Surfrider Foundation's 9th Annual Clean Water Classic

The 2010 Classic will include over 100 contestants from Washington, Oregon and British Columbia, covering all ages and levels with divisions for pro/am, men, masters, women, juniors and kids.

Courtesy: philippebishop.com

(WESTPORT, Wash.) - Over the weekend of May 14-16, Westport, WA will welcome back the Surfrider Foundation for this year’s 9th annual Clean Water Classic—the longest running surf contest in the Pacific Northwest.

The event is a benefit for the Pacific Northwest chapters of the Surfrider Foundation and was awarded the national Chapter Event of the Year in 2008.

The Classic is proud to announce Global Surf Industries (GSI) as the returning title sponsor for 2010. GSI President, Mark Kelly, says, “Our company mantra – Life is better when you surf – is one of the most powerful statements there is about the surfing lifestyle.

To us, as surfers, we are more aware of the issues that face the environment, especially the coastal environment, because we are in it on a daily basis. If we do not help to look after this resource, then we can potentially lose our playground.

Water quality, beach erosion and beach access are all vital. For GSI, we see Surfrider as a great partner in fighting the fight to keep our asset strong and pure.”

Surfrider Foundation has more than 12 chapters in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia and proceeds from the Clean Water Classic directly fund these local chapters for a variety of campaigns and programs.

Surfrider Foundation’s Washington Field Manager, Shannon Serrano, comments, “Many chapters in Washington were able to fund in 2009, Rise Above Plastics campaigns, Respect the Beach youth outreach projects and surf camps in La Push and Hobuck. They started and expanded Blue Water Task Force water quality monitoring and many others.”

The 2010 Classic will include over 100 contestants from Washington, Oregon and British Columbia, covering all ages and levels with divisions for pro/am, men, masters, women, juniors and kids. The contest will be held at the jetty at Westhaven State Park.

The weekend-long event will include a silent auction and an after-party with entertainment by Portland band and masters of world twang: TapWater. For more information visit the Web site: surfrider.org/cleanwaterclassic.