California may hold magical powers for ten-time world champion Kelly Slater, who won the 2010 Hurley pro and had a recent huge 2011 US Open of Surfing win; live webcast keeps audiences fixed on the action

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. - Southern California appears to have a huge case of "surf stoke" after a record-breaking U.S. Open of Surfing this summer in Huntington Beach, CA. But down the road a bit further south, at one of the world's most famous surf breaks, lies the competitive heart and soul of surfing. All previous levels of high-performance surfing are about to be shattered when the world's best surfers descend upon California's premier wave, San Onofre State Beach - Lower Trestles for the 2011 Hurley Pro.

The 2011 Hurley Pro is one of the critical ASP World Tour events on mainland U.S. shores and is where the best of the best fight for the world title and prove that surfing is one of the most competitive world sports featuring some of the finest, most talented athletes on the planet. On September 18, the elite in professional surfing will join the world's most "rippable" wave.

In the current world title race, Australian Joel Parkinson is leading South African Jordy Smith by the narrowest of margins, but ten-time world champ Kelly Slater is still very much in the hunt for what would be an unprecedented, and mind blowing, 11th world title. As in years past, the Hurley Pro typically serves as the turning point in the world title race. Win here, and athletes are propelled into the final stretch with tremendous momentum. Mick Fanning did just that in 2009 when he came from behind to take the Hurley Pro title and then, three months later, his second world title. The 32 man field will be joined by 4 wildcards (Rob Machado, Conner Coffin, Miguel Pupo, Nate Yeomans) Additional news on competitors in the field will be announced shortly.

All of the dramatic action will be captured with state-of-the-art live webcasts that give surfing fans and all sports enthusiasts a birds-eye view of the competition. Multiple camera angles and water cams will deliver competition heats along with exclusive behind-the-scenes moments. In addition, the Hurley Pro will have an official App for iPhone and iPad, bringing the live event to the palm of your hand.

Lined with cobblestones, San Onofre State Beach - Lower Trestles is California's premier point/reef break and a world-class showcase for high-performance surfing. If Pipeline is surfing's Gladiator Pit, Lower Trestles is surfing's Center Stage, the spot where the world's best continue to push the limits of what can be done on a wave. It is here where the most futuristic maneuvers in surfing are attempted and perfected. Located squarely between San Diego and Orange County, the Hurley Pro draws thousands of fans and legends, the young and the old, scions of industry and keen media members to cover every moment of action over the weeklong waiting period.

As the athletes return to Lower Trestles for the Hurley Pro, everything is on the line, including world rankings, so surfers bring their absolute best to this fierce competition. Audiences watching live or online are guaranteed a view to the new gold standard in aerials and other game-changing maneuvers. The Hurley Pro will take place September 18-24 with competition taking place five of the seven days. Last year's Hurley Pro set a historic record, offering the single largest first place and overall prize purse in ASP World Tour history; $105,000 first place prize and $400,000 overall. This year's first-place check has yet to be determined.

"California State Parks is pleased that the ASP and Hurley have chosen San Onofre State Beach - Lower Trestles to once again host the 2011 Hurley Pro, and we are eager to showcase one of the crown jewels of the State Park system with the finest professional surfers from around the world," said Rich Haydon, Acting Orange Coast District Superintendent.

"Every year, we strive to make the sport of surfing better," says Hurley VP of Sports Marketing, Pat O'Connell. "And the Hurley Pro is the perfect venue to achieve that. From the world's best surfers to the fans on the beach to the online audience, we're looking to elevate the experience across the board."

About San Onofre State Beach
San Onofre State Beach is one of the true treasures in California State Parks, providing park visitors with a place for inspiration and the renewal of spirit with its breath-taking scenery and natural features. San Onofre is the fifth most visited State Park in California, with its rare 3,000-acre scenic coastal, canyon and foothills areas, all offering outstanding opportunities for recreation and a balanced approach to sound environmental stewardship. San Onofre State Beach also contains one of the last pristine watersheds in Southern California, which makes it well suited as a home to 10 threatened or endangered species of wildlife that are currently protected under federal law. The Surf Beach and Trestles areas of San Onofre State Beach are world renowned and historical surfing beaches, offering some of the most consistent surf on the west coast.

About Hurley
"Hurley is a company based on inclusion," says chairman and founder Bob Hurley. This philosophy applied to Bob Hurley's early years as a Huntington Beach shaper, working with friends alongside the world's best athletes to make a better surfboard. It applied to the company's launch in 1999, when Hurley decided to start a brand that was a true microphone for youth. In 2002, Hurley was acquired by Nike - the largest and most influential sporting brand in the world. Inclusion remains a guiding principle of the company today, where innovative products like Phantom Boardshorts and game-changing events like the US Open of Surfing continue to redefine what is possible in our world. Hurley headquarters are in Costa Mesa, CA with international offices in Sydney, Tokyo, Barcelona and Bali. www.hurley.com

Press Resources:
www.thehurleypro.com
www.thehurleypro.com/downloads

Press contacts:
Kristen Foster, Hannah Stember
PMK*BNC
212-582-1111
Kristen.Foster@pmkbnc.com, Hannah.Stember@pmkbnc.com