Stephen K. Peeples, Photojournalist: Hello Kitty Boardfest 2005

The second Hello Kitty Boardfest surfing and skateboard competition and expo for women and girls took over Huntington Beach just south of the pier Labor Day weekend, Friday-Monday, September 2-5, 2005.

Saturday's events included two rounds of WQS 4-star heats, two pro-am longboard heats, and an all-day clinic co-sponsored by the HB Wahine surf school and led by Holly Beck (above, second from left) and Siri Cota.

The waves weren't much better than last year, when Florida's Karina Petroni (pictured top left), then 16, won top contest honors. But the women surfers of tomorrow had lots of fun this day, and got a taste of what it takes to be a competitive surfer. At day's end, all were winners. I'll post more captions and my beachin' surfside Q&A with Holly (above, right) after the finals on Labor Day.