Target Women's Junior Pro

Honda U.S. Open of Surfing
Huntington Beach Ca.
 

TARGET BRINGS JUNIOR WOMEN'S SURFING TO HUNTINGTON BEACH

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. ' Junior women will have a division of their own during the Honda U.S. Open of Surfing, July 22 to 31, for the first time since competitive surfing debuted at the Huntington Beach Pier in 1959.  Target is sponsoring the inaugural Target Women's Junior Pro showcasing the nation's top young female surfers in the world's largest surfing arena.
 
Offering an unprecedented $10,000 prize purse ' the same as the junior men's division ' the Target Women's Junior Pro field is set at 32 competitors.  The roster is headlined by National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) Open Women's Division champion Carissa Moore (Honolulu), Hello Kitty Boardfest semi-finalist Courtney Conlogue (Santa Ana) and world junior surfing champion runner-up Karina Petroni (Atlantic Beach).  Also slated to compete are Hawaiian Coco Ho, along with Newport Beach standout Erica Hosseini.
 
The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) sanctioned event is the major U.S. qualifier for the World Junior Championships to be held in North Narrabeen/Sydney, Australia in January 2006.  A grade level 2, the highest possible rating, the top American finisher will join Floridian Connie Arias, winner of an East Coast event earlier this year, in representing the United States. 
 
'The women's junior division is considered a stepping stone for young surfers who desire to move from the amateur ranks to the pros,' said ASP North America's Meg Bernardo, who is championing the concept.  'The fact that Target is onboard in such a big way is a defining moment for the young women competitors.'
 
In addition to a first place prize purse of $2,500, Target will be treating the top four finalists to lunch and major shopping spree at an area store on July 27.
 
'Target has been inspired by and is proud to be affiliated with this amazing group of young women, 'said John Remington, vice president of communications.  'Our goal for sponsoring this first-time event is to feed the profession of women's surfing and help to elevate it to new levels.'
 
The addition of a junior women's division to the Honda U.S. Open of Surfing parallels the explosive growth of women's surfing across the nation.  Professionally and recreationally the ranks are beginning to swell as women join in the lineup next to their male counterparts.  Fueled by families returning to the sport, all-girl surf camps and myriad manufacturers of women's clothing, accessories and hard-goods, participation is at an all-time high.
 
The Honda U.S. Open of Surfing Presented by O'Neill, the world's largest professional surfing competition, anchors the  '2005 Bank of the West Beach Games' which attracts more than 600 international competitors and features surfing, skateboarding, BMX, FMX and volleyball in world-class venues along with live concerts and an interactive lifestyle festival spread over 12 acres.  All events are open to the public, free of charge.  Surfing competition begins on Friday, July 22 and runs through Sunday, July 31.  Consumer information is available at www.usopenofsurfing.com and www.bankofthewestbeachgames.com.
 
About Target
Minneapolis-based Target serves guests at 1,330 stores in 47 states nationwide by delivering today's best retail trends at affordable prices. Target is committed to providing guests with great design through innovative products, in-store experiences and community partnerships. Whether visiting a Target store or shopping online at Target.com, guests enjoy a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to thousands of unique and highly differentiated items. Target (NYSE:TGT) gives back more than $2 million a week to its local communities through grants and special programs. Since opening its first store in 1962, Target has partnered with nonprofit organizations, guests and team members to help meet community needs.

Target Womens Junior Pro
 

Mike Kingsbury

Juniors - Surfersvillage