On Saturday, June 22nd, Malibu will again be home to a world-class display of longboard surfing as 48 of the world’s best gather on the sands of Surfrider Beach for the first stop on the 2019 Relik Longboard World Tour.
With its innovative format, expanded women’s division, record $100,000 total prize purse, and open video submission qualifier, in which eight unseeded contestants from around the world were chosen by global surf fans, Relik’s Malibu event is not your average surf contest. Consider this an elevated surfing competition, reimagined.
“The goal is to perpetuate the art of longboard surfing,” says Brigitte D’Annibale, the Malibu-based artist who spearheads Relik’s creative team. “It’s all about self-expression. But we also see our event as an opportunity to reflect back to the community some of the positive energy Malibu has shown as it rebuilds itself following the devastating Woolsey Fire. And what better place to do that than Surfrider Beach?”
When it comes to expressing positive energy, and the art of good longboard surfing, the world’s top surfers unanimously agree that there’s no better beach.
“Malibu is such a great wave,” says three-time World Longboard Champion Taylor Jensen, who’s logged plenty of time at the fabled First Point. “At waist high it’s a phenomenal noseriding wave, with the perfect angle for locking in and perching through sections. Then once it gets bigger it turns into the ideal performance longboard wave.”
But it’s not just the waves that draw longboarding’s elite to the sands of Surfrider Beach.
“Surfers from all over the world dream of coming to Malibu,” says Brazil’s Chloe Calmon, one of the sport’s new wave of female surfing stylists. “Relik is giving us the opportunity not only to compete but to be part of what’s so special about this place. Part of the Malibu magic.”
The magic begins on June 21 at Malibu’s Surfrider Beach, Malibu, CA 90265. The event takes place. Saturday, June 22nd and Sunday, June 23rd from 7:00am – 5:00pm with an Expression Session: Saturday June 22nd at 2:00pm.
This event is free and open to the public.
For more information, please visit: www.surfrelik.com
