THE BOOST MOBILE PRO OF SURF PRESENTED BY HURLEY WILDCARDS ANNOUNCED
IRVINE and COSTA MESA, Calif. – Boost Mobile and Hurley today announced the names of the three wildcard contestants invited to compete at the 2006 Boost Mobile Pro of Surf presented by Hurley. Bolstering an already stacked field of surfers competing in this year’s Boost Mobile Pro are none other than former world number two Rob Machado (USA), renowned Pipeline specialist Jamie O’Brien (HAW) and California young gun Dane Reynolds (USA).
Each of the enormously popular surfers will use their wildcard berths to go head to head with the world’s best surfers at San Clemente’s famed “Lower Trestles” when mainland America’s sole Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour stop hits Southern California from September 12–16, 2006.
Reynolds, who earned his wildcard spot after surfing his way through the Boost Mobile Pro of Surf Trials, which ran in conjunction with the 2006 U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, Calif., will make his fourth appearance as a BMP wildcard surfer in September.
The highly touted 20-year-old was handed main event berths in 2003 and 2004 but has earned entry via the trials for the last two years. Reynolds beat former elite-tour surfer Shane Beschen (USA) and top World Qualifying Series (WQS) performers Asher Nolan (USA) and Brett Simpson (USA) in the Boost Mobile Pro of Surf Trials final in front of a huge crowd at the US Open on July 29th to secure the final wildcard spot.
“Yea, I was given a wildcard in ’03 and ’04, but I had to surf my way through the trials to earn my spot the last couple of years,” Reynolds said. “It’s great to be handed a wildcard for sure, but you definitely feel like you deserve to be there when you have to beat guys like Beschen, Asher, and Brett to get one.”
Machado, who, as a Hurley and Boost team rider, was given a wildcard straight into the event based on his proven competitive prowess, has already won two of three WQS events he’s competed in this year – the Pipeline Pro and the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington. Though semi-retired, Machado has hinted that he might entertain thoughts of returning to the tour should he find himself in a position to do so after competing in the point-heavy European leg of the qualifying series this month.
O’Brien secured his wildcard into the event after earning the Boost Breakthrough Performer of the Year Award at last year’s Surfer Poll awards – an honor given to an athlete whose performance exceeds expectations and makes a statement. O’Brien has surfed in several Foster’s Men’s World Tour events, among them the prestigious Pipeline Masters which he won in 2004.
Defending champions Kelly Slater (USA) and Andy Irons (HAW) as well as current world number two Taj Burrow (AUS) and standout rookie Bobby Martinez (USA), will likely draw the widely respected wildcards in the early rounds – with the World Title race still well and truly anyone’s, Machado, O’Brien and Reynolds could seriously impact the ratings leaders’ campaigns.
“Any one of these guys has the ability to win at a high performance break like Trestles,” Mark Fewell of Boost Mobile said. “They have all proven themselves against the top tour surfers before and no one will be thinking they have an easy draw by coming up against any one of the wildcards.”
The event minisite can be accessed via www.boostmobilepro.com where trials highlights, behind-the-scenes action, in-depth surf analysis and exclusive downloads will be available later this month. Members of the media can also visit www.boostmobilepro.com now to fill out an online application for media passes to cover mainland America’s only Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour event.
The event will be webcast live on www.aspworldtour.com and www.boostmobilepro.com starting September 12, 2006.
About 2006 Foster’s Men’s World Championship Tour
The world’s best surfers travel the globe competing at 11 premier wave locations, to determine the World Champion. The 2006 Foster’s Men’s World Tour began in Australia at the Gold Coast and Bells Beach, moved onto treacherous Teahupoo in Tahiti, Tavarua in Fiji, and Mexico. The Billabong Pro at Jeffrey’s Bay in South Africa is held just prior to the tour coming to Trestles, California. After the Boost Mobile Pro, the tour will then travel to France, Spain, Brazil and finish at the Banzai Pipeline in Hawaii.
About Boost Mobile
Based in Irvine, California, Boost Mobile®, LLC is at the epicenter of the action sports industry. A lifestyle-based telecommunications brand focused on offering premium pay-as-you-go wireless phones and services to the youth market, Boost resonates with its consumers through strategic partnerships with leading youth lifestyle brands and companies. Boost team riders comprise of more than 50 of the world’s top action sports athletes, and include 2005 World Champions Kelly Slater and Chelsea Georgeson, as well as Taj Burrow, Mike Parsons, Cory Lopez, Makua Rothman, Shane Dorian, Shane Beschen, Rob Machado, Dane Reynolds, Jamie O’Brien, Ian Walsh, Megan Abubo, and Kalohe Andino.
About Hurley
Hurley is the leading global youth brand with strong roots in surf, skate, art and music. Hurley develops world-class products for guys, girls and kids, including sportswear, footwear, eyewear, accessories, girl’s swimwear and wetsuits. A wholly-owned, independently run subsidiary of Nike, Inc., Hurley is located in Costa Mesa, CA, with international offices in Tokyo, Sydney and Barcelona.
For more information, visit www.BoostMobilePro.com or contact:
MEDIA CONTACTS:
BOOST MOBILE MEDIA BUREAU
(949) 789-4900
press@boostmobile.com
KURENT PR FOR HURLEY
Andrea Tagliareni
(310) 440 8000
andrea@kurentinc.com
HURLEY
Julie Leffler
(949) 548 9375
julie_leffler@hurley.com
ASP INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Melissa Buckley bsp;
Mobile: (970) 946-4077
Email: melissa@aspworldtour.com
Wayne Dart
Mobile: +61 407 189 289
Email: darty@aspworldtour.com
