HISTORIC KATIN PRO/AM TEAM CHALLENGE PRESENTED BY SPORTS 1 MARKETING HOLDING PERIOD SET FOR JAN. 4-9, 2011 IN HUNTINGTON BEACH

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif (December 7, 2010) – For the third consecutive year, the legendary Katin Pro/Am Team Challenge presented by Sports 1 Marketing will return to the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier, for two days of camaraderie-driven competition. The two-day event will take place when the best conditions are present during a holding period of Jan. 4-9, 2011. Teams of four men each will compete for both individual and team cash in addition to prizes and the bragging rights that come along with the win.

"The feedback we receive from the surfers is really what makes the Katin Pro/Am Team Challenge so special," says Scott Waring, Katin USA Marketing Director. "Each year, we hear how much they love surfing with their teammates in the event and how fun it is to push each other in a low-pressure environment. The last few years have also shown how the event is raising the bar for professional surfing with high scoring heats, including perfect 10s, in awesome conditions. And to see up-and-comers given the chance to surf heats against former World Champs like Tom Curren is just really unique."

Last year, Team Reef claimed top honors with Chris Waring leading the charge with the overall individual victory. 2009 Team Champions, Hurley. took second-place in 2010 with a solid performance by Brad Ettinger who took second individually despite a perfect 10.0 score in the Final. Surfline finished in third led by Nathaniel Curran who took third-place individually, and Surfing America finished in fourth with top team members Evan Thompson and Andrew Doheny taking fourth and fifth individually.

Katin USA, an original surf lifestyle brand, brought the legendary event back to Huntington Beach in 2009 after a 10-year hiatus from its last run in 1999. Its return has proven successful and memorable with some of the top names in surfing flaunting tremendous skills in prime winter conditions two years in a row on the north side of the HB Pier. Both 2009 and 2010 resulted in intense battles during epic Finals complete with barrels, airs and perfect-10 scores between top surfers including Rob Machado (Hurley), Brett Simpson (Hurley), Brad Ettinger (Hurley) and Chris Waring (Reef) who is the one contender to make the Final two years in a row and will surely be looking to defend his title in 2011.

Originally founded in 1977 by Nancy Katin, this unique low pressure, camaraderie-driven event boasts a rich history with a roster of winners that includes World Champions Shaun Tomson, Tom Curren, Martin Potter, Sunny Garcia and Kelly Slater, and most recently, Brett Simpson and defending 2010 Champ Chris Waring.

Drawing a wide range of surf and action sport brands, such as Hurley, Rip Curl, Fox, Reef, Surfline, Jack’s, and more, the format will feature 80 competitors competing both individually and in four-man teams for a total of 20 teams in an open-draw format. Team results will be determined by the placement of individual competitors. Surfers will receive points in each heat (4 pts for 1st, 3 pts for 2nd, 2 pts for 3rd and 1 pt for 4th place). The four teams earning the most points will share in $12,000 worth of advertising and the top eight individuals will receive a cash payout worth $10,000 and prizes from sponsors.

The prize purse breakdown is:

TEAM PRIZING
1st: Two-page spread in Surfing Magazine
2nd: One-page ad in Surfing Magazine
3rd: $2,000 digital ad campaign on surfingthemag.com
4th: $1,000 digital ad campaign on surfingthemag.com

PRO/AM PRIZING
1st: $4,000
2nd: $2,000
3rd: $1,500
4th: $1,000
Equal 5th: $500
Equal 7th: $250

Special thanks to Katin Pro/Am Team Challenge sponsors: Katin USA, Sports 1 Marketing, Primo, Corralejo, Jack’s, Cushe, F.I.T.T. Energy, Café Rio, Power Balance, Hook Up, Future Fins, Sandy’s Beach Grill, Duke’s, Faction Surfboards, Wahoo’s, Hilton Waterfront, Kicker Audio, Alpinestars and SURFING Magazine.

For more information, history, schedule, and more, visit katinusa.com and facebook.com/katinusa

About Katin

Kanvas by Katin was founded in 1959 by Nancy Katin in Surfside, Calif., when she and her husband Walter transformed a canvas boat cover business into one of the nation’s first surfwear brands, specializing in high quality surf trunks. Currently a core surf company, today the Katin brand is carried in surf shops and specialty stores throughout the U.S. and worldwide. More information is available at katinusa.com.

About SURFING
SURFING Magazine is the official storyteller of modern surf culture. We seek out the personalities and ideas that define our community – progressive, authentic and young, with a focus on the experiences and lifestyle that make surfing more than a sport. Travel. Photography. People. Fashion. Music. Art. The magazine is published 12 times per year by Source Interlink Media’s Actions Sports Group (ASG) / Grind Networks, an integrated network of magazines, digital properties, events and television programming.

For more information, please visit surfingmagazine.com

About Action Sports Group / Grind Networks
Reaching more than ten million enthusiasts, Source Interlink Media’s Action Sports Group (ASG) / Grind Networks is the dominant force in the action sports and adventure sports arenas. In addition to publishing leading lifestyle publications such as Surfer, Surfing, Snowboarder, Skateboarder, Bike, Paved, Powder, Canoe & Kayak, SUP Magazine, Dirt Rider, and ATV Rider, Source Interlink Media’s ASG / Grind Networks delivers a cutting-edge network of online properties such as Fantasy Surfer and The Hot 100, events and television programming. For more information, please visit actionsportsgroup.net.

Media Contacts:

Dawn Hamilton
KHPR for ASG
O: 310-295-1189
C: 310-923-0863
dhamilton@khpublicrelations.com

Monet Quick
Action Sports Group – Public Relations
O: 949-325-6154
C: 949-370-7083
monet.quick@sorc.com