2006/2007 APT World Tour Tow-In Surfing Circuit announced

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 30 October, 2006 : - - (Maui, Hawaii) - APT Vice President and Event Sanctioning Director, Rodney Kilborn is officially announcing the 2006/2007 APT World Tour Tow-In Surfing Circuit. The Association of Professional Towsurfers (APT), is dedicated to sanctioning and promoting world class competitions, dissemination of safety, training and technical information to athletes, providing technical direction to event organizers, and educating, certifying and licensing our athletes, while keeping our waters safe.

The Association of Professional Towsurfers is a California non-profit mutual benefit corporation and was founded on March 6, 2003 with the charter to support the responsible growth and development of tow-in surfing and competitions around the globe. The APT World Tour Tow-In Surfing Circuit is the first global sanctioning body to ever create a world tour that will financially benefit top-rated competing professional tow-in surfers from around the world. APT has and will continue to create alliances with other international tow-in surfing associations for the betterment and growth of the sport and the world tour tow-in surfing circuit.

APT is pleased to announce the following three scheduled world class tow-in surfing events for the 2006/2007 season. Each event will be held for one day during the largest and best surf conditions possible.

1. The North Shore Tow-In Surfing Championships will be held on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii on the outer reefs of Haleiwa Harbor. The holding period will be December 15, 2006 thru March 31, 2007.   Note: All invited competitors for the North Shore Tow-In Surfing Championships will be asked to show proof of obtaining the required Hawaii Tow-In State License, provided by Winward Community College Oahu, Hawaii, prior the start of the event. The contact number for the state required license is: 808-235-7428 for fees and class dates. 

2. Red Bull El Gigante Viene Tow-In Surfing Championships will be held in Puerto Escondido, Mexico. The holding period will be May 1, 2007 thru July 31, 2007.

3. Iquique, Chile International Tow-In Surfing Championships will be held in Iquique, Chile. The holding period will be May 1, 2007 thru July 31, 2007.

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Future events and locations in development or on the hit list for the APT World Tour Tow-In Surfing Circuit include, U.S. West Coast, Tahiti, France, South Africa and Australia. The APT World Tour Tow-In Surfing Circuit has created a universal point and rating structure, judging criteria and contest format that will be implemented throughout the circuit. It is APT's goal in the future to have a circuit that will qualify top rated competing teams for the APT World Title Tow-In Surfing Championships and crown an annual world team champion.

APT is also pleased to announce its NEW and FRESH website www.protowsurfers.org where all visitors, members, competitors and event directors can obtain updated information about upcoming events, the official rule book, event formats, ratings, prize money, sponsors, invites and alternate lists, membership and sanctioning requirements, tow-in licensing, competitors and event director obligations.

The empirical growth in alternative sports and the increase in extreme athletic pursuits are well documented. The Association of Professional Towsurfers embraces corporate sponsors and media entities that provide the support necessary to increase its events and maintain its mission statement.  The Association of Professional Towsurfers has goals to expand its support throughout the world, lobby government agencies and municipalities to provide more certified tow-in access to ocean venues, and be ever attentive to the unique technical and safety needs of this evolving sport and its constituents, as well as to create and assist newly formed chapters under APT for the benefit of local regions, organizations and their waters.

Quotes from supporting professional towsurfers of APT:

"Traditional surfing is a cutting edge sport. Tow-in surfing is the cutting edge of surfing.  It is great to have APT pushing forward and joining forces with ALL, to create a world tour tow-in surfing circuit. I can't wait!!! Let's get it on."
- Garrett McNamara

"The APT World Tour Tow-In Surfing Circuit will create a serious, competitive career and to have an annual champion will showcase the most extreme sport in the ocean."
- Jamie Sterling

"As the opportunity allows, I would welcome the challenge of participating as an athlete in the events that APT may organize."
- Greg Long

"Competition is healthy on all levels and it pushes the human athletic ability. In the case of extreme tow-surfing, it's exciting to think that the APT World Tour Tow-In Surfing Circuit has the opportunity to take us to the next level."
- Dan Moore

"For those of us who come from minor surfing country's and do not have the financial backing of places like the USA , Oz and Europe, the APT tow tour will give us the opportunity to travel, surf some insane waves and make some money as we continue to live the dream".
- Grant 'Twiggy' Baker

APT's Vice President Rodney Kilborn will be representing the circuit as the Official Event Sanctioning Director. His job will be to support all event directors in every aspect of the contest. His responsibility will also include the implementation of APT's event rules, format, judging, water safety, membership and state tow-in licensing requirements. Rodney provides the APT with many years experience and with a solid reputation for acting as the event director for two successful tow-in events held at Pe'ahi (a.k.a.Jaws) on the North Shore of Maui, Hawaii.

APT would like to welcome the following NEW Advisory Board Members.
Sean Collins, USA, California/President, Surfline.com
Gary Linden, USA, California/ Event Director Advisory Committee
Greg Huglin, USA, California/ Media and Logistics Director
Jamie Sterling, USA, Oahu/ Athlete Representation
Grant 'Twiggy' Baker, South Africa/ Athlete Representation
Chris Birtish, Britain/England/ Athlete Representation
Carlos 'Coco' Nogales, Puerto Escondido, Mexico/ Athlete Representation
Rodrigo 'Fletcha' Escobar, Iquique, Chile/ Event Director
Alec 'Ace' Cooke, USA, Oahu/ Event Director

For full details on the Association of Professional Towsurfers, APT World Tour Tow-In Surfing Circuit, a full list of international advisory board members representing APT and other international tow-in associations visit www.protowsurfers.org

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APT Contacts:

Eric Akiskalian, Founder/President
Association of Professional Towsurfers
APT World Tour Organizer
California Office
805-455-7073
Eric@protowsurfers.org
Eric@towsurfer.com

Rodney Kilborn, Vice President
Association of Professional Towsurfers
APT Event Sanctioning Director
Hawaii Office
808-575-2840
Rodney@protowsurfers.org
Handsomebugga@aol.com

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