PETER “PT” TOWNEND STEPS DOWN AS USA SURF TEAM HEAD COACH

San Juan Capistrano, Calif. – June 7, 2007 – Surfing America, the National Governing Body (NGB) for Surfing in the United States, announced today the resignation of Peter “PT” Townend as Head Coach of the USA Surf Team. This announcement comes just weeks after the USA Surf Team’s fifth place finish in the 2007 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships. After dedicating a lot of time and passion to Surfing America, Townend now feels it best to step down and focus on other endeavors now that Surfing America is up and running successfully.

“It’s been a great three years working with a new generation of US kids that helped bring back international credibility to the USA Surf Team program” said Townend.

Townend’s recent role as the coach of the new and improved USA Surf Team spawned from the naming of Surfing America as the new NGB for the United States in 2004. Under his tutelage, his squads earned three Olympic-recognized medals in five competitions: silver at the 2004 ISA World Juniors, bronze at the 2005 ISA World Juniors, and bronze at the 2006 ISA World Surfing Games. Townend also coached the 1982 and 1984 USA National Teams, the ’84 team winning a gold medal.

"Words cannot describe the incredible contribution PT has made to Surfing America, the USA Surf Team, and to the sport of surfing as a whole," said Mike Gerard, Surfing America's Executive Director. "PT founded Surfing America in the late nineties, built it up to achieve ISA's NGB recognition in 2004, and immediately thereafter lead the USA Surf Team program to success. Surfing America would never be where it is today without his leadership and we are extremely grateful for all he has done. We look forward to PT's continued involvement as Past President and a member of Surfing America's Advisory Board."

Townend, the 1976 IPS World Champion, has been a primary catalyst for organizing competitive surfing in the United States as well as founding Surfing America in 1997 as the then acting President of SIMA.. He also was monumental in the rise of the NSSA during the 1980s and was the on-air color analyst for the Bud Pro Surf Tour. He spent ten years in publishing at Surfing Magazine rising to the position of Publisher and also spent most of the Nineties as the Marketing Director of Rusty. Today he operates The ActivEmpire, a company which specializes in action sports brand and media consultancy, coaching, athlete management and promotions. He will remain active in Surfing America endeavors as an advisor.

“PT has done an incredible job single handedly bringing the coaching program to this point,” added Gerard. “Surfing America plans to pick up where he left off with an expanded coaching and training staff dedicated towards the future success of the USA Surfing Team.” Announcements on the new staff will be communicated shortly.


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Press Contact:
Mike Cianciulli
Surfing America, Inc.
33157-B Camino Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Tel 949-276-4660 ext. 22
Fax 949-496-9190
mikec@surfingamerica.org


About Surfing America, Inc.
Surfing America is the ISA-recognized National Governing Body for Surfing in the United States. The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for Surfing, Bodyboarding, and Surfriding

Surfing America is the IRS recognized 501(c) 3 charitable organization responsible for selecting and fielding the official USA Surf Team. All donations made to Surfing America are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by the law. Donation checks should be made payable to: Surfing America, 33157 Camino Capistrano Suite B San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675. End of year tax receipts are sent to every individual donor of more than $250. For donations under $250, a cancelled check or credit card statement is sufficient evidence for IRS purposes. Surfing America will send a tax receipt to any donor who requests one.

Surfing America Mission Statement

The Mission of Surfing America is to promote the growth, competitive success, and positive image of surfing in the USA and to provide the best possible experience for all participants by encouraging, developing, advancing, and administrating the sport--while producing champions.



USA Surf Team Official Sponsors


USA Surf Team Supporting Media Sponsors

Surfing America is the ISA-recognized National Governing Body for Surfing in the United States. The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for Surfing, Bodyboarding, and Surfriding. http://isasurf.org


Surfing America Recognized Organizations
About the ESA
The Eastern Surfing Association (ESA), the largest amateur surfing association in the world established in 1967, is 501 (C) 3 non-profit organization, dedicated to promote and preserve the spirit of surfing through their regional programs and 26 district on the East Coast, Gulf Coast, Great Lakes and Puerto Rico. For more information about the ESA, please visit www.surfesa.org
The 2007 Championship Surfing Season is proudly sponsored by the ESA National Sponsors: Analog, Transworld SURF, SoBe, Few-New Zealand, Spy, Seasoned Surfboards, Fortress, FCS, Sharkinetics, Surfco Hawaii, Chums and Liquid Vision.
About HASA

Formed in the early 60's as the "Hawaii Surfing Association", the original grouping of amateur and professional surfers from throughout the island state was organized under this HAS banner for competition and recognition by the other worldwide associations. The structure of the HSA was to promote sport and surfing contests at different locales. We produce 11 amateur surfing competitions on Oahu every year. Our associate organizations produce five amateur surfing events a year on each of the following neighbor islands: Hawaii, Maui and Kauai. We sponsor the majority of the amateur surfing competitions in the state of Hawaii. Our events feature shortboarding, longboarding, bodyboarding and kneeboarding.

About NSSA
The National Scholastic Surfing Association is the highest profile amateur competitive surfing association in the United States. The NSSA is divided into nine conferences nation wide. The Hawaii conference covers the island chain of Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Big Island. The Southwest conference, Gold Coast conference, Northwest Conference and the NSSA Junior novice program are based in California. The east coast is represented by the Northeast, Southeast, Southeast/North and Florida Gulf conferences. With a special emphasis on student surfers, the NSSA membership is open to anyone who wants to surf competitively as an amateur.
About TGSA

Texas Gulf Surfing Association (TGSA) is a member of Surfing America as well as the South Texas AAU and Gulf AAU. Competitors in TGSA may qualify for the Texas State Surfing Championships, which is a regional qualifying event for the SIMA Surfing America USA Championships and the USA Team Trials. The USA Team Trials determines the official USA Surf Team for international competition.

About WSA

The Western Surfing Association (WSA) is the oldest amateur surfing association in the world. The WSA, established in 1959, is a California non-profit corporation dedicated to promoting and preserving the sport of surfing through fun, family oriented surf competitions. For more information on the WSA, please visit www.SurfWSA.org. WSA is the official West Coast member organization of Surfing America. WSA members can earn entry in the Surfing America US Championships and Team Trials.
 

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