Press Release:
Nike U.S. Open of Surfing “After the Open” Party Benefits Surfrider Foundation
Huntington Beach, CA – After the surfers ride their final waves and the awards are given out on Sunday, August 5, at the 2012 Nike U.S. Open of Surfing (USOS) in Huntington Beach there will be one more thing to do – party!
For the first time, an “After the Open” (ATO) Celebrity Surfing Champion Recognition Party will be held at the Huntington Beach Waterfront Hilton at 21100 Pacific Coast Hwy., on the Hilton’s Driftwood Sands beach. The party is from 4 – 10 p.m.
Honoring 2012 U.S. Open of Surfing participants, surf industry leaders, community, and sponsors, the ATO event is a fund-raiser for the non-profit Surfrider Foundation’s Huntington Beach/Seal Beach Chapter.
The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 250,000 supporters, activists and members worldwide.
KROQ “Surfologist” Rick “Rockin Fig” Fignetti, the official announcer for 19 USOS events, will be at the ATO bash to celebrate and serve as MC all evening for those ready to party. In fact, it was his idea to put on this ATO Celebrity Surfing Champion Recognition Party to help raise money for the Surfrider Foundation HB/SB Chapter and honor the surf champions and all the people who make the USOS the number one surfing event in the world.
Fig, a Huntington Beach local hero with a surf shop on Main Street, multiple surf championships – including two national titles he recently won – and a spot on the Surfing Walk of Fame, is the perfect choice to helm this event.
As part of the ATO festivities there will be a silent auction. Marine life artist and environmentalist Wyland is contributing a signed and numbered lithograph. Ocean Beach surf artist Art Scholl is going to be painting on the Hilton stage and donating his creations.
Party-goers will be entertained by five live bands. Wahoo’s Fish Tacos is setting up taco bars on the beach and Tres Sietes Tequilla and Primo Beer will help quench everyone’s thirst.
In addition to this, a new Margarita drink will be unveiled which will be named in honor of the 2012 Nike USOS champion.
Surfrider’s HB/SB Chapter sponsors helping to support the ATO fund-raiser include: Hurley, Kohl’s, F&M Bank, So. Cal Edison, Boeing, Shorebreak Hotel, Quicksilver, Vans, Jack’s, and 17 Street Surf Shop. Representatives from Surfrider Foundation Worldwide and other Surfrider chapters have been invited.
Waterfront Hilton representative and ATO Event Coordinator Andrea Roberson said, “This is going to be an every year event because of Surfrider. They do so much for the environment that everyone wants to be involved. It’s going to be a blast!”
“This is the first time in my 40 years of surfing that I’ve seen anything like this event. It’s just taken off,” said Tony Soriano, Surfrider Foundation HB/SB Chapter Chairperson. “It’s fantastic how the beach community is coming together to celebrate surfing and support Surfrider.”
For those wishing to attend the ATO event there will be a $20 entrance fee to be given as a donation to the Surfrider Foundation Huntington Beach/Seal Beach Chapter. For more information about the party or the Surfrider Foundation contact Andrea Roberson at 657-206-9781. The ATO Facebook page is: www.facebook.com/AfterTheOpenHuntingtonBeach. For more information on the Surfrider Foundation, visit www.surfrider.org.
