The MSA Classic Invitational has new champions as of today. Congratulations to the Windansea Surf Club (WSC, LA Jolla, CA). More information below.<\/p>\n
WINDANSEA SURF CLUB CLAIMS MSA CLASSIC INVITATIONAL CROWN<\/strong><\/p>\n Malibu, California. September 10, 2012 – You knew it was coming. For the first time since 1996 the Windansea Surf Club (WSC, La Jolla, CA) captured first place in the MSA Classic Invitational surfing contest hosted by the Malibu Surfing Association (MSA) at famed First Point.<\/p>\n The overall win is WSC’s fifth of the year and completes a double of the two Malibu-hosted events. WSC’s 2012 crown represents only the third time in the past ten years MSA didn’t win its home contest.<\/p>\n Said John Hinkle, MSA President, “Windansea won here in ’63 and again in ’96. Winning in 2012? I’d say they’re comfortably ahead of schedule. In all seriousness, we congratulate our good friends of Windansea and thank them for their team’s quality and spirit. We look forward to competing to have MSA’s name on the Team Overall Award next year.”<\/p>\n Sunday’s final heats saw a dying swell which placed a premium on strategy, in-form surfing, and patience. Three surfers from both Windansea Surf Club and the Hawai’i Longboard Association (HLA) captured individual championships. From WSC: Harrison Roach (M 20-29), Ron McLoud (M 70+), and Miranda Joseph (W 35-49). From HLA: Honolua Bloomfield (W 13U), Paul Smith (M 50-59), and Neal Norris (M 60-69).<\/p>\n With good waves starting the Invitational on Friday, Malibu saw one event return to its beaches and the introduction of another. Together with Deus Ex Machina, MSA hosted the Malibu Noseriding Open, the first noseriding-only event at First Point in over 7 years. Scoring points for hang fives and double points for hang tens, heat winners consistently clocked over 60 seconds of tip time across Malibu’s famed First Point walls. In a final of 4 noseriding masters, Australia’s Harrison Roach (69.58 seconds) took first, CJ Nelson (CA) second, Tony Silvagni (CA) third, and Kevin Connelly (CA) fourth. MSA also paired with HippyTree to bring the emerging team-based format – the Malibu Longboard Tag – to the MSA Classic Invitational. While it may have been difficult to convince surfers to exit perfect waves to tag their teammate, the Virginia Longboard Federation did it better than everyone else and won the inaugural event.<\/p>\n On Saturday, MSA welcomed the humanitarian orgzanization SurfAid International for the SurfAid Cup Malibu. Based on the enormous success of the BlackBerry SurfAid Cup events in Australia in Sydney and Margaret River, the tag-team SurfAid Cup Malibu fundraiser was blessed with good waves, world champions, and luminaries of the surfing community. Participants and supporters of the SurfAid Cup Malibu included: shaper\/surfer Simon Anderson (AU), WCT professional Said Hinkle, “We deeply appreciate the great distances, sacrifices, and considerable expenses competitors assume when participating in the MSA Classic Invitational. We thank them — as we thank our staff, guests, partners, and partner agencies. It’s a privilege to produce this event.”<\/p>\n Major support for the 2012 MSA Classic was provided by: Levi’s(r) Malibu, Deus Ex Machina, Foam Symmetry, SurfAid International, Bing Surfboards, Alpinestars, Solspot, Spartos Protein Water, Clif Bar, HippyTree, Matunas Wax, Adventure Sports Tours, Whole Foods Market Santa Monica, California State Parks Foundation, and California State Parks.<\/p>\n
\nCourtney Conlogue (CA), and world champions Tom Curren (3x, CA), Jennifer Smith (2x, CA), Joel Tudor (2x, CA), and Lisa Andersen (4x, CA). An initial estimate tallied more than $50,000 raised toward building stronger communities in the Mentawai, Nias, Telos and Banyak Islands, off Sumatra, Indonesia.<\/p>\n