QUIKSILVER STEPS UP ISA JUNIORS SUPPORT

ISA Junior World Champs earn chance to surf in WCT events

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 26 July, 2006 : - - San Diego, California, Quiksilver will step up its support of the International Surfing Association’s (ISA) junior program by creating a fast track for Under 18 boys and Under 18 girls to participate in the worldwide Quiksilver and Roxy ASP World Championship Tour (WCT) events.   

Gold medalists in both Under 18 divisions at the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship will automatically be given a spot in the trials and expression sessions at all Quiksilver and Roxy WCT events over a 12-month period. Quiksilver will pay all their expenses, including airfare and accommodation.

The other division contested at the Quiksilver ISA WJSC is the U16 boys and their gold medalist will receive a US$2,000 ASP credit from Quiksilver to be put towards membership fees, event entry fees or travel insurance to participate in junior events around the world for one year. The current Under 16 ISA World Junior Champion is Australian Owen Wright (Culburra, NSW).

 
Julian Wilson, Team Australia. Photo: Daniel Smorigo

In announcing the new awards, Quiksilver CEO Bob McKnight said: “We are so happy to be involved with these young surfers and to support the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship.  Participating on behalf of a country in an international competition is a great opportunity for young surfers. The kids are passionate, they have tons of energy, and they rip.   

“A gold medal at this contest is the biggest prize an aspiring junior surfer can win,” McKnight added. “But now Quiksilver is making a victory at the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship even sweeter. This year we are sending the Under 18 boys gold medalist Julian Wilson (Coolum, Queensland, Australia) to the Quiksilver Pro France in September and the Quiksilver Pro on the Australian Gold Coast in February next year, and the Under 18 girls gold medalist Pauline Ado (Hendaye, France) will go to the Roxy Pro in Hawaii in November, and the Roxy Pros on the Gold Coast and in Fiji in February and April next year.”   

In May next year the Quiksilver ISA WJSC is being held in Portugal and the Under 18 winners will go to all the Quiksilver and Roxy WCT events in France, Hawaii, Australia and Fiji during the following 12 months. And the winner of the Under 16 Boys division will win US$2,000 of ASP credit courtesy of Quiksilver.   

 
Pauline Ado, Team France. Photo: Daniel Smorigo

“We are giving these kids something additional, something a bit more tangible and useful.  A gold medal and a victory for the country is an honor.  A chance to surf with Kelly Slater in a Quiksilver WCT event is the dream,” Bob McKnight said. 

Current Under 18 ISA World Junior champion, Julian Wilson, said he was “super happy” to get the chance to surf in the WCT trials. “It will be good to see where I'm at on that level,” Wilson said. “It’s all experience as I get older. Watching it for the last few years they've had really good waves so I'm hoping to get some of those too.” 

ISA President Fernando Aguerre said the junior surfers are the future of the sport.  “Quiksilver is providing a remarkable bonus to the already successful Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship and, along with the ISA, is providing these gold medalists with additional opportunities for greatness.”

 
Owen Wright, Team Australia. Photo: Daniel Smorigo

About the ISA:
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for Surfing, Bodyboarding and Surfriding. It was originally founded as the International Surfing Federation in 1964 and has been running world championships since 1964 and the Junior World Championships since 1980.

ISA membership includes the surfing National Governing Bodies (NGBs) in over 50 countries in six continents. Its headquarters are located in San Diego, California. ISA President Fernando Aguerre was first elected in 1994 in Rio, and re-elected five times since. The ISA’s four Vice Presidents are from South Africa, Australia, Hawaii and the USA.

Inspired by the Olympic spirit, the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships showcase athletes competing on behalf of their country.  The top four finalists are awarded gold, silver, bronze and copper medals.Like in the Olympics, cultural identity, team spirit and moments of great personal triumph are hallmarks of the event.  

www.quiksilver.com

Related reports:
Wilson, Ado & Wright are Quiksilver ISA WSJC Champs

About Quiksilver:
Quiksilver, Inc. (NYSE:ZQK) is the world's leading outdoor sports company, which designs, produces and distributes a diversified mix of branded apparel, wintersports and golf equipment, footwear, accessories and related products.

The Company's apparel and footwear brands represent a casual lifestyle for young-minded people that connect with its boardriding culture and heritage, while its wintersports and golf brands symbolise a longstanding commitment to technical expertise and competitive success on the mountains and on the links.

The reputation of Quiksilver's brands is based on different outdoor sports. The Company's Quiksilver, Roxy, DC Shoes and Hawk brands are synonymous with the heritage and culture of surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding, and its beach and water oriented swimwear brands include Raisins, Radio Fiji, Leilani and Island Soul. The Rossignol, Dynastar, Lange, Look and Kerma brands are leaders in the alpine ski market, and the Company makes snowboarding equipment under its Rossignol, Dynastar, DC Shoes, Roxy, Lib Technologies, Gnu and Bent Metal labels.  

The Company's golf business includes Cleveland Golf, as well as Never Compromise putters and Fidra apparel by John Ashworth. Gotcha is the Company's surf-based European brand addressing street fashion.

The Company's products are sold in over 90 countries in a wide range of distribution, including surf shops, ski shops, skateboard shops, snowboard shops, proprietary Boardriders Club shops, other specialty stores and select department stores. The European headquarters are in St. Jean de Luz and Voiron, France; and the Asia/Pacific headquarters are in Torquay, Australia. Quiksilver's corporate and Americas' headquarters are in Huntington Beach, California.

For more information, visit: www.isasurf.org or contact: surf@isasurf.org

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For more information please contact: 

Kirk Willcox
Quiksilver International
kirk.willcox@quiksilver.com.au

Kate Herber
International Surfing Association, 
kate@isasurf.org


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