Sun Diego Claims Southwest Regional Oakley Surf Shop Challenge Title

San Diego County’s best surf shops converged on Seaside Reef last weekend to compete in the first stop of the Oakley Surf Shop Challenge. The event kicked off in pumping surf with 12 teams set to battle it out for the title of the 2017 Southwest Champions and a year’s worth of bragging rights. Sun Diego Boardshop’s Mission Beach team narrowly edged out defending champions Surf Ride of Oceanside, 33.78 to 31.87, to take the title. 

In a highly contested final, Jordy Collins of Surf Ride Oceanside whammied a solid 9.28 (out of 10), but it wasn’t quite enough to top Taylor Clark’s whammied 9.67 ride which secured Sun Diego’s first victory in the event’s history. 

The Sun Diego team will meet the rest of the regional qualifiers this fall when all seven teams convene at the National Championships to battle for the title of the Most Core Surf Shop in America.

Final Results:

1st: Sun Diego Mission Beach – 33.78 points

2nd: Surf Ride- Oceanside- 31.87 points

3rd: South Coast Surf Shop – 26.16 points

4th: Hansens – 25.47 points

5th: Surf Ride- Solana Beach- 14.7 points

The Oakley Surf Shop Challenge series heads to Paradise Beach Park in Melbourne, Florida for stop number two, the Southeast regional on April 6, 7 or 8, depending on conditions.

The 2017 Oakley Surf Shop Challenge Schedule:

·       March 24 – Southwest – Seaside Reef, Cardiff, Calif. – SUN DIEGO

·       April 6/7/8 – Southeast – Paradise Beach Park, Melbourne, Fla.

·       April 10/11/12 – Mid-Atlantic – Nags Head, Outer Banks, NC

·       April 12/1314 – Northeast – Manasquan Inlet, NJ

·       May 25/26 – Northwest – Pleasure Point, Santa Cruz, Calif.

·       June 9 – West – 54th or 56th Street – Newport Beach, Calif.

·       July 10/11 – Hawaii – Ala Moana Bowls, South Shore, Haw.

·       Fall 2017 – National Championship – TBD

For all of the latest information including photos, video footage, results and more, check out surfshopchallenge.com.

Special thanks to Oakley, SURFER and event partners, Leus, Aluminati Skateboards and FCS for their support, without which the Surf Shop Challenge series would not be possible.

About Surf Shop Challenge

Originally conceived to provide a fun and competitive format for the hardcore surf shop riders, the SURFER Shop Team Challenge was one of the most popular and exciting Southern California contests of the early 1980s.  Through the years the contest has evolved, with seven qualifying regional events around the country, culminating in a national championship in Bali, Indonesia for the first time in 2012. The underlying principles, however, have remained the same. The Oakley Surf Shop Challenge is still about giving back to the shops, the true backbone of the industry and the heart of the sport of surfing. Each year the competition level rises, the stakes become greater and the prizes become bigger.

About Oakley, Inc.

Established in 1975 and headquartered in Southern California, Oakley is one of the leading product design and sport performance brands in the world. The holder of more than 600 patents, Oakley is a culture of creators, inventors, idealists and scientists obsessed with using design and innovation to create products and experiences that inspire greatness. This philosophy has made Oakley one of the most iconic and inimitable brands on the market, with products that world-class athletes around the globe depend on to compete at the highest level possible. Oakley is known for its High Definition Optics®, which feature unparalleled optical clarity and precision along with impact resistance and UV protection, incorporated into all of the brand’s sun, prescription eyewear and premium goggles. Oakley extended its position as the world’s leading sports eyewear brand into apparel and accessories. Oakley has men’s and women’s product lines that appeal to Sports Performance, Active and Lifestyle consumers. Oakley is a subsidiary of Luxottica Group. Additional information is available at oakley.com.

About SURFER

In 1960, SURFER began as the original surf magazine. With a long history of delivering provocative and insightful editorial features, revealing interviews and award-winning, state-of-the-art photography, SURFER remains the authoritative voice of the surfing world and thus earned the moniker “the bible of the sport.” Through its website, social media channels, magazine, and television programming, SURFER continues to be the most current and reliable source of information to the surf community, reaching more than 22-million active sports enthusiasts. SURFER is published by TEN: The Enthusiast Network. To learn more, visit surfermag.com

About TEN: The Enthusiast Network

TEN: The Enthusiast Network is the world’s premier transmedia network of enthusiast brands, such as MOTOR TREND, AUTOMOBILE, HOT ROD, SURFER, TRANSWORLD SKATEBOARDING, and GRINDTV. With more than 60 websites, 50 publications, 50 annual events, the Motor Trend OnDemand subscription video-on-demand service, as well as the world’s largest automotive and action/adventure sports media platforms, TEN inspires enthusiasts to pursue their passions. For more information, visit enthusiastnetwork.com.