NINE SURFERS AWARDED CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES AT USA CHAMPIONSHIPS

USA Surf Team to Represent U.S. at World Junior Championships in Huntington Beach in October

Huntington Beach, Calif., July 2, 2005 – The Surfing America USA Championships concluded today with nine new USA Champions and 38 USA Surf Team members selected. Spanning six days of solid competition among more than 300 of the best amateur surfers from across the nation, heated battles and devastating defeats in often challenging conditions determined who received the titles and open spots on the USA Surf Team. The USA Surf Team will represent the United States at the International Surfing Association's Quiksilver World Junior Surfing Championships hosted by Surfing America in Huntington Beach in October 2005 where teams from around the globe will convene to prove which country prevails. This year's team hopes to improve on last year's impressive silver medal finish at the Junior Championships in Tahiti.

The 2005 USA Surf Team. Photo credit: Surfing America/AJ Neste

"Surfing America is proud to have brought the best surfers from all five of our member organizations to Huntington Beach for this event," said Mike Gerard, executive director, Surfing America. "The level of talent demonstrated here was exceptional, and what an honor it is just for these kids to make it this far. There's no doubt that the new USA Surf Team is made up of the best of the best and we look forward to taking the ISA World Junior Championships by storm."

Championship titles were awarded to first place winners in nine divisions: Dusty Payne from Hawaii in the open men's division, Courtney Conlogue from California in open women's, Kyle Ramey from Hawaii in boys under 18, Erica Hosseini from California in girls under 18, Kai Barger from Hawaii in boys under 16, Christa Alves from Florida in girls under 16, Riley Metcalf from California in boys under 14, Christian Wach from California in open longboard and Chris Welpman from California in open bodyboard.

The following athletes, listed by division, were named to the 2005 USA Surf Team.

Open Men – Nick Rozsa, California; Kevin Sullivan, Hawaii; Matt Mohagen; California; Jeremy Johnston, Florida; Nick Blunda, New Jersey; and Ryan Heavyside, Florida

Open Women – Courtney Conlogue, California; Jenny Quam, California; Darlene Conolly, California; and Christa Alves, Florida

Boys Under 18 – Tanner Gudauskas, California; Sebastian Zietz, Hawaii; Drew Ventura, California; Dane Ward, California; Eddie Guilbeau, Florida; and Chris Waring, California

Jeremy Johnston's maneuvers earned him second-place in the men's open division and a spot on the USA Surf Team.
Photo credit: Surfing America/AJ Neste

Girls Under 18 – Demi Boelsterli, California; Erica Hosseini, California; Alana Blanchard, Hawaii; Connie Arias, Florida; Bethany Hamilton, Hawaii; Lexie Papilion, California; Courtney Conlogue, California; and Christa Alves, Florida

Boys Under 16 – Cory Arrambide, California; Trevor Saunders, California; Jeff Lukasik, California; Kai Barger, Hawaii; Jordan Gaudet, California; and Hunter Heverly, North Carolina

Girls Under 16 – Lindsey Bowman, Virginia; and Amy Nicholl, Florida

Boys Under 14 – Eban Geiselman, Florida; and Riley Metcalf, California

Open Longboard – Joseph Aaron, California; Christian Clark, California; and Christian Wach, California

Open Bodyboard – Kris Espinosa, California; Brad Mebust, California; and Chris Welpman, California

In addition to competing at the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships, the USA Surf Team members will participate in organized training sessions and programs during their term as USA Surf Team members as part of Surfing America's ongoing commitment to preparing exceptionally talented amateurs for a future career as a professional surfer.

“SIMA is excited to be part of the Surfing America USA Championships," said Dick Baker, SIMA president and president of apparel maker Op. "We could not be happier with the momentum Surfing America has built in its quest to develop the tremendous young surf talent out there and grow surfing in America. Together with the support from the industry as a whole, we look forward to working collectively to continue building upon this success.”

Hosted by Surfing America, the National Governing Body (NGB) for the sport of surfing in the United States, and presented by the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA), the contest convened the best amateur athletes in America from five regional member organizations: Eastern Surfing Association (ESA), Hawaii Amateur Surfing Association (HASA), National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA), Texas Gulf Surfing Association (TGSA) and Western Surfing Association (WSA).

Surfing America would like to thank all of the sponsors that stepped up in an extraordinary show of unity to support the Surfing America USA Championships and help develop the sport of surfing in America – presenting sponsor SIMA; the seven major industry brands Billabong, Body Glove, O'Neill, OP, Quiksilver, Reef and Rip Curl; and the eight surf media partners Fuel TV, Surfer, Surfing, SG, Surfline, Surf Life for Women, Transworld Business and Transworld Surf.