THE NIXON SURF CHALLENGE 2004, PRESENTED BY ETNIES 17-19 SEPTEMBER 2004
PLAYA ZURIOLA, DONOSTIA SAN SEBASTIAN

Sometimes surfing can just seem like a game of juggling numbers and letters - the QS and CT, where points and rankings count and everyone wants to be in the top 44. Sometimes surfing can become a crazy world obsessed by results – summer on the Atlantic Coast of France brings you a heavy schedule of ‘Pro’s’, competitions back-to-back, where countless surfers are churned through the heats in a blur of coloured bibs.

The Nixon Surf Challenge is different, and I’m not just talking about the name.

For the fifth consecutive year, surfing will be freed from the shackles of the rigorous WQS summer season. From 17-19 September, 24 surfers, will be invited to the shores of San Sebastian, to bask in the Basque waves and sunshine. The surfers themselves will judge the semi-final and final heats, where style and pure enjoyment will score heavily.

In a world where the pressure of competitions often takes over the pleasure of a passion, it is sometimes good to remind yourself why you surf. Fun, family and friends…

Welcome to the Nixon Surf Challenge.

Miky Picon takes the Nixon Surf Challenge trophy, check and title home with him to France

September 13, 2003; San Sebastian, Spain For the fourth year in a row Nixon gathered some of world's best surfers in the beautiful Basque city of San Sebastian to host the Nixon Surf Challenge of 2003.

Presented by Etnies and supported by Surf Europe, Surf Session and 3Sesenta the joint forces brought upon the town three full days of surf, sun and fun. The invitation list spanned nine countries including Australian's Simon Young, Adrian Wiseman and Navrin Fox. Nathan Philips from Wales joined the European Superstars from France Benjamin Sanchis, Fredo Robin, Laurent Pujol and Miky Picon, along with Portugal's Tiago Pires. From the USA Jason Griffith joined local surfers from Spain with Jon Garay, Riki Carrasco Asier Muniain, Xiker Fernandez, Julian Cuello and Hartiz Mendiluze, from Uruguay Luis Mario Ituria, from South Africa Nigel Gibb and Jesus del Solar and Fernando Moura from Brazil made a list of 20 surfers all on a mission to surf their best, win the title and see who can have the most fun.

Great emphasis was put once again on the session format that refrains from the tight conservative boundaries of traditional contests and stresses a more open and free surfing style. Once again, the contest was judged by surfers including Benjamin Sanchis and Simon Young who fell in the earlier rounds and filled their posts in at the judges table. The 40 minute heats came in handy for a very enjoyable session in 4-6 foot waves under the Basque sun of early September before a spirited crowd of San Sebastians finest. In the end Miky Picon left the stage as a winner, followed by Fredo Robin on second, Tiago Pires in third and Jason Griffith on the fourth place.

The surfing of the week-end can be characterized as a display of style, speed and power with the likes of Miky Picon and Fredo Robin making the best of bowling sections and overhead sets and Tiago Pires' high flying airs left a lot for the beautiful basque crowd to cheer about.

The Nixon crew of surfers, friends and family had the best time and are looking forward to doing it all over again next year.

Hopefully, see you there.

For more information, pictures and a complete detail of the heats visit www.nixonsurfchallenge.com. For media materials please contact Cornelia Von Hasselbach at Nixon Europe for information and images at +33 558 43 59 17.

Introduction to the Nixon Surf Challenge 2003

The Nixon Surf Challenge, presented by Etnies will be hosted in the Basque city of San Sebastian September 12-14th, 2003. This international expression session hosts 24 surfers who will compete in this invitation only event. The Surf Contest allows the surfers to go out there and (within reason) do what they want. The judges score system is based upon points for style, continuity, airs, and innovation.

An alternative to the bigger contests that focus on traditional surfing, the Nixon Surf Challenge focuses on progressing the sport and having a good time. The international lineup of surfing´s whos who keep coming back because of the great atmosphere, unique format, secluded location and perfect waves. Past attendees include Bruce Irons, Sunny Garcia, Ozzie Wright, Miky Picon, Tiago Pires, Simon Young, Mike Morrisey to name a few.

For more info on The Nixon Surf Challenge contact Chad DiNenna via email at chad@nixonnow.com.

- 2002 -

2002 Event Results: 1.Fredo Robin, France 2.Simon Young, Australia 3.Nigel Gibb, South Africa

Frederic Robin wins Nixon Surf Challenge 2002

The Nixon Surf Challenge 2002 was held in San Sebastian, (Donestia), Spain 12 -15 Septemebr 2002. This was the third time around that Nixon and partners Etnies, Volcom and Pukas have hosted the event. Contest site was Playa Zurriola beach which fronts the beautiful town of San Sebastian in the heart of the Basque Country.

Surfers from all over the world were invited to this year's event which allows the surfers to go out there and (within reason) do what they want. A few of the surfers at the 2002 contest were:-

From the US - Jon Rose, Saxon Boucher, Joe Curren and Ryan Moore, and Hawaiien surfer Daniel Jones. Otto Flores from Porto Rico. From France Benjamin Sanchis, Fredo Robin, Laurent Pujol and Boris Letexier.From Tahiti Malik Joyeux, Marama and Hira Teriinatoofa. From Australia Simon Young and South African Nigel Gibb.

From Spain there were a number of Spain´s young, upcoming surfers, Jon Garay, Jose Maria Cabrera and Michel Velasco. A few of the best local surfers from San Sebastian were also invited like Jamie Aspiroz to join the contest, it´s not just a PR stunt to keep the locals happy, many of them (and the younger surfers that we like to have around) are part of the new generation or what people are calling the new school of surfing.

The waves were fair and around 4 foot when the the finalists got ready to battle for the 5000 dollars. It was a close race with a lot of good surfing, but in the end it was the French Ripper Fredo Robin that took it home. He was closely followed by Australian surfer Simon Young. Third went to the South African, Nigel Gibb.

It was a great weekend and Nixon thanks the Basque people for their support and for allowing us to hold the contest in town. Thanks also to the local surfers for the use of their beach and our friends at Tip Top.

Nixon, Etnies,Volcom and Pukas will continue this fun format contest in 2003. We want to keep showing that in a relaxed atmosphere, where youngsters can surf against their peers, the limits can be pushed and everyone can have a good time in the water and on the land.

- 2001 -

2001 Event Results: 1.Jonathan Gonzales, Canarias 2.Gony Zubizarreta, Spain 3.Jeremy Scriber , USA

The second Nixon Surf Challenge (2001) was held last weekend at its usual home of Playa Zurriola beach in the beautiful basque town of San Sebastian. Together with co-hosts Etnies, Volcom and Pukas, surfers from all over the world congregated again for this unique expression focused event where points are scored for style, airs, innovation and continuity.

Invited surfers from the US was Noah Johnson, Nathan Fletcher, Mike Morrissey, Jason Bennett and Jeremy Scribner. From France Benjamin Sanchis and Fabrice Gelez. From Spain we had Jonathan Gonzales and a number of Spain’s hottest up and coming surfers, and last but by no means least was the local San Sebastian rippers whose invite is well deserved based on their style and quality of new generation surfing.

As usual the aim of the contest is a round robin where everyone gets to surf against each other, but due to the wave forecast it was decided that the contest would be a straight knock out run in four heats where the best two from each heat moved onto the next heat until there were just the four finalists left to battle it out.

Waves were around 3-4 foot for that all important final heat worth €5000. It was a close race with plenty of style, air, innovation and continuity. The judges found exactly what they were looking for in Canarian ripper Jonathan Gonzales. Shortly followed by Gony Z, a fellow Spaniard, only 17 years old and definitely one to keep watching…. Third and fourth went to US surfers Jeremy Scribner and Jason Bennett.

Once again Nixon would like to thank the Basque people for their support and to the local surfers for giving up Playa Zurriola Beach, and to our friends at Tip Top, Etnies, Volcom and Pukas. At Nixon we believe that providing a fun and relaxed atmosphere gives the best conditions for surfers to push their limits and have a good time in the water and on the land. See you all next year…

- 2000 -

2000 Event Results: 1. Eric McHenry 2. Ozzy Wright 3. Jonathan Gonzalez

Zurriola Beach, situated in the beautiful Basque Town of San Sebastian became the chosen destination for the Nixon Surf Challenge .

The Nixon Surf Challenge with partners etnies,volcom and pukas , did a new school surfing contest, attracted an unbelievable supply of world famous surfers. Sunny Garcia, Ozzy Wright, Eric McHenry , Milo Castelo, Frederic Robin, Jonathan Gonzales, and Gony Zubizarreta to name a few. This relaxed format where world class surfers combined with local rippers got the chance to show their radical moves, airs and style without the restrictive format of a traditional surf contest was not only enjoyed by the surfers but also by a large crowd of spectators who congregated on the beach to enjoy the high level quality of surfing and catch a few rays of the warm late summer sun.

As the tide dropped, the waves started to pump with long walled up lefts building up to 3-4 feet highs when the final started. First place went to Eric McHenry from USA and Second place to Ozzy Wright from Australia , but the surprise of the contest was Jonathan Gonzales, the young C anarian ripper who took third place to the delight of the local supporting crowd of spectators.

Nixon would like thank the Basque pople, the surfers, the media and all partners for all the support.