Ocean Beach San iego to welcome Women¹s World Longboard Championships

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 6 September, 2005 : - - San Diego, CA - The 7th Annual Women¹s World Longboard Championships will be held at San Diego¹s Ocean Beach Pier on October 21-23, 2005. This year's event marks a unique achievement in the history of women's longboard surfing.

The event has traditionally been run by Hank Raymond and Richard Allred of Toes On The Nose. This year, surf legend Linda Benson will be organizing and running the World Championships. She is assisted and supported by women longboarders around the globe. This is the first world longboard surfing championships run by women, for women.

"Hank Raymond asked me to take over the Women's World Longboard Championships beginning this year. He thought it would be best for the future of women's longboard competition," explains Benson. "Although the trademark is now in my name, it belongs to the women longboard competitors. And, in time it will be passed on to the next person so they can continue to refine, enhance and achieve the women¹s goals for the future. I am really excited about some new possibilities and the future of women's longboard competition. It has long been my goal, for the Women¹s World Longboard Championship to stand professionally on its own. Now it¹s going to happen!"

Ocean Beach, home of the '66 and '72 world championships, is thrilled and very excited to host this historical event for the women. "San Diego looks forward to hosting the Women's World Longboard Championships in October," says San Diego Council Member Donna Frye. "This is a tremendous opportunity for us to show the world our beautiful city and showcase the California lifestyle - sun, sand, surf and the aloha spirit."

A women's Junior Amateur Division (17 and under) and a women's Masters Division (45 and up) have been added to the traditional women's Open Professional Division. The return of the World Championships to San Diego presents a tremendous opportunity for media support. Our goal is to have a record purse. The 7th Annual Women¹s World Longboard Championships, with major markets including Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego, will be supported by regional, national and international TV; print and broadcast campaigns; online and radio promotions; on-site exposure and initiatives; POP; and a direct mail component. Various levels of sponsorship are still available. For more information about the event, please visit the event web-site at: www.womensworldlongboardchampionships.com

About Linda Benson
World Champion, 5 time U.S. Champion, Huntington Beach Walk of Fame, International Surfing Hall of Fame.
In 1959, at the age of 15, Linda won the women¹s division at the Makaha International Championships. A world champion and five time U.S. champion, Benson was also the first female to surf Waimea Bay. In 1963, at the age of 18, Linda was one of the best-known young women in surfing. Surfing among women really became popular with the arrival of the Hollywood movies, like Gidget Goes Hawaiian. Linda performed the surfing action sequences for Gidget Goes Hawaiian, and the Beach Party movies (as Annette's double). She continues to surf as well as participate in fundraisers and exhibitions. She currently runs SurfHer surf school in Encinitas, California.

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Jeannette Prince

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