VANS AND SURFING MAGAZINE PARTNER TO CREATE
NORTH SHORE UNDERGROUND

Project Aims To Recognize the North Shore’s Unsung Chargers and Reward Them with One Year of Travel Funds Courtesy of Vans

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. (November 30, 2010) – Vans and SURFING Magazine launch the North Shore Underground, a grassroots initiative to seek out and reward unsung North Shore chargers in a way nobody has bothered to do before. Evan Valiere, Hank Gaskell, Marcus Hickman, Mikey Bruneau, Ola Eleogram and Sion Miloski have been dubbed the 2010 "underground team".

The criteria for choosing these six underexposed, under-appreciated Hawaiian surfers consisted of peer polling, past performances as well as the myriad of random odd end jobs supporting their lifestyles. They have been issued a challenge: Show us you deserve better. Prove to us that you are worthy of being amongst the names we already know by heart. Show us you belong in the spotlight because we can put you there. And we will.

Over the next 6 weeks, SURFING Magazine will shadow the underground team throughout this winter season, in the water and out. The contests, the parties, the barrels, and the beatings. Their real lives and real jobs will be chronicled through www.surfingmagazine.com and www.vanstriplercrownofsurfing.com as the modern Country struggle that is the North Shore will unfold before the reader’s eyes. In essence, Surfingmagazine.com will become the living, breathing journal of their winter in the underground. From the Triple Crown to the outer reefs, from big Pipe to little Rockies, our writers will be on their shoulders and in their ears, taking notes and photos and watching for a standout to pull ahead.

"For years, the spotlight of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing has focused intensely on the surfing greats who make their annual pilgrimage to the North Shore," said Vans Vice President of Marketing Doug Palladini. "This winter, Vans is excited to team up with Surfing to add a layer for unsung surfers to gain the world’s attention and fuel their future surf dreams with a $25,000 travel prize."

At the end of the North Shore season Vans and SURFING will name one of these lucky surfers the North Shore Underground Surfer of the Year, based on all-around performance both in and out of their jersey. They are looking for achievements as well as potential, because whoever they pick will have to step up to the plate in 2011 with a year of travel funds from Vans to chase the surf dream wherever it may take him. The World Tour? Film trips? Big-wave exploration? The world will be their oyster.

It’s November. The season’s just beginning. But one of these underground surfers is about to dig his way out. Check surfingmagazine.com each day for new content and stay up to date as the saga unfolds.

About Vans Surf
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 Nathan Fletcher, Joel Tudor, Pat, Dane and Tanner Gudauskas, Timmy Reyes, and Dylan Graves including Hawaiian standouts John Florence, Reef McIntosh, Kalani Chapman, Kai "Borg" Garcia and Leila Hurst.

For more information on Vans Surf, visit vanssurf.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.

About Source Interlink Media
Source Interlink Media is the premier source of special interest media in the United States. With more than 70 publications, 90 websites, 400 branded products, 65+ events, and TV and radio programs, SIM is the largest provider of content to enthusiast communities interested in automotive, action sports, marine and other niche activities. The organization’s strategy is to wholly focus on targeted audiences by leveraging and expanding upon its core market-leading brands through a multiplatform media approach.

Media Contact:

Monet Quick
Action Sports Group – Public Relations
949-370-7083
monet.quick@sorc.com