MACY’S CALIFORNIA TRIFECTA SURF SERIES BACK FOR
FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR

San Clemente, Calif. – April 10, 2008 – Action Sports Group is pleased to announce the return of the Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series for the fourth consecutive year. The North American Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) specialty series unites three prominent ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) events held in California: 6.0 Lowers Pro at Lower Trestles, San Clemente, April 29-May 3; Oakley Newport Pro at 56th Street, Newport Beach, Sept 16-21; and O’Neill Cold Water Classic at Steamer Lane, Santa Cruz, Oct. 21-26. For the second year, Juniors will also get in on the Trifecta action with an increased $10,000 bonus purse for the top three overall points winners from the three Trifecta series associated Oakley Pro Junior events.

The Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series was formed in 2005 to strengthen surfing in America and has added additional cash and prize incentives each year since its inception. The Trifecta series provides surfers with an opportunity to earn crucial points towards the ASP WQS and Pro Junior end-of-year rankings, which factors into advancement to the coveted ASP World Tour and ASP World Junior Championships. Additionally, the series will award a $33,333 bonus to the surfer who takes first-place in all three WQS events. Should one surfer not win all three events, the overall points-winner will receive a $10,000 bonus and second and third will receive $3,500 and $1,500, respectively. Last year, the Oakley Pro Junior Division was brought on board for the first time with a $5,000 bonus, which has been doubled to $10,000 for 2008, rewarding top performance within the three events.
Last year, Adam Virs (Ventura, CA) claimed the Trifecta victory and $10,000 paycheck, with 2006 Trifecta champ Nate Yeomans (San Clemente, CA) taking second, and Austin Ware (Solana Beach, CA) third. Nick Rozsa (Oxnard, CA) claimed the ‘07 Trifecta Pro Junior win, but has aged out of the category for 2008, and will be on the hunt in the WQS Division. ASP North America Junior Champ Adam Wickwire (Satellite Beach, FL) took second, and Brent Dorrington (Gold Coast, AUS), who has also graduated from the Pro Junior circuit, took third. In 2006, two-time Oakley Newport Pro champion Nate Yeomans won the Trifecta, and in 2005, the inaugural series was clinched by Asher Nolan (Neptune Beach, FL). With former winners Virs, Yeomans and Nolan, as well as past contenders Dustin Cuizon (Ewa Beach, HAW), Shaun Ward (Huntington Beach, CA) and Austin Ware, all on board for the first event the 6.0 Lowers Pro this month, the 2008 Trifecta race will likely heat up quickly and once again come down to the final event in Santa Cruz in October.

“The Trifecta has become a staple on the ASP North American leg of the tour with solid incentives for both the WQS and Oakley Pro Junior divisions,” said Sean Nielsen, Action Sports Group, director of event operations. “It has been great to reward surfers competing domestically with the opportunity to win a significant amount of money for their performance across the three events. There’s a lot on the line and it all starts with a solid performance at the 6.0 Lowers Pro. And you never know, maybe we’ll give away the $33,333 this year.”

Kicking off the Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series, the ASP WQS 4-Star 6.0 Lowers Pro and ASP Grade 2 Oakley Pro Junior will be held at Lower Trestles, San Clemente, on April 29-May 3, 2008. Lower Trestles is considered to be one of the best competition waves in the world and a jewel of southern California. This event, with new title sponsor Nike 6.0, is part of a three-year program to elevate American surfing and as such will upgrade to a 6-Star event in 2009 and 2010. The Oakley Pro Junior is also the North American qualifier for the Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge.

The second stop of the Macy’s California Trifecta will be the storied ASP WQS 2-Star Oakley Newport Beach Pro and ASP Grade 2 Oakley Pro Junior, on September 16-21, 2008, at Newport’s renowned 56th Street break. A pivotal stop of the Macy’s California Trifecta Series, the event is rich in history bringing together amateur and professional competitions.

Santa Cruz’s famed Steamer Lane will play host to the third and final stop of the Macy’s California Trifecta, for the ASP WQS 4-Star O’Neill Cold Water Classic and ASP Grade 3 Oakley Pro Junior and ASP North American Championships, on October 21-26, 2008. Northern California’s preeminent surfing event is also the final professional surfing event on the United States mainland in 2008.

In addition to Macy’s, the Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series is also supported by Surfer magazine, Surfing magazine, WaveWatch, ASP North America and FUEL TV.