YOU’RE INVITED + MEDIA ALERT: We invite you to take part in an opening ceremony today Thursday, September 27 at Waimea Bay

The world’s best big-wave surfers will gather to challenge for the 2018 Women’s Waimea Bay Championship after a lack of swell prevented the event from running in 2017.

Red Bull Queen of the Bay returns with a holding period of October 1 through November 21, 2018, and looks to crown the Women’s Waimea Bay Champion in the first-ever all-women big-wave surf competition.

FIRST-EVER ALL-WOMEN BIG-WAVE SURF CONTEST COMES TO WAIMEA BAY FOR
RED BULL QUEEN OF THE BAY

The world’s best big-wave surfers will gather to challenge for the 2018 Women’s Waimea Bay
Championship after a lack of swell prevented the event from running in 2017
Santa Monica, CA – (September 25, 2018) – Red Bull Queen of the Bay returns with a holding
period of October 1 through November 21, 2018 and looks to crown the Women’s Waimea Bay
Champion in the first-ever all-women big-wave surf competition. The event honors Hawaiian
female surfer, Queen Ka’ahumanu, the first Kuhina Nui, and other powerful Hawaiian women who
have worked tirelessly to break down barriers in surfing. Red Bull Queen of the Bay was slated to
first run in 2017, but was postponed due to a lack of appropriate swell in the bay.

“I am very excited that Red Bull Queen of the Bay is coming back this year,” said North Shore
native big-wave rider Emily Erickson. “Fingers crossed we get the weather and waves we need to
bring this to life at Waimea.”
The North Shore is the mecca for not only big-wave surfing but for the entire surf world – Waimea
Bay is its grandstand. “It’s really important to me and some of the other girls to show what we can
do. I have a lot of respect for Waimea Bay and the history of women’s surfing,” says Hawaiian
surfer Makani Adric. “You do get an adrenaline rush and it’s a dream to be surfing there.”
The contest will feature many of the top, most recognizable names in professional women’s surfing
from around the world including contestants from Australia, Brazil, France, Guatemala, Portugal,
Japan, USA and Hawai’i based pro-surfers:

1. Makani Adric, Hawaii
2. Paige Alms, Hawaii
3. Joana Andrade, Portugal
4. Justine Dupont, France
5. Emily Erickson, Hawaii

6. Michaela Fregonese, Brazil
7. Brittany Gomulka, USA
8. Claudia Goncalves, Brazil
9. Raquel Heckert, Brazil10. Keala Kennelly, Hawaii

11. Sheila Lee, USA
12. Blake Lefkoe, USA
13. Andrea Moller, Brazil
14. Kelta O’Rourke, Hawaii
15. Nicole Pacelli, Brazil

16. Felicity Palmateer, Australia
17. Emilia Perry, Hawaii
18. Polly Ralda, Guatemala
19. Momo Sakuma, Japan
20. Kiyomi Sheppard, Japan

21. Jamilah Star, USA
22. Jenny Useldinger, USA
23. Bianca Valenti, USA
24. Silvia Nabuco, Brazil
25. Laura Enever, Australia
26. Wrenna Delgado, USA

“We are honored to be bringing this big wave event to our community,” said contest director Betty
Depolito. “We are remembering women who changed the perspective of what women should be.
Through their memory, we celebrate the current women big wave surfers at Red Bull Queen of the
Bay.”
Red Bull Queen of the Bay will be live-streamed across the Red Bull Surfing Facebook page. For
more information on this historic event, please visit redbull.com/queenofthebay.

ABOUT BETTY DEPOLITO
Contest Director, Betty “Banzai” Depolito, has made an impact charging big waves all over the
world, including Waimea Bay, since 1979. “Banzai Betty” is a pioneer of women’s surfing videos,
reporting, media, and production. Depolito also has produced and directed many surf competitions
like The North Shore Tow-In and The Pipeline Women’s Pro. She also produces the FlHi Girls
Surfing & Sports TV show.

FOR ALL MEDIA INQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT:
Jared Kaufer, jared.kaufer@redbull.com, 818-621-1111
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