CASEY BROWN TAKES THE TOP SPOT AT THE 9TH ANNUAL NIXON SURF CHALLENGE PRESENTED BY VANS

HOSSEGOR, FRANCE- Wrapping up this past Sunday, American surfer Casey Brown walked away victorious from this year’s Nixon Surf Challenge. Losing the first day to poor conditions did nothing to hamper the competition or the high spirits of the surfers.  Josh Kerr (AUS), Hira Terinatoofa (PYF), Eric Rebiere (FRA) and Casey Brown (USA) were the final four to hit the water. In the end it was Casey Brown who stood out from the pack and went home with the €5000 prize money, the largest amount given to the first place winner in the contest’s nine-year history. Brown locked in his win by getting the best barrel of the event, following it with a massive front-side air.

“This is the ninth year that Donostia, San Sebastian has given us her best. We have been blessed with great weather, great waves and an insane final, so again, we want to say thank you to the people of San Sebastian for hosting our event, the local surfers for lending us the beach and we look forward to returning for the 10th Surf Challenge next year,” said Nixon Europe’s Director of Marketing, Henning Erlandsen.

Additionally, winner Brown added, "The waves were so fun, the food was amazing and I won €5000. I'm psyched. It was such a great event hanging with all the boys with no pressure. The Surf Challenge was just all about trying to get sick waves."

Casey Brown joins the ranks of previous Nixon Surf Challenge winners who include Tiago Pires (2007 and 2004), Dylan Graves (2006), Josh Kerr (2005), Micky Picon (2003), Fredo Robin (2002), Jonathan Gonzalez (2001) and Eric McHenry (2000).

For more Surf Challenge information and final contest info, please visit: nixonsurfchallenge.com

About Nixon:
Founded in 1997 in Encinitas, CA, Nixon is the premium accessories company for the youth lifestyle market. Focused on making the little stuff better, Nixon’s line of watches and accessories can be found globally in specialty surf, skate, snow and fashion retailers. For more information, visit nixonnow.com

About Vans:
Vans supports and promotes surfing through a full line of surf footwear and apparel, events such as the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing™ and through sponsorship of many of the world’s top surfers such as Joel Tudor, Timmy Reyes, Karina Petroni and Nathan Fletcher.
For more information, visit vans.com
 

THE CONTEST IS ON!!... The Nixon competitors woke up this morning to 3'-5' rippable surf. Heats begin at 10:00am sharp and will run completely through the day. Stay tuned for the 2008 winner to be crowned this evening.

Transworld Surf have managed to put up some awesome pictures from the event so far.  Check them out here: http://surf.transworld.net/2008/09/15/the-nixon-surf-challenge-part-1-slideshow/

HOSSEGOR, FRANCE- About the Nixon Surf Challenge. Converging on the shores of Playa Zurriola in San Sebastian, Spain, for the ninth consecutive year, world-class surfers from Australia, Europe, North and South America will once again come together for the annual Nixon Surf Challenge.
A far cry from high-stress competitions, the peer-judged and scoring format of the Nixon Surf Challenge regularly draws top talent from around the world year after year. With a non-traditional scoring system, the event is uniquely relaxed with an emphasis on free-surfing and style. The Nixon Surf Challenge creates an ideal environment for participants to showcase their skills and creativity and has become a favorite stop along the tour circuit for many.

According to Nixon Europe’s Marketing Director, Henning Erlandsen, San Sebastian is  an exceptional host city for the contest from the fun waves, to the beaches, to the locals.  Said Erlandsen, “The Surf Challenge could not be in a better location. The community of San Sebastian has been welcoming the Nixon crew to their city for years.” He continued,  “Having Vans come on board this year as a partner has only added to the strength and level of the event. We look forward to them joining in the  excitement of this year’s Surf Challenge and more to come.”

The 24 invited riders at this year’s contest will be vying for a 10,000 euro prize purse, the largest award in the event’s nine year history.

Previous Nixon Surf Challenge winners include:
Tiago Pires (2007, Portugal), Dylan Graves (2006, Puerto Rico), Josh Kerr (2005, Australia), Tiago Pires (2004, Portugal), Micky Picon (2003, France), Fredo Robin (2002, France), Jonathan Gonzales (2001, Canary Islands), and Eric McHenry (2000, USA).
For more Surf Challenge information and contest updates, please visit: nixonsurfchallenge.com  

“The Challenge is by far the funniest contest I ever entered! I love everything about it! The environment is just so laid-back and the good energy around it makes it a very special one! I really think Nixon should organize all the contests on Tour!” Tiago Pires

The swell filled in overnight, the competitors made their way down to the contest site where they were met with clean 3'-5' beachbreak.  The crew of 26 soon hit the water in 4 man heats.  As conditions improved through the day it became obvious who the true standouts would be for the day.  Former WCT battler Josh Kerr showed everyone how he made it to the tour, by demolishing the competition and showing some of the most progressive surfing of the event.  Hira Terinatoofa also sliced through the competition with relentless consistency.  Eric Rebiere took the event lightly as if he was on vacation, having beers and relaxing between heats making all the way to the finals.  In the end it was Casey Brown who defeated everyone, coming off his recent WQS win in San Diego, Casey was on a roll.  Casey locked his win in the final by getting the best barrell of the event and followed it up with a massive frontside air.  Casey collected the well deserved check of €5000.

 Casey Brown, "The waves were so fun, the food was amazing and I won €5000... I'm psyched. Such a fun event hanging with all the boys. No pressure just trying to get sick waves."