkin.

New to the event is the Clean & Clear Expression Session, a specialty event giving competitors a chance to lay down their best moves for the judges in a free surfing session. The winner will be presented with $500 cash by Clean & Clear.

The Rip Curl Clean & Clear Women’s Pro will also feature New Zealand’s first ever Girls Go Surfing Day which aims to give first timers a chance to get in the water for a surf lesson with professional instructors.

Clean & Clear Brand Manager Rachel Faulkner says she is excited about the new partnership with Rip Curl.

"Clean & Clear and Rip Curl have come together for the 2008 Women's Pro to encourage girls and their friends to be confident, energetic and have lots of fun. This event is the perfect platform to do just that.

“We want to see the girls step up to the challenge and we wish everyone luck who is competing in the event and also to those who are giving surfing a go, even for the first time,” she says

Faulkner says the company is proud to be involved in giving back to the community by donating some of the competition proceeds to the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.

“We care about the health and future of New Zealand girls and it’s great to be able to give back to an organization which does so much for all women in this country.”

For more information about the event or to obtain an entry form for the Rip Curl Clean & Clear Women’s Pro go to Surfing New Zealand website www.surfingnz.co.nz