| WSA PRIME SERIES BECOMES SURFING AMERICA PRIME
AND EXTENDS TO BOTH COASTS AND TEXAS
FOR NEW COMPETITION SEASON In a bold display of unity and vision,
Surfing America's Board of Directors overwhelmingly approves dynamic new initiative for Under-18 Surfers
San Juan Capistrano, Calif. - July 23, 2009 - Surfing America, the National Governing Body for surfing in the USA, is pleased to announce that a new series of events, called Surfing America Prime, will blanket the nation in the 2009/2010 competition season.
What was PacSun WSA Prime presented by Got Milk?-an incredibly successful series of events for "under 18" surfers on the West Coast this past year-will expand its footprint across the country under the Surfing America banner. The Surfing America Prime series will be made up of ten (10) events in total: six contests on the West Coast, three contests on the East Coast, and one in Texas.
The series kicks off at DMJ's on Camp Pendleton on August 22-23 and offers a high standard of competion for aspiring surfers in the following age divisions:
Boys Under 18
Boys Under 16
Boys Under 14
Girls Under 18
Girls Under 16
As a result of this development, any mainland US athlete in these divisions, who seeks entry into next year's 2010 Surfing America USA Championships event, must compete in-and qualify through-the new Surfing America Prime. A limited number of slots into Surfing America Prime will be distributed by invitation-only by Surfing America member organizations (ESA, NSSA, TGSA, and WSA). As there is no Prime series in Hawaii yet, a limited number of HSA and NSSA-Hawaii Under-18 athletes will advance into to the USA Championships directly from their organizations.
All competitors in adult age divisions will continue to qualify to the USA Championships through the current structure in their respective Surfing America member organization.
"This is a humongous development for Surfing America and the sport of surfing in the United States," said Mike Gerard, Surfing America's executive director. "Greg Cruse and the Western Surfing Association did an amazing job with the creation and operation of the PacSun WSA Prime series last year. They've provided a tremendous service to the Under 18 athletes on the West Coast and Surfing America's national roll out seeks to extend that service to aspiring young athetes across the country. We also believe this will bring significant benefits to Surfing America's member organizations and will substantially increase their membership base-as it did WSA's."
The Surfing America Prime Series will pick up where WSA left off and carry the same vision forward: to create a high quality event series for young athletes seeking to become a USA Champion and a member of the prestigius PacSun USA Surf Team.
Through 4-man/20 minute heats, ASP judges, computer scoring, live webcasts and high profile media support, the Surfing America Prime series will give the nation's best young athletes a contest experience that will best prepare them for where they are headed as competitors.
Greg Cruse, creator the WSA Prime series has agreed to come on board as the Director of Surfing America Prime. "The acceptance and success of the WSA Prime Series has been extremely gratifying and I'm stoked and honored to be able to share this program with the rest of the Surfing America family," said Cruse. "The surfers, their parents, team managers and the surf industry have all seen the value of a program that helps prepare our best junior surfers for success in ISA World Junior, Pro Junior and WQS competition."
Surfing America believes the Prime Series will have the effect of similar programs in other countries such as South Africa and Australia-where surfers like Jordy Smith and Owen Wright realized immediate success at ISA World Juniors competition and in the pro ranks. And Surfing America Prime will increase the PacSun USA Surf Team's chances at Gold in ISA World Junior competition.
"This exciting new layer of Surfing America Prime brings a clear path to surfers and their parents all around the country," added Cruse. "We finally can see a defined roadmap from regional programs to Surfing America Prime, to the SIMA Surfing America USA Championships, to the PacSun USA Championships and on to a pro career if desired."
In addition, the new coach of the PacSun USA Surf Team, Ian Cairns, sees Surfing America Prime as a great addition to his development, training, and coaching program.
"A true national event series with quality judging, 20 minute x 4-man heats will offer the USA groms a clear path to the PacSun USA Surf Team and to subsequent ASP success," said Cairns. "I look forward to using these Prime events as yet another training platform for the Team kids, and up-and-comers, in their home regions."
Here's the tentative schedule for Surfing America Prime in 2009/2010:
West
1. August 22 & 23, 2009 - DMJs CampPendelton
2. October 3, 2009 - ChurchBeach, San Onofre State Beach
3. January TBD, 2010 - Steamer Lane
4. February 20 & 21, 2010 - Upper Trestles, San Onofre State Beach
5. March 20 & 21, 2010 - OceansideHarbor, South Jetty
6. April 24 & 25, 2010 - Malibu 3rd Point
East
1. October 17 & 18, 2009 - Ditch Plains, Montauk, Long Island, NY
2. January or March TBD, 2010 - SebastianInlet, FL
3. April, 2010 - Outerbanks area, TBD
Gulf
1. March 13 & 14, 2010 - TexasGulf Area, TBD
Stay tuned to SurfingAmerica.org for updates as dates/locations may change. Surfing America is working closely with its member organizations to avoid scheduling conflicts.
The 2009 SIMA Surfing AmericaUSA Championships presented by Verizon Wireless will take place August 24-30 at Huntington Beach Pier. For more information, or to watch the live webcast, go to http://surfingamerica.org
The Surfing America Prime Series is a qualifier for the USA Championships starting in 2010 and does not affect this year's event.
Surfing AmericaMission Statement
The Mission of Surfing America is to promote the growth, competitive success, and positive image of surfing in the USA and to provide the best possible experience for all participants by encouraging, developing, advancing, and administrating the sport--while producing champions.
Press Contact:
Mike Gerard
Surfing America, Inc.
33157-B Camino Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano, CA92675
Tel 949-276-4660 ext. 25
Fax 949-496-9190
mikegerard@surfingamerica.org
About Surfing America, Inc.
Surfing America is the ISA-recognized National Governing Body for Surfing in the United States. The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the sport's World Governing Authority.
Created by the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) to develop the sport from the ground up, Surfing America is an IRS recognized 501(c) 3 charitable organization and an industry-wide initiative. Key projects include: surf school development, improving competition standards, hosting national championship events, and selecting and fielding the official United States Surf Team to compete internationally. With its primary emphasis on youth development, Surfing America is a critical element to successfully growing the sport, and business, of surfing on a global basis.
All donations made to Surfing America are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by the law. Donation checks should be made payable to: Surfing America, 33157 Camino Capistrano Suite B San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675. End of year tax receipts are sent to every individual donor of more than $250. For donations under $250, a cancelled check or credit card statement is sufficient evidence for IRS purposes. Surfing America will send a tax receipt to any donor who requests one. http://surfingamerica.org
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The Transworld Business Snowboarding Industry Conference is officially set for Dec. 15-18th at Solitude, Utah (travel days being the 15th and 18th). All the details will follow shortly, but I wanted to put the dates out there while everyone is planning winter travel. There's no doubt that our industry is facing a lot of challenges, so it's the perfect time for everyone to come together to find solutions. We'll be assembling a tight group of manufacturers, key retailers, and resorts. I'm looking forward to recapturing the vibe that existed at those early industry conferences, where it really felt like smart, dedicated people were coming together for the good of the entire sport. |
Organizers of the Ron Jon Masters of Surfing Pro, a premiere 40 & over professional surfing contest set to occur in mid-March are announcing that former international professional surfing standouts Richie Collins, Todd Holland, Wes Laine and Pat Mulhern have entered the event and will be among the field of competitors vying for a cash purse of up to $12,00.00.** Sebastian Inlet icons Bill Hartley and Matt Kechele have accepted wildcards into the event. The Masters of Pro Surfing will award $3,000.00 to the winner, with 50% of the total field taking home prize money. The Ron Jon Masters of Surfing Pro will be limited to 48 entrants and will occur in a contest window from March 11-14, during the final days of Surf Fest 2010, a multi-event week of surfing competition that begins March 6 and includes the first ever Surfing America PRIME series event to be held in Florida, the Collegiate Surfing Association’s East Coast Championships, the Ron Jon Sebastian Inlet Pro Presented by Skullcandy and the Skullcandy Girls Junior Pro. Entrants into the Masters of Surfing Pro will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Entries are now being accepted at www.active.com through searching for “Masters of Surfing” on the event home page. Entrants must have turned 40 on or before March 1, 2010. One does not have to be a member of any particular organization to compete, and entries will be closed once the field of 48 is secured. The Masters of Surfing Pro will coincide with the time frame of the Ron Jon Sebastian Inlet Pro Presented by Skullcandy, a Grade 3 Association of Surfing Professionals Junior Pro and the Skullcandy Girls Junior Pro, a Grade 2 ASP Junior Pro. The events will be intertwined, depending on schedules and conditions. The Ron Jon SI Pro is one of North America’s biggest Junior Pro tournaments now scheduled for 2010 and offers a cash purse of $15,000.00. The Skullcandy Girls Junior Pro is one of just two junior pro events for girls now on the 2010 ASP North American schedule and will offer a cash purse of $5,000.00. Junior Pro contests are open to surfers age 20 and under and routinely attract the best emerging surfers in the world. The Masters of Surfing was created by Sebastian Inlet Pro founder Mitch Varnes as a means to put a spotlight back on some of the greatest surfers of decades past; many of whom are still surfing at a near-elite level. “Golf, running, tennis and many other individual sports have pro events for their Masters-aged competitors,” said Varnes. “So, why doesn’t surfing? This is an effort to initiate the same for surfing here in the states. Maybe some of the bigger events in Hawaii and the US Open in California will take a look at what we’re doing in Florida and see the value in adding pro masters division contests to their events. There are some pretty big name surfers out there who are over 40, and there is no doubt that people would still love to see them compete.” Sebastian Inlet mainstay Paul Reinecke, 39, will be the contest director, and the event will be judged by ASP-qualified judges. |
The stage is set for the 2nd Annual "Surftech SUP Shootout at the Lane", happening March 26th - 28th. It's been a record El Nino winter with pumping surf slamming the California coast week after week. The result of all this wave action (other than broken relationships & loss of jobs) is the massive sand bar that's developed along the cliffs at Steamer Lane! Happening in conjunction with the Santa Cruz Surf Kayak Festival, for a few hours on the weekend of March 26-28 stand up paddlers will have Steamer Lane all to themselves! Pro level competitors can compete in the "Elite" division for prizes and bragging rights, while intermediate competitors who want to take advantage of the Lanes empty line-up can enter the "intermediate" division. The event will include more than $2,000 in prizes, Silent Auction, SUP demos and clinics, Manufacturer Expo and after parties.
2009 Surftech SUP Shootout Elite Results:
1ST PLACE - CHUCK PATTERSON 64 POINTS
2ND PLACE - JOHN GRIFFITH 62 POINTS
3RD PLACE - BRYCE SAEMON 57 POINTS (OWNING THE TIEBREAK)
4TH PLACE - WARD COFFEY 57 POINTS
For registration, contact:
George Phiripes - sup@surftech.com
or call 831-458-3648
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INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SKATEBOARD COMPANIES (IASC) LAUNCHES LOCAL SKATESHOP DAYS Celebration for Specialty Skateboard Retailers Set for October 9-10, 2010 The International Association of Skateboard Companies is pleased to announce the creation of Local Skateshop Days, two full days honoring specialty skateboard retailers. The celebration, set for October 9-10, 2010, will encourage manufacturers to focus their attention on the front lines of their distribution, the core skateboard retailer. IASC members will take this opportunity to create special promotions for their key retailers and show their recognition of shops worldwide that are the cornerstone of the skateboarding scene in their communities. "Skate shops have always been essential to the heart, soul and spirit of skateboarding." Says Don Brown, IASC Chairman of the Board. "By creating "Local Skateshop Day" skateboarding, as a whole, can focus on driving awareness, energy, support and friendship to our family on the front lines- the core retailer. It's essential that we do whatever it takes to support these shops in order to keep the true passion and creativity of skateboarding alive. Let the good times roll!" Local Skateshop Day will utilize many of the successful elements from Go Skateboarding Day, a worldwide celebration of skateboarding created by IASC in 2004 and held every year on June 21. Look for more information on Local Skateshop Day on Skateboardiasc.org and coming to a skateshop near you! Contact: Laurie Bergthold Laurie@skateboardiasc.org Ph. 949-455-1112 Fax. 949-455-1217 |