Don Harris, Kneeboard Surfing USA
Tel: 415-250-6400,
dharris@ksusa.org
Huntington Beach Delivers for Kneeboard Surfing USA Titles
San Diego’s Jack Beresford Breaks Personal “Huntington Jinx” to Win U.S. Kneeboard Title in Flawless Conditions
Huntington Beach, CA (January 24, 2011) – Maybe there’s a reason it’s called “Surf City USA.” Top kneeboard surfing competitors enjoyed a head-high swell and summer-like weather Jan. 14 and 15 at Huntington Beach for the Kneeboard Surfing USA Titles and Festival.
San Diego’s Jack Beresford, past winner of several U.S. Titles, broke his own “Huntington jinx,” winning for the first time at surfing’s most-famous pier. The Open Division winner bested what many consider the toughest field ever assembled for a Kneeboard Surfing U.S. Titles – including several former U.S. champions. Beresford has now won three of the seven U.S. Titles events held since the Kneeboard Surfing USA was founded in 2003.
“Huntington Beach is the Yankee Stadium of surfing venues,” said Beresford. “After 30 years of competing there, it’s great to have exorcised some of those ghosts at the pier.”
As reward, top finishers at Huntington Beach receive highly coveted ranking on the U.S. Team traveling to the 2011 ISA World Kneeboard Championships being held in Philip Island, Australia this March. They also split a cash prize of $1,000 – a first for a U.S. championship event.
“Kneeboard Surfing is not only alive and well – but thriving,” said Don Harris, KSUSA President. “The level of competition this year exceeded anything seen for a U.S. championship.”
Other Open Division finalists included Huntington Beach’s Tom Backer who finished second, San Diego’s Chris Buscemi, who finished third and San Diego’s Chris Beresford – Jack’s brother – who finished fourth.
Kneeboarders from Black’s Beach in San Diego went home with titles in three events: including Beresford in the Open Division, Bob Gove in the AAA Division and Brad Colwell in the AA Division. San Diego’s Shaun Murphy, currently a student at Humboldt State, repeated as Junior Division champion.
Huntington Beach Kneeboarders calling themselves “Team Mojado” saved some face by edging out the “Black’s Kneelos” in a highly entertaining team event.
Following the finals, competitors gathered at Sandy’s Beach Grill for a festive awards celebration. For many, the event marks a once-a-year opportunity to renew friendships – some going back as many as 30 to 40 years.
Kneeboard Surfing USA is dedicated to promoting the sport of Kneeboard Surfing through competitions, kneelo gatherings and other activities. For more information about Kneeboard Surfing USA, visit:
www.ksusa.org.
Sponsors of the Kneeboard Surfing U.S. Championships include: Aleeda Wetsuits, AquaTech Waterjet Cutting, Balestar Designs, Blast Hawaii, Bolsa Clothing, Bouy Weather, Brand ID, COVE PADS, DaKine, Da Fin, Danny Robertson, Duke’s/Sandy’s Beach Grill, Electric Visual, Flashpoint Surfing, Fred and Sons Metals, Freeline Design, Froghouse, Huntington Beach Lifeguards, Joel Mayer Pro Surf Photography, Larry Block Products, LuxurySurf.com, Maxim Capital Advisors, Ocean & Earth, Parkes Australia, Primo Beer, S.S. Metal Fabricators, Sandy’s Beach Grill, Shoelkopf, Skull Candy, Stonefish Skegs Surfline, Surftech, Tide Has Turned, Trunq, Viper Surfing Fins, Waterman Applied Science, and Xcel Wetsuits.
CONTEST RESULTS:
Open Division: 1. Jack Beresford, 2. Tom Backer, 3. Chris Buscemi, 4. Chris Beresford
AAA: 1. Bob Gove, 2. Jeff Jensen, 3. Shaun Murphy, 4. Scott Kinyoun
AA: 1. Brad Colwell, 2. Randy Reed, 3. Leonard Miller, 4. Scott Wessling
Junior: 1. Shaun Murphy, 2. Sebastian Perez, 3. Chris Linn, 4. Shayne Dimick, 5. Evan Odom
Team Event: 1. Team Mojado, 2. Black's Kneelos, 3. Kneelo Cove I, 4. AKC, 5. Kneelo Cove II