COOLANGATTA, QLD/AUS (Wednesday, July 4, 2012) ? An international field of longboard surfers will be vying for $20,000 prize-money and the prestigious ASP 3-Star “Be Kind, Be Calm, Keep Smiling Whalebone Classic” title at Iso’s Reef at Cottesloe from July 14th.
Reigning ASP World Longboard Champion Taylor Jensen from California will be returning to defend the Whalebone Classic title that he won last year. Jensen will spearhead the challenge from the international competitors alongside New Zealand Open Champion Thomas Kibblewhite and Italy’s Armando Colucci.
The Australian competitors are banding together to ensure the title and the majority of the prize-money stays on home soil. Led by past winners Ben Proudfoot and Jock Bahen both from WA, the Australian assault will also feature 2010 ASP World Longboard Champion Harley Ingleby (NSW), 17-year-old Nic Jones (Qld), world number 14 Jared Neal (NSW) and Ben Dickens also from NSW.
“The Whalebone is looking like it’s going to be extra tough this year,” Ingleby said. “It can be a hard break to read and the local WA guys are all over it. Plus being stepped up to an ASP 3-Star rating means it will be harder than usual with a stronger International field going as well. It’s always a really fun weekend over at the Whalebone, so I’m looking forward to it.”
The Women’s division is equally impressive with Hawaii’s Miku Uemura and New Zealand’s Wini Paul the pick of the internationals. Defending women’s champion Georgia Young (WA) will be looking to repeat last year’s result, but will meet stiff opposition from last year’s runner-up Nava Young (NSW) and 2010 women’s champion Rosie Locke from Qld.
“It’s great to have a competition in WA, I love it over there,” Nava Young said. “The people are great and they really look after us East Coasters. I’m just hoping to get some fun waves. I came second last year and it was great, but competition is always tough so you never know what’s going to happen, it’s just great to be surrounded by people who are stoked on longboarding.”
As well as the ASP Longboard Qualifying Series event there will be a range of amateur divisions for the whole family to enjoy as well as an exhibition of surfing lifestyle products and services.
About the Whalebone Classic
The Whalebone Classic is one of the premier events in the Australian professional longboard community. Staged annually at Iso’s Reef at Cottesloe nearly 200 longboard surfers and their supporters are expected to converge for another gathering of the tribes on July 14th & 15th July 2012. Now into its 15th year, the Whalebone has always attracted some of the countries best longboarders.
Location: Cottesloe, WA
Date: Sat 14 Jul 2012 to Sun 15 Jul 2012
