BIG MONEY UP FOR GRABS IN 16 AND UNDER QUIKSILVER KING OF THE GROMS
REGIONAL QUALIFIERS
Register for FREE at Quiksilver.com; Now Open
(Huntington Beach, Calif.) May 14, 2008 - The Quiksilver King of the
Groms is ready to rock starting on June 7 or 8 (surf permitting). The
first of three national qualifying stops will begin on the East Coast at
surf spot Mecca Sebastian Inlet, Florida. The deadline for East Coast
entries is June 5. Contestants can register for free NOW at
www.quiksilver.com.
http://www.quiksilver.com/events/Detail.aspx?evntid=162tye
With 64 slots per regional event, the competition is open to both boys
and girls 16 and under. The Quiksilver KOG is currently the only 16 and
under "Skins" event in the United States today. This year the three
events will see one winner emerge from their respective region, unlike
past events where competitors could enter in multiple regional
qualifiers.
Following the East Coast stop, the KOG will island hop over the
continental US and across the Pacific to the birth place of "the sport
of kings,'" Hawaii where a second king will be crowned on Oahu's South
Shore at Ala Moana Bowls on June 9. Last but not least the KOG wraps up
in Quiksilver's backyard in sunny Southern California at Goldenwest
Street, Huntington Beach on June 23. In addition to a spot at the KOG
Global Championships, competitors will be vying for $500 cash prize from
DC Shoes for "Highest Score, " $200 cash prize from Future Fins for
"Most Futuristic Maneuver and the "Special Surfboard Award" from Super
Surfboards.
The three new KOG U.S. Regional Champions will be flown across the
Atlantic to compete in the KOG Global Championships that is run in
conjunction with the Quiksilver Pro France, an ASP Men's World
Championship Tour event. The KOG Global Championships will bring
together eight major surfing regions' Kings for a field of 16 surfers:
U.S. (3), Australia (3), Europe (3), Bali (1), South Africa (1), Tahiti
(1), Japan (1), Reunion Island (1) and South America (2). The KOG
Global Championships will be webcast live at www.quiksilver.com
About KOG Format
The "Skins" format was founded by Quiksilver's own Matt Kechele who
introduced it to the East Coast back in 1995 at the Quiksilver King of
the Peak at Sebastian Inlet which was won by non other than eight-time
world champion Kelly Slater. A "skin" is equivalent to $100. In order
to win a "Skin" the surfer must raise his hands above his head in what
is termed a "claim" after what he or she thinks is a high scoring ride.
The judges then assess the wave and the score is announced and the
surfer must exit the water. The remaining surfers then have the
duration of the heat to "claim" their wave and top the high score.
Surfers get two chances to lose as there are two rounds of competition.
They also have the chance to go "on a roll" and claim multiple "Skins"
if they are consistently putting up high scores as they progress in each
heat.
About Quiksilver
Quiksilver, trailblazing guide to boardriding* culture, is committed to
providing tools for uncovering, expressing and expanding your personal
style. Our mission is to foster the sense of individual expression and
excitement - the stoke that is the essence of boardriding. We're also
here to spread the word because the only thing better than finding stoke
is sharing it.
* Boardriding is about timing and style. It's youthful, active, casual,
and free flowing. There is no wrong way to ride a board. The goal is
simply to learn, progress, improve, and give it your own interpretation.
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