Press Release:
SURFER MAGAZINE¹S 2012 OAKLEY SURF SHOP CHALLENGE SERIES
KICKS OFF APRIL 6 IN CARDIFF, CALIF.
Local Surf Shops Compete for a Trip to Bali for the $10,000 National Championship
SAN CLEMENTE, Calif., April 3, 2012 SURFER Magazine¹s 2012 Oakley Surf Shop Challenge kicks off Friday, April 6th with the Southwest regional qualifier at Seaside Reef in Cardiff, Calif. Almost 300 surfers from 70 shops around the United States will compete at seven regional qualifying events vying for a ticket to the eighth and final event, the National Championship in Bali, Indonesia, in October.
The event series pits four-man teams two surf shop pros and two shop employees against each other for a chance to win $10,000, an advertising spread in SURFER Magazine, and the title of best surf shop in the country. This year each regional qualifier will also earn an expense-paid trip to Bali, Indonesia, to compete at the National Championship event.
Since its addition in 2010, the Southwest regional qualifier has been a hotly contested event. Previously, all Southern California shops competed at one regional qualifier, but with so many good teams, it was necessary to divide the shops into two regions: Southwest including all of San
Diego, and the West covering Orange County to Los Angeles.
Reigning champs Hansen¹s Surf Shop from Encinitas has been a top contender with the Southwest title on lockdown for two consecutive years (2010 and 2011) and a National Championship (2007) under their belt. Surf Ride has also been a key team to watch with a Southwest title (2009) and a National Championship (2008).
Other top teams include Sun Diego, K5, and Rusty, who all pushed the level of competition in worthy shoulder- to head-high conditions in 2011. 2011 Southwest Qualifier Video Highlights.
This year will also see the addition of a High School division in the Southwest and West regions, allowing the top 10 high school teams from each region to compete for the honor of regional champion. The complete list of 2012 invited Southwest teams includes:
·Clairemont Surf Shop <https://www.clairemontsurf.com/>, San Diego
·Hanger 94 <https://hanger94.com/>, La Mesa
·Emerald City The Boarding Source <https://emeraldcitysurf.com/Home.html>,
San Diego
·Hansen’s Surf Shop <https://www.hansensurf.com/>, Encinitas
·Rail II Rail Surf Shop, <https://www.rail2railsurfshop.com/> San Diego
·K-5 Boardshop <https://www.k5.com/>, Encinitas
·South Coast Surf Shop <https://www.southcoast.com/>, Ocean Beach
·Rusty Boardhouse <https://www.rustyboardhouse.com/>, La Jolla
·Sun Diego Boardshops <https://www.sundiego.com/>, Carlsbad
·Sun Diego Boardshops <https://www.sundiego.com/>, San Diego
·Surf Ride <https://www.surfride.com/>, Oceanside
·Surf Hut <https://www.surfhutinc.com/>, Imperial Beach
·Wavelines Surf Shop <https://www.wave-lines.com/>, San Diego
The complete 2012 Oakley Surf Shop Challenge calendar:
·April 6 Southwest Seaside Reef, Cardiff, Calif.
·April 17-18 Mid-Atlantic Kitty Hawk, Outer Banks, NC
·April 19-20 Northeast Casino Pier, Seaside Heights, NJ
·June 1 West 54th/56th Street Newport Beach, Calif.
·July 6 Hawaii Ala Moana Bowl, South Shore, Haw.
·Aug. 14-15 Southeast New Smyrna Beach Inlet, New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
·Aug. 31 Northwest Steamer Lane, Santa Cruz, Calif.
·Oct. 6-10 National Championship Keramas/Canggu, Bali,Indo.
For all of the latest information including photos, video footage, results
and more, check out www.surfshopchallenge.com.
Special thanks to Oakley and other event partners, Muscle Milk, Rusty,
Bubble Gum, New Era, Future Fins, Wa
terman¹s Applied Science and Mizu for
their support, without which the Surf Shop Challenge series would not be
possible.
Please see page 2 for more on the Surf Shop Challenge and Oakley…
About Surf Shop Challenge
Originally conceived to provide a fun and competitive format for the hardcore surf shop riders, the SURFER Shop Team Challenge was one of the most popular and exciting Southern California contests of the early 1980s. Through the years the contest has evolved, with seven qualifying regional events around the country, culminating in a national championship in Bali, Indonesia for the first time in 2012. The underlying principles, however, have remained the same. The Oakley Surf Shop Challenge is still about giving back to the shops, the true backbone of the industry and the heart of the sport of surfing. Each year the competition level rises, the stakes become greater and the prizes become bigger.
About Oakley, Inc.
The global leader in performance sunglasses, goggles and prescription eyewear, Oakley also offers technical and lifestyle apparel, footwear, watches and accessories. The company was created for athletes who see impossibility as just another challenge, and their dedication inspires Oakley to seek out problems, solve with innovation and wrap invention in
art. Exceeding the limits of possibility for more than thirty years, Oakley serves the demands of world-class athletes with unbeatable technologies including High Definition Optics® (HDO®). Additional information is available at oakley.com <https://www.oakley.com/>
About SURFER
In 1960, SURFER Magazine began as the original. After a long history of delivering provocative and insightful editorial features, revealing interviews and award winning state-of-the-art photography, SURFER remains the authoritative voice of the surfing world and thus earned the moniker “the bible of the sport.” The SURFER brand has also grown to include Surfermag.com <https://www.surfermag.com>, Fantasy Surfer <https://www.fantasysurfer.com/>, and the SURFER message boards. All of these assets combine to make the SURFER network the most current and reliable channel of information to the surf community. The magazine is published by Source Interlink’s GrindMedia <https://www.grindmedia.com/>, which reaches more than 22-million active sports enthusiasts through an integrated network of magazines, online properties, events and television programming. To learn more, visit surfermag.com <https://www.surfermag.com>
About GrindMedia
Source Interlink Media¹s Grind Media is home to renowned action and adventure sports magazine brands Surfer, Surfing, Snowboarder, Skateboarder, Powder, Bike, Canoe & Kayak, SUP-Standup Paddler, Dirt Rider, ATV Rider, and Paved. Along with our standalone websites, including GrindTV.com, Newschoolers and Motocross.com, Grind Media is the leading provider of print and online action sports and entertainment content in the United States. Delivering significant reach across both action sports enthusiast and various in-market consumer audiences, Grind Media produces more than 20 leading events and webcasts such as Surfer Poll Awards, Powder Video Awards, Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro, EnduroCross and International Surfing Day. Grind Media is also the exclusive action and adventure sports content provider for Yahoo! Sports. To learn more, visit grindmedia.com <https://www.grindmedia.com>
