2008 News Archives
Taylor Jensen wins Costa Del Mar Pro Championships
November 16, 2008
Taylor Jensen (Oceanside, CA), 24, claimed a victory at the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) 1-Star Costa Del Mar Pro Championships today over fellow finalists Harley Ingleby (Coffs Harbour, AUS), 25, Kekoa Uemura (Kaimuki, HAW), 26, and Tony Silvagni (Kure, NC), 21, in peaky two-to-four foot (1 metre) conditions.
The ASP LQS gives all competitors a chance to qualify for the prestigious ASP World Longboard Tour (WLT). Once qualified, each surfer on the coveted tour strives to earn the title of ASP World Longboard Champion.
Jensen, who won the last ASP LQS at Huntington Beach, the Honda U.S. Open, posted a repeat victory today with his win at the Costa Del Mar Pro Championships. The regular-footer jumped out to an early lead, ping a 9.00 score on his opening wave and expanded his lead throughout the heat. The Californian eventually walked away with the win by earning an impressive heat total of 16.67 out of a possible 20 point score.
"I'm stoked to win back-to-back events at Huntington," Jensen said. "The waves are good. Usually for the U.S. Open the waves are two inches, onshore and terrible and it's just nice to get some good waves for the first time in a contest here."
The repeat victory for Jensen was no easy task however, as he defeated several ASP WLT competitors on the way to his Costa Del Mar Pro Championships win. "Those guys that are on the WLT that are in the Final really raise the bar a lot and it's good to compete against them." Jensen said.
Silvagni, was the runner-up to Jensen at the Honda U.S. Open, and was a returning finalist at the Costa Del Mar Pro Championships. Silvagni finished fourth overall and was elated with the result. "I'm really happy to make the Final," Silvagni said. "This is a really big result for me. I cannot be any happier. I've always done really well at this place."
The young surfer hailing from North Carolina expressed the significance of the Costa Del Mar Pro Championships due to the plethora of big name talents that competed throughout the event.
"There's so much talent in this contest," Silvagni said. "With people like Colin McPhillips, Taylor Jensen and Harley Ingleby, they all surf really well. To have this type of talent here, with the guys from the ASP WLT sticking around, it's made for a really good event."
PLA announces plans for "Amateur Charity Challenge" at its November event
October 14, 2008
The PLA is proud to present its 1st ever "Amateur Charity Challenge" in which Surf Club teams in the Amateur and Stand-up Paddle divisions will compete to earn bragging rights as the most dominate fund raising surf club in Southern California.
How it works...
- Clubs compete for a charity of their choosing
- Surf Clubs sign up as many club members as they can to compete in the PLA's November 14-16 contest in Huntington Beach (thus allowing for more chances to win)
- All age categories will be represented in Amateur and Stand-Up paddle divisions
- Charity Contest winners will be decided by the total of each Surf Clubs TOP 2 contestants at any age category, throughout the contest.
- $50 entry fee for Amateur and Stand-Up Paddle divisions (No PLA membership required)
- % of all Amateur and Stand-up Paddle division entry fees will be donated to the winning surf clubs designated charity.
- Winning Surf Club will be awarded with a "Amateur Charity Challenge" trophy
- Individual prizes also awarded to individual category winners
For more information on the Amateur Charity Challenge please contact Jeff Stoner at FDt Marketing 858.272.2191 or jeff@fdtmarketing.com
Professional Longboard Association cancels Huntington Beach event
September 26, 2008
The Professional Longboard Association announced today that the PLA event scheduled for Sept 27th-28th has officially been cancelled. Cancellation was due to low surfer registration in all divisions.
The PLA, which has run 3 very successful events this year, now looks to their PLA Championships event set for November 14-16 in Huntington Beach at the Huntington Beach Pier.
"it is sad that we had to cancel this event on such short notice, and would like to apologize to everyone who was planning on attending the event this weekend. We felt that the registration numbers were not where we needed them, to be a benefit to surfers, sponsors, or spectators. We will continue to move forward with our final event knowing the numbers and surf will be higher." Andrew Pettersen, PLA Event Coordinator.
PLA Changes Huntington Beach Contest Date and Location to Sept 27-28, 2008 at Golden West St.
August 29, 2008
In an effort to support the sport of Longboard Surfing to its fullest, the PLA has announced today that it will move their Huntington Beach contest back one week to September 27th and 28th. The event, which was previously scheduled for the 20th and 21st of September at the Huntington Beach Pier , is being delayed one week to avoid conflict with the Roxy Pro Jam Women's Event and Swami's Surf Club event, both being held in Cardiff Reef.
"Moving the event back one week to help support the Women's contest and the Surf Club is very important to us. We hope that by moving the event it will create a larger contest for all events, ours included. We were disappointed that we couldn't have our women's contest last event because of another conflict, and didn't want that to happen again. We want to make this work for everyone." Jack Flynn, owner of the PLA.
Colin McPhillips takes top honors at the PLA San Diego Surf Contest
August 29, 2008
In a day that saw good weather, small surf and great competition, Colin McPhillips was able take home the top prize at the San Diego PLA event.
McPhillips, a three-time World Champion, beat out Brett Robbins, Troy Mothershead, and Scott Newton, to win his first PLA event this season. Kai Sallas, who is a two- time finalists, one-time winner in the PLA series, took home the K55 High Style Award for best move in the competition.
The Professional Longboard Association's next event is the Huntington Beach Classic, which will be held on Sept 20th- 21st at Golden West St in Huntington Beach. Registration for Men, Women, and Open Amateurs divisions are still available on the Professional Longboard Association website at www.surfpla.com
PLA Changes San Diego Date to August 23-24, 2008
July 22, 2008
In an effort to support the sport of Longboard Surfing to its fullest, the PLA has announced today that it will move their San Diego Surf Event back one week to August 23 and 24. The event, which was previously scheduled for the 16th and 17th of August on Law St/Tourmaline St, is being delayed one week to avoid conflict with the 8th annual Professional Nose-Riding Event in Oceanside, CA.
"We want to do everything we can to help support longboarding, and the surfers who have been there supporting us over the last few months. We unfortunately overlooked the event in Oceanside, and wanted to make the change as soon as we were made aware of the situation. Hopefully having back to back surf contests in San Diego County will help both organizations with attendance and awareness for the sport." Andrew Pettersen, PLA Event Director.
Check Us Out at the US Open
July 17, 2008
Come check out the PLA expo booth at the US Open of Surfing on July 24-27, at the Huntington Beach Pier. The PLA will be showing video from our K55 and Ventura Events, handing out contest information and registering people for the 3 remaining PLA events in San Diego, Huntington Beach, and our ASP Sanctioned contest in Oceanside. Join the excitement as over 400,000 people will watch the best surfers in the world compete on North America's biggest Surfing Stage.
Jenson and Osborne take Top Prize at Ventura event
June 22, 2008
Taylor Jenson and Mary Osborne took home the Ventura Classic titles in the Professional Longboard Association's second event of the season. Attendance was good, Waves small, but the competition was hot...
The Women's Division saw hometown girl Mary Osborne beat out top women's contenders Julie Cox, Kaitlin McGuire, and Wanda Smans for her first PLA victory of the season. While another first happened in the Men's Division as well, San Diego native Taylor Jenson winning the top prize in his first PLA contest of the season. Jenson, who also walked away with the K55 High Style Award for "Best Ride" of the event, beat out top surfers like Colin McPhilips (2nd), K55 event winner Kai Sallas (3rd), and Tom Lloy.
Garbriel Fimbres took home the Open Amateur Division prize.
Let the Season Begin
June 2, 2008
The First of five events for the PLA started of with a bang at the famous K55 spot in Baja Mexico on May 30th to June 1st. Surfers from around the globe came out for a three day action packed ASP sanctioned event. The Insignia group was very much a big part of this event as the host of this great turn out of surfers. On The Saturday night of the event, the host of the event location put on a great party with a DJ and lots of food and drinks. Many of the surfers and sponsors say this was one of the best surf contest put on in the last ten years. Sponsors such as Costa Del mar sun glasses , K55, L and L vacations and many others where also in attendance to help support the PLA. The winner of the men's amateur where, 1. Tony Silvagni 2. Terry Gillard 3. Scott Brandenburg 4. Cody Ulrich. Woman's pro ended up with a great Final where the ladies showed the crowd how surfing is really done. The winner of the woman's pro was 1. Jennifer Smith 2. Kaitkin Mcguire 3. Kate Easton and 4. Olivia Rhodey. The men's ASP pro put on a solid show for two day's with some great waves helping them out. The men's pro winner was 1. Kia Sallas 2. Brendan White 3. Kevin Osborne 4. Jerry Swearingen. Brendan White was also the winner of the High style award given out by the K55 group and Brendan was given a brand new Dewy Webber long board for winning this award. The first event went of better than people expected and we look forward to the next event on June 21st and 22nd at C street in Ventura CA. See you all there.
Official Media Partners announced for the 2008 Season
March 24, 2008
The PLA announced today that it will partner with Fuel TV and Surfshot Magazine for the 2008 PLA Season. Fuel TV has agreed to film all PLA surf contest while Surfshot will provide media support through print and website advertising. For more information and to view photos and video please visit www.surfshot.com and www.fuel.tv
PLA to partner with the Surfrider Foundation
March 3, 2008
In an effort to help keep local beaches and oceans clean the PLA announced today that they will partner with the Surfrider Foundation. To help raise awareness and spread the word about Surfrider's eco-friendly programs, all surfers who sign up for PLA membership will automatically become Surfrider members as well. Proceeds that the PLA receives from all promotional events surrounding their surf contests will be donated to the Surfrider Foundation. For more information or to become a Surfrider member please visit their website www.surfrider.org
Costa Del Mar Sunglasses Signs on to Shade the PLA
February 12, 2008
The Professional Longboard Association today signed Costa Del Mar Sunglasses as the "Official Eyewear" of the PLA. Costa Del Mar has always been committed to Outdoor Life and supplying great sunglasses to those who bask in the adventure of outdoor and action sports. For more information on Costa Del Mar and their amazing glasses, please check out their website http://www.costadelmar.com
K55 Here We Come!!!
January 25th, 2008
The Professional Longboard Association announces today that it has agreed to a verbal commitment with K55 in Baja, California to host the first PLA event of the 2008 Season. Privately owned, K55 is opening its doors for the first time in many years exclusively to the PLA. The PLA has initially committed to host an event On May 30th, 2008, which would be the beginning of the PLA surf series. Details are yet to come as to whether or not the PLA will make this an ASP sanctioned event.
The PLA Joins the Association of Surfing Professionals
November 26, 2007
The Professional Longboard Association, in an effort to create the most competitive surfing atmosphere for the world's elite longboard surfers, has joined the Association of Surfing Professionals. The ASP, the international governing body of surfing, will sanction two of five PLA surf contests in 2008. Currently the ASP only holds two Longboard contest across North America annually. The addition of these events to the ASP calendar gives North American Professional Longboarders two additional opportunities to qualify for the World Longboard Championships