ABC of Surfing News Feed

Counting Down To The Surf Dog Surf-a-thon

Helen Woodward Animal Center will host their 5th Annual Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon Contest on Sunday, September 12th from 8 am to 3:00 pm at North Beach, 3200 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, CA.

Doggie yoga will kick off the event at 8:00 am, followed by surfing at 8:30 am. A canine costume contest will begin at 10:00 am and a human surfing costume contest will take place at 11:45 am. Scooble and Helen Woodward's adoptable dogs will be on site for the Vendor & Pet Adoption Fair. More than 70 dogs and 4,000 spectators are expected to attend.

Scooble.com, the independent pet service locator connecting pet owners to the best food and services, is distributing free goody bags to attendees as well as information on independent pet services in the area.

According to Helen Woodward, dogs will be judged on their length of ride, size of wave ridden, and maneuvers like walking on the board, hanging 20 and barking while riding.

To enter your dog or help raise funds, visit http://surfdog.kintera.org for more information. Cost per heat is $35. The event is free to spectators, although donations are gladly accepted.

Source: www.prlog.org

World's First Ban on Shark Fin

Fins from up to 70 million sharks a year are used for shark fin soup often with the bodies of the animal dumped overboard dead or alive. In a recent study the world's top shark scientists (IUCN Shark Specialist Group) reported that of 64 species of open ocean sharks and rays 32% are "threatened with extinction," primarily due to overfishing. In addition, 24% were "near threatened," while another 25% could not be assessed due to lack of data. Yet only 3 species have any kind of international protection and the UN CITES convention recently declined to take any action due to opposition led by Japan.

Champion of the Bill Senator Clayton Hee stated, "Hawaii is proud to be at the forefront of the movement to save threatened sharks. For native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders sharks are revered, because we recognize their ecological importance, but we have been silent for too long on the decimation of shark stocks globally."

Stefanie Brendl of Shark Allies said, "Globally shark catches are unregulated and unsustainable. The shark fin trade is completely unregulated worldwide. This is a first step in giving sharks a future."

"Sharks have been around for nearly 400 million years playing vital roles in marine ecosystems, but at the current rate of overfishing driven by the demand for shark fin soup they could be wiped out in a single human generation," said WildAid director Peter Knights.

International conservation group WildAid released dramatic new evidence that proves that sharks are being finned alive for soup sold in the United States. Footage shot by WildAid shows a live tawny nurse shark dumped on an Indonesian reef with its fins removed. The film is being used in a new public service announcement for global broadcast from NBA player Yao Ming, China's most popular star. Most Americans are unaware of the damage caused by the shark fin industry and that shark fin soup is widely available from Chinese restaurants in the U.S. WildAid's recent survey found one third of Chinese restaurants in San Francisco serving the dish priced from $6.95 to $85 a bowl.

This unprecedented law makes it illegal to sell, possess or distribute shark fins without a permit issued by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources for shark research or educational purposes or the Hawaii Department of Health, for restaurants possessing fins prepared for consumption since July 1, 2010. Effective July 1, 2011, it will be illegal for these restaurants or retailers to sell or possess fins for shark-fin soup or other shark fin products.

The US Congress is considering the Shark Conservation Act of 2009 that would close a major enforcement loophole by requiring that the fins of sharks caught in federal waters remain naturally attached to the shark. Passage of the federal law would further strengthen and complement Hawaii's new shark protection law.

In China, the largest market for shark fin soup there is a growing groundswell of opposition to shark fin. NBA star and China's most popular figure, Yao Ming and other Chinese sporting and movie icons, as well as leading businessmen, are taking a stand by refusing to eat shark fin soup. Li Ning, who lit the Olympic torch and Liu Huan, who sang in the Beijing Opening ceremony, and a number of gold medal Olympians, including Americans Tara Kirk and Amanda Beard, have pledged not to eat shark fin soup and have recorded public service announcements, which have reached hundreds of millions of Chinese. The campaign has been featured on China's CCTV networks featuring 20 Olympic gold medalists. Last month, 100 Chinese business leaders joined the pledge and Chinese eBay equivalent Alibaba stopped allowing sales of shark fin through their site.

Visit www.wildaid.org for more details.
source: www.prnewswire.com

The 4th Annual SCION NYBB Pro by Verizon Wireless

Presented By: Verizon Wireless

Regional Sponsors: EastCoastBodyboards.com, NMD, VS, Empire, Ally Sporting Goods, Ay! Caramba, unsOund surf

Long Beach, NY [Sept 31, 2008] - The 4th Annual SCION NYBB Pro Presented by Verizon Wireless will be held from Sept 3-7 in Long Beach, NY at Lincoln Blvd. With all kinds of action heating up in the tropics, this year's event will be one to remember!

Competitor registration and reception will be held at 7pm at Ay! Caramba 6 W. Park Ave. in Long Beach, NY. Entry forms and fees can be submitted in person to Jason Bitzer at the Jenks Pro, or by contacting NYBB Pro contest director Bob Baldwin (516) 987-6321 (also event hotline) or email nybodyboarding@gmail.com.

We are very excited about the prospect of this year's event which is set to go off, so come join us in New York for a week you won't forget!

Best of luck to all competitors!

Link to Event Flyer: http://nybodyboarding.com/nybb-pro-web.jpg
Link to Party Flyer: http://nybodyboarding.com/SCnybb_flyer.jpg

Entry inquiries visit: www.usbatour.com
Live Webcast at: www.usbamag.com/webcast
Contest Info at: www.nybodyboarding.com

Competitor Registration/Check-in: 7pm Sept 2nd @ Ay! Caramba Bar & Grill located at 6 W Park Ave in Long Beach, NY (516) 670-8100 (across from Waldbaums & Long Beach LIRR Station).

Lodging: The Jackson Hotel is across the street from the contest area and your best bet for local lodging. Nearby hotels also include the Uniondale Marriott, Hampton Inn or Best Western in Rockville Centre, & Long Beach Motor Inn (Island Park).

Getting Here: Access to Long Beach is easy by car, plane, or train!

* Less than two hours from Jenks by car (Garden State Expressway/Outerbridge Crossing/Verranzano/Belt Pkwy East/Southern Pkwy East/Meadowbrook Pkwy South/Loop Pkwy to end/Lido Blvd>E. Park Ave/Left at Lincoln Blvd. You have arrived.
* 45 mins by train or car from Penn Station NYC (take the LIRR to Long Beach last stop).
* 20 minutes by car/45 by train from JFK International Airport (JFK) 35-45 mins from Laguardia (LAG) and MacArthur (MAC), and 55mins from Newark Int'l (EWR).

Best of luck to all competitors, see you all in New York!

Surf Stronger Teams Up with MSR Communications

Furthering its leadership as one of the top small PR agencies in America, MSR Communications® (MSR), an independent firm specializing in communications management for technology, B2B, and consumer-lifestyle companies, announced it's caught the wave of the hottest fitness trend as agency of record for Golden Coast Productions, producers of the Surf Stronger� workout series. Designed to improve strength and endurance, Surf Stronger's surf-specific workouts enable anyone to develop a surfer's physique and stay in shape without hitting the beach. "We're stoked to work with such a creative, results-driven team," said Scott Adams, Surf Stronger Co-Founder. "MSR's proven track record in the health and fitness industry and understanding of our business made them a natural choice to help take us to the next level."

MSR will implement an aggressive media relations campaign to generate awareness of the Surf Stronger workouts and fitness experts. The firm will also leverage the popularity of professional surfer and Surf Stronger supporter, Serena Brooke, to promote the workouts as effective fitness training for surfers and non-surfers alike. The Surf Stronger DVDs are available for download to iPods and mobile phones thus providing consumers with immediate access to the benefits of surf fitness exercises anywhere, any time. "'Surf's up!' at MSR. We're thrilled to welcome the Surf Stronger team to our growing roster of consumer lifestyle companies," said Mary Shank Rockman, principal and CEO of MSR Communications, LLC. "We're confident MSR's specialized, senior-level talent will help promote the benefits of surf-specific core training and make Surf Stronger a household name."

About MSR Communications
MSR Communications is an independent public relations firm offering a unique brand of creative intelligence to provide superior communications management services to emerging-growth technology, B2B, and consumer lifestyle companies. MSR combines strategic programming, exceptional client service, and influential relationships to drive extraordinary results that help clients build mind share with key constituents. Based in San Francisco, MSR has been recognized as one of the 2008 Top 5 Small PR Agencies in America. For more information, please visit www.msrcommunications.com or call (415) 989-9000.

Source:
www.freepressreleases.co.uk

FreesurfTV DVD Series Released Across Australia

Gold Coast, Australia - Surfing has new TV series with a difference - it's not on TV! The FreesurfTV DVD series is currently being exclusively released across Australia a full year before its scheduled distribution to the international market in December 2009.

FreesurfTV is suitable for viewing by all ages, and features the hottest surf action of the world's best, with in-depth interviews and professional tips for grommets through to advanced surfers. Produced & filmed by celebrated surf cinematographer Brook Silvester, who guarantees you the sickest action from land & sea, FreesurfTV brings the viewer a world of waves with an all-star cast. Each volume begins with the latest surf clips (Vol #1 features the best D-BAH in years!) and each and every segment aims to take the viewer behind the scenes to discover the colorful characters that make up this wonderful sport.

FreesurfTV retails for $9.99 and is out quarterly. Vol#1 is on sale now at all major news agents around Australia. Vol#2 is due to be released on September 3, 2008!

To purchase Vol #1 & 2 or to collect the series, email: wetflicks@froggy.com.au
For other inquiries, call: (+61) 0419269727 or visit www.freesurftv.com.

About FreesurfTV
FreesurfTV is filmed and co-produced by renowned Australian cinematographer Brook Silvester. Brook has been working inside the wonderful world of surfing for 20 years and has exclusive access to all facets of the surfing elite and their rapidly-evolving expensive and exclusive lifestyles. FreesurfTV is a collectible DVD series filmed in high definition, and is currently available exclusively in Australia via news agencies nationwide.