SURFING'S RISING STARS AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS
The Surfing America USA Championships presented by SIMA will bring top
amateur surfers from across the United States to Huntington Beach,
California, June 27-July 2, to compete for a USA championship title and
the chance to represent the United States as part of the 2005 USA Surf
Team at the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Junior
Championships hosted by Surfing America in Huntington Beach in October
2005. The contest will draw 360 of 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).
The following athletes will be competing or involved and are available
for interviews:
Bethany Hamilton - After a courageous recovery from a near fatal shark
attack in 2003, Bethany has proven to be an inspiration to all. Just
months after her loss, she placed fifth in the NSSA Championships and
secured a spot on the 2004 USA Surf Team. Bethany is the winner of the
2004 ESPY Award for "Comeback Athlete of the Year" and a Teen Choice
Award for "Courage" presented by Janet Jackson. She recently appeared
on an episode of ABC Family's "Switched" and has also appeared on Oprah,
The Tonight Show, 20/20, Ellen, People Magazine, Time Magazine as well
as numerous other magazines. Bethany recently released a book, Soul
Surfer, a story about how she overcame adversity and is now pursuing her
dreams.
Jeremy Johnston - A 2004 USA Surf Team member and the silver medalist at
the International Surfing Association World Junior Games in Tahiti for Boys 18 and under, Jeremy comes from New Smyrna Beach, Florida to surf
in the contest this year. Jeremy also won the NSSA "Kalani Robb Most
Inspirational Surfer Award" and third place in the open men's division
at the NSSA Nationals in 2002.
Courtney Conlogue - At just 12-years-old, Santa Ana, California talent
Courtney is likely to be one of the top surfers in the world. Nicknamed"Little Flip" by her teammates, she earned a spot on the 2004 USA Surf
Team in the prestigious open women's division and traveled with the team
when they won the silver medal at the ISA World Junior Surfing
Championships in 2004.
Crista Alves - Cocoa Beach, Florida native, Crista has had an incredible
year thus far taking the championship title for both the Explorer Women's NSSA East Coast Championships and the ESA Easterns. In 2004
Crista took first place at the Billabong Jr. Pro Sebastian Inlet
Championships and second place at the ESA Easterns.
Morgan Faulkner - Waves in Texas? Morgan is the answer. Known to be the"best surfer Texas has ever kicked out." The versatile TGSA surfer will
be competing in both the open men's shortboard division and the open
men's longboard division. Morgan was a member of last year's USA Surf
Team as well.
When:
The contest takes place June 27-July 2 at the Pier in Huntington Beach,
California. Pre-event or on-site interviews during the contest are
available upon request.
Source: Surfing America
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