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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
IN BILLABONG FREEWAVE CHALLENGE MAINLAND; THE BEST FREE
SURFING RIDES OF THE SUMMER ON VIDEO WILL EARN $40,000
NEWPORT BEACH, CA
-- (OCTOBER 1, 2008) -- After three full months of incredible
surfing where every wave by every surfer at every surf
spot on the Mainland USA was up for consideration, the
hottest video clips of the summer season have been narrowed
down to the finalists in the latest round of the Billabong
Freewave Challenge. The top nominees in each of the
five divisions can be viewed at the event website at
www.FreewaveChallenge.com.
The amazing performances of the
finalists highlight the diversity of surfing in America,
with powerful representation from the East, West and
Gulf Coasts. All three produced classic waves this summer
and provided the canvas for brilliant surfing from both
world champs and local heroes alike. The surfers were
equally diverse in their backgrounds, with finalists
hailing from locales ranging from North Carolina to
Florida to California to Hawaii to Australia. Top surfing
videographers around the nation captured the action
as it happened all summer and uploaded the visual proof
to the Freewave website for public analysis. $40,000
is up for grabs -- surfers will share $31,700 while
the shooters will pocket $8,300 for their role in documenting
the state of the art in surfing this summer.
Over 150 video clips were entered
in the Billabong Freewave virtual free surfing competition.
The finalists were selected based on public popularity
combined with the input of a selection committee. The
ultimate placings will now be decided over the next
two weeks by the votes of a large panel consisting of
the surfers and videographers themselves and the writers
and editors of surfing media worldwide. The final rankings
will be announced starting October 15, 2008.
MONSTER
MANEUVER finalists: ($15,700 total prize money)
Ryan Carlson, 540 Rodeo at Huntington Beach, California.
Video by DSG
Aaron Cormican, Air Reverse at Gulf Coast, Florida.
Video by Jerry Ricotti
Mason Ho, Backside 360 Air at Huntington Beach, California.
Video by DSG
Zach Rhinehart, McTwist at Oceanside, California. Video
by Boost Video
Cody Thompson, Alley Oop Plus at Lower Trestles, California.
Video by Evan Thompson
SMALL
FRIES/16 AND UNDER finalists ($8,150 total prize money)
Kolohe Andino at Lower Trestles, California. Video by
Chris Gabriel
Luke Davis at Lower Trestles, California. Video by Chris
Gabriel
Andrew Doheny at Lower Trestles, California. Video by
Noah Alani
BEST
BARREL finalists ($8,150 total prize money)
Jesse Hines at the Outer Banks, North Carolina. Video
by Joe Cheshire
Zander Morton on the Gulf Coast, Florida. Video by Jerry
Ricotti
Geoff Moysa at Newport Beach, California. Video by Shorescrew/Lugo
Lugo
HEARTBREAKER/FEMALE
PERFORMANCE finalists ($6,300 total prize money)
Claire Bevilacqua, Backside air at Encinitas, California.
Video by Chris Grant
Carissa Moore, Multiple moves at Lower Trestles, California.
Video by Chris Moore
Carissa Moore, Air at Lower Trestles, California. Video
by Chris Moore
LONGEST
RIDE finalists ($1,700 winner take all)
Ashley Lloyd at Santa Cruz, California. Video by Chris
Grant
Marc Moore at Malibu, California. Video by Kelly Cox
Kelly Nicely at Cardiff Reef, California. Video by Chris
Grant
For full details on rules, format
and to view hundreds of other clips of hot surfing,
visit the event website at www.FreewaveChallenge.com.
***********************
MEDIA CONTACT
Bill Sharp SurfNewsEd@aol.com 949-548-6740
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