HB Surf Pro/Am Surf Series makes 2001 debut

Mike Sciacca, Independent

The Huntington Beach Pro/Am Surf Series kicks off its seventh season

this weekend with a competition at the south side of the Huntington Beach

Pier.

“The 2001 planning is complete,” said Seth Matson, the event’s

director. “It’s time to get ready for the most exciting, challenging and

rewarding season yet. I have a really good feeling about this year’s

event. Surf contests have been dawdling around the whitewash since the

eighties, and we are here to inaugurate a renaissance into the

competitive world of surfing.”

Matson, who started the event in 1994 for local surfers, has added new

enhancements to this year’s Pro/Am events, including a new Air Show with

up to a $500 prize being awarded to the top surfer who grabs the biggest,

cleanest aerial and/or most radical maneuver in the four man final.

Each event runs for two days. Amateur surfers compete on Saturdays in

the following divisions: Super Groms (11-and-under); Boys (12-14);

Juniors (15-17); Mens (18-28), and Masters (29-and-up). Longboard, Womens

(age open), and Pro/Am compete on Sundays.

Amateurs are allowed to surf against the pros.

This weekend’s event is double-rated, and Pro/Am Division surfers will

be competing for a $2,000 prize.

The overall first place rated Pro/Am surfer will win a round trip to

Indonesia, as well as a $1,000 gift certificate.

The Huntington Beach Pro/Am Surf Series will be held one weekend a

month over the next seven months.

Entry forms are available at most surf shops, at the series Web site

(http//:www.hbsurfseries.com) or by calling (714) 596-5019.