MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif., Sept. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- In a close competition that came down to the final wave, Team Happy Endings won the first qualifying round in the inaugural Jim Beam(R) Surftag(R) U.S. Nationals on Saturday. The victory carries a cash prize and the chance to win in November's championship competition.
Trailing Team FCS by 1.2 points, Team Happy Endings snagged the lead in the competition's final heat. The team's fifth and final surfer, Macy Mullen, carried Team Happy Endings to an 86.5-to-85.2 finish over Team FCS with his Powerwave, which awards double points on a surfer's second wave.
In addition to awarding the winning team, Jim Beam(R) Surftag(R) offers an individual prize bonus to the surfer who receives the highest points for his Powerwave. Team Happy Ending's Kalani Robb crushed the competition with his finesse and style, receiving nine out of a possible 10 points. Claiming the first place title and best Powerwave of the day marks Robb's return to the competitive circuit following a short retirement.
"I wasn't expecting too much ... I was asked to join the team and I said sure, why not," said Robb. "The Surftag format is so much fun. It was definitely an unbelievable day ... I can't wait to come back for the finals!"
Team Happy Endings bested crews from boardriding clubs around California. High-scoring teams from this round have a chance to face off against top contenders from two upcoming qualifying rounds, with the finale held Nov. 13-14. Jim Beam(R) Surftag(R) will award a total of $25,000 in cash prizes throughout the series and the title of "No. 1 Surf Club in California."
Jim Beam(R), the world's No. 1-selling Bourbon, launched the first Surftag(R) U.S. Nationals competition in partnership with IMG Sports & Entertainment. Surftag(R) is a relay competition in which the five members of each team must catch three waves and then return to the beach to tag the next team member.
The contest started in Australia in 2001 and has grown into that country's largest team boardriding competition. Riders at Manhattan Beach on Sept. 19 said the relay competition put a new and exciting twist on their sport.
Final Heat Results (1st Qualifying Event):
1st PLACE - Team Happy Endings
Total Points: 86.5 - Danny Estes 20pts; Pascal Stansfield 20pts; Yves
Bright 15pts; Kalani Robb 13.5pts; Macy Mullen 18pts.
2nd PLACE - Team FCS
Total Points: 85.2 - Rick Whitlock 23.5pts; Justin Swartz 11.7pts; Jamie
Meistrell 14.5pts; Anthony Petruso 20pts; Matty Mohagen 12.5pts.
3rd PLACE - Team J7
Total Points: 77 - Pete Mussio 23.5pts; Dan Wachter 7pts; Tarik Khashoggi
10.5pts; Kilian Garland 24pts; Keoni Cuccia 14.5pts.
4th PLACE - Team Those Guys
Total Points: 54.2 - Kenny B. 17pts; John Balk 11.5pts; Matt T. 6pts;
Spence Parker 8.2pts; Eddie Lester 10.5pts.
Registration for the second qualifying round in Ventura Beach is open to the public, though spots are filling quickly. Five-member teams representing clubs or local breaks can sign up online at www.jimbeamsurftag.com. There is no entry fee and one member can register for the entire team (all team members must be listed on the registration form). All contestants must be 21 or older on competition day. Up to 16 teams will participate in each event.
Please visit www.surfline.com/jimbeamsurftag for all the latest updates and news.
About Beam Global Spirits & Wine:
Inspiring conversations around the world, Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. is building brands people want to talk about. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for our brands, including Jim Beam(R) Bourbon, Sauza(R) Tequila, Canadian Club(R) Whisky, Courvoisier(R) Cognac, Maker's Mark(R) Bourbon, Laphroaig(R) Scotch Whisky, Cruzan(R) Rum, EFFEN(R) Vodka, Larios(R) Gin, Whisky DYC(R), Teacher's(R) Scotch Whisky, DeKuyper(R) Cordials and Liqueurs and Knob Creek(R) Bourbon. Beam Global Spirits & Wine is part of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE: FO), a leading consumer brands company recently named one of the World's Most Admired Companies by Fortune magazine. For more information on Beam Global Spirits & Wine, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, visit www.beamglobal.com and www.drinksmart.com.
About IMG Sports & Entertainment
Operating in 30 countries, IMG Sports & Entertainment's diverse businesses include: product and brand licensing; consulting services; event ownership and management; collegiate marketing, media and licensing; fashion events and models representation; golf course design; and client representation in golf, tennis, broadcasting, speakers, European football, rugby, cricket, motor sports, coaching, Olympic and action sports. IMG Academies are the world's largest, multi-sport training and educational facilities, delivering world-class training experiences to more than 12,000 junior, collegiate, adult, and professional athletes each year. More information is available at www.imgworld.com.
About Global Surftag
The Jim Beam(R) Surftag(R) is Australia's premier team surfing series with World Tour surfers Mick Fanning (Kirra), Joel Parkinson (Snapper Rocks) and Taj Burrow (Yallingup) representing their local boardriding clubs. The Jim Beam(R) Surftag(R) provides a national competition for boardriding clubs to compete against each other and to determine Australia's No.1 club. The Jim Beam(R) Surftag(R) is run under the popular tag team format with each club represented by five surfers. In relay style each surfer catches three waves and then returns to the beach to tag their team's next surfer. www.globalsurftag.com.
Jim Beam(R) Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 40% Alc./Vol. (C)2009
James B. Beam Distilling Co., Clermont, KY.
