Panasonic ShockWave Beach Games to begin

The world’s largest professional surfing competition will headline

the second annual Panasonic ShockWave Beach Games, which will run July

24-30 at the Huntington Beach Pier.

The action sports festival attracts world-class athletes from around

the globe and features surfing, skateboarding, BMX biking, wakeboarding,

freestyle motocross, and in-line skating at a variety of venues.

More than $300,000 in cash and prizes will be at stake.

But the event that will launch the festival will be the seventh annual

$100,000 Panasonic ShockWave U.S. Open of Surfing and $25,000 elleven

U.S. Open of Women, both six-star World Qualifying Series (WQS) events.

Other surfing divisions include the $5,000 Excite@Home longboard series,

$10,000 Manta Pro Bodyboard series, and a $10,000 Junior’s competition.

“The Panasonic ShockWave Beach Games is an ideal opportunity for

surfers and other athletes associated with the beach lifestyle to

showcase their skills to their many fans,” Event Director Ian Cairns

said. “This event has always been about bringing the athletes to the

people, and we look forward to continuing that tradition this year.”

More than 700 surfers are expected to compete, making this the largest

field ever assembled for a professional surfing competition.

Top male surfers include world champion Mark Occhilupo (Australia),

tour leader Sunny Garcia (Hawaii), Shane Beschen (San Clemente), Taylor

Knox (Carlsbad), Tim Curran (Ventura), and twins C.J. and Damien Hobgood

(Florida).The top WCT surfers expected to compete in the elleven U.S.

Open of Women include two-time world champion Layne Beachley, Serena

Brooke, and Pru Jeffries (all of Australia), Rochelle Ballard and Megan

Abubo (both of Hawaii), Brazil’s Tita Tavares, and Falina Spires of

Florida.

A record 112 entrants will compete for the the Junior Division title,

with Bobby Martinez (Santa Barbara), Dylan Slater (Ventura), Tim Reyes

(Huntington Beach), and Austin Ware (Solana Beach) among the favorites

for the crown.

More than 50 top longboard pros also will compete, among them Joel

Tudor (San Diego), Josh Baxter (San Clemente), Steve Slater (Florida),

Colin McPhillips (San Clemente), and Bonga Perkins (Hawaii). Some of the

top bodyboarders expected to appear are defending U.S. champion Paul

Cooper (Hawaii), Paul Roach (Encinitas), Andre Botha (South Africa), and

Jeff Hubbard (Hawaii).