FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jack Beresford, Kneeboard Surfing USA

South Africa’s Gigs Celliers Wins U.S. Kneeboard Surfing Titles

Huntington Beach, CA (Feb. 16, 2018) – South African Gigs Celliers can add another title to his already impressive resume: Kneeboard Surfing USA Champion. Celliers edged out a talented field of American kneeboarders to win the 2018 US Kneeboard Titles and Festival held Feb. 16 at the south side of Huntington Beach Pier.

Gigs Celliers 2018 Champ

​Celliers, a four-time World Champion, has dominated kneeboard contests since the mid-1980s when he first traveled to Huntington Beach as part of a South African amateur surf team. At that time, his countrymen were restricted from participating in many international competitions due to the South Africa government’s apartheid policy.

More recently Celliers is better known for his behind-the-microphone talents as a commentator on the World Surf League broadcasts, a gig he’s had since 2016.

To win the US Title, Celliers had to beat out 60 U.S. kneeboarders in chest-high waves that stayed clean until later rounds. Other Open division finalists included San Diego’s Chris Beresford who finished second, Monterey’s Sam Coyne who finished third, and San Diego’s Jack Beresford who finished fourth. The final was seen by many as too-close-to call with each kneeboarder throwing everything he had left after a full day of competition. In the end, Celliers picked up a clean righthander at the buzzer to edge out the other finalists.

Celebrating its 15th year of competition, the KSUSA US Titles is one of the premier kneeboarding events in the world. The event serves as a qualifier for the U.S. team participating in the ISA Kneeboard Surfing World Titles, which will be held in 2020 in New Zealand.

Final Results:

Open Division: 1. Gigs Celliers, 2. Chris Beresford, 3. Sam Coyne, 4. Jack Beresford
AAA: 1. Tom Linn, 2. Jason Foster, 3. Danny Robertson, 4. Casey Patelski
AA: 1. Bob Woodward, 2. Scott Hayward, 3. Tom Caraisco, 4. Greg Shewman
Pro Junior: 1. Shaun Murphy 2. Sam Coyne, 3. Hunter Johnson

Premier sponsors of the US Kneeboard Titles and Festival include: Bird’s Surf Shed, Freeline Design, Parkes Kneeboards, SD Kneeboards, Sea Craft Supply Co.-Yucca Fins, Sirena Surf Lodge-Nicaragua, Solid Sun Logistics, Trimco Hardware, and TRUE Wetsuits. In addition, TK’s Frog House served as the official surf shop sponsor.

Event sponsors include: Blue Sea Apparel, Block Surf, Bolsa Clothing, Clairemont Surf Shop, Cobian Footwear, Dangerclose Products GoPro Handles, Disorderly Images, Jeff Wallis Photography, Jeffrey Ommen Photography, Joel Mayer Pro Surf Photography, Jon Manss, Kneelo Nation, legless.tv<http://legless.tv>, Mario’s Mexican Food and Cantina, Romanosky Kneeboards, Smith Optics, Stay Covered, Stonefish Skegs, Surf Systems-Cove Pads, The Blue Trip, Tide Has Turned, Tidelines Tide Calendars, Victory Koredry, and Viper Surfing Fins

Established in 2003, Kneeboard Surfing USA is dedicated to promoting the sport of Kneeboard Surfing through competitions, kneelo gatherings and other activities. During that time, KSUSA has hosted 12 U.S. titles and one world championship.

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