JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – The Jacksonville Beach group of surfers “Sisters of the Sea” is gearing up for a big competition.
The group’s Women’s Surf Classic is entering its 26th year.
“It’s truly about friendship, wave knowledge, and beach improvement,” Sisters of the Sea President Samantha Ryan said.
Sisters of the Sea is a women’s surfing group that has been together since 1997.
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The Jacksonville Beach-based non-profit meets on the first Sunday of each month to clean up the beach and hit the waves.
“It’s the best,” Ryan said. “We’re supportive. We build each other up. We don’t tear each other down. It’s a safe place.”
A safe place for girls like Nova and Pearsall.
On Sunday, the two 8-year-olds participated in their very first day with the Sisters of the Sea.
They said they’re excited and can’t wait to come back.
And on Saturday, Sisters of the Sea, along with girls from across the region, will pack Jacksonville Beach for their 26th Annual Surf Classic.
The surfers will hit the water for a day of competition and community service.
“The goal is to just let women compete in the water,” Social Media Manager Kira Gawlak said. “Take up space out in the waves and show off all the skills that they’ve honed it on.”
Organizers said it is the longest-running, female-only surf competition in the United States.
The money raised will be going to local non-profits that are addressing causes like breast cancer.
“Really it’s about our charity,” Rebekah Watson said. “It’s giving back to the community since we’ve started this organization. We raised over $145,000 to date we have online raffles and then we also have a beach raffle so the day of the contest is really where we get that hype.”
Girls in divisions from under 11 to over 40 will take to the ocean on Saturday to compete.
Nova and Pearsall said they plan to be there.
But most importantly, organizers said it’s about the friendships made along the way.
And on their first day, there’s one that could last a long time.
When asked if Nova and Pearsall had made any friends on their first day, the two girls hugged and said:
“Yeah, us two.”
Saturday’s event is free for anyone who wants to go watch. The competition will start at 8 a.m. and it will be held just south of the pier in Jacksonville Beach.
If you want to participate in any of the events or raffles you can find more information on sistersofthesea.org/surf-contest/.