10.31.07
STEPH BRIDGE WORLD CHAMPION 2007
Steph Bridge is currently the PKRA women's world course race champion. We hope Steph will be able to retain the title this year as it is quite something to say we sponsor a world champion!

03.31.08
XCEL NOMINATED FOR SIMA WETSUIT OF THE YEAR 2008
Xcel has been nominated for SIMA's 2008 Wetsuit of the Year for its revolutionary Infiniti Drylock system.

Wetsuit of the Year is one accolade of the 2008 SIMA (Surf Industry Manufacturer's Association) Image Awards program, and is awarded to the wetsuit retailed in 2007 that featured the most exciting design, appeal, or innovation. The winner will be announced during the SIMA Surf Summit 11 (Cabo San Lucas, Mexico), May 14 - 17, 2008.

"We're very proud to have the Infiniti Drylock system nominated by our industry peers," says Xcel president Ed D'Ascoli. "The Infiniti Drylock is the next evolution of the Infiniti series that won us this award last year. It's incredibly exciting to have the Drylock be recognized in the very first year it hit retail."

The Infiniti Drylock system features a 100% waterproof Drylock zipper as part of Xcel's X-ZIP 2 entry system, making it the most watertight, flexible wetsuit on the market today.

SIMA Image Awards nominations were determined by a panel of industry experts, who reviewed and voted upon the entries received for consideration from regular SIMA members. Final winners are currently being determined by a final round of voting open to all SIMA member companies and specialty retailers.

03.27.08
XCELS BEDE DURBRIDGE TAKES 2ND AT RIP CURL PRO
Congratulations to Xcel team rider Bede Durbidge, taking second in yesterday's finals of the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach (Australia).

A recent, exciting addition to the Xcel team, Durbidge's finish secured his current second-place standing in the ASP WCT ratings, just behind event winner and 8-time world champion Kelly Slater. Coming into this year's tour after a fifth-place finish in 2007 - including the 2007 Triple Crown title - Durbidge continues to solidify his position as a clear contender for the 2008 world title.

"We're so excited for Bede and are stoked to be supporting him on his quest for the world title," says Xcel president Ed D'Ascoli. "Bede’s incredible talent, combined with a clear focus is on his surfing, are key to results like these at Bells Beach. We're glad to welcome him to our team and to be a part of the ride."

(Did we mention Durbidge did it all in his Infiniti X-ZIP in the finals?)

"I've just been getting through heats and I've been going all the way to the end, so it's been going pretty good for me," Durbidge told the ASP in humble fashion.

The final heat saw Durbidge and Slater separated by less than half a point in final wave scores. Durbidge led Slater for 27 of the 30 minutes in that final. "I thought Bede had me," Slater added. "There are murmurs of Bede being a world title contender and I would say he’s up to that challenge."

"Bede stopped me in my tracks," added Bobby Martinez on his elimination by Bede in their semifinal matchup.

Watch for Durbidge on the WCT's next top May 8 - 18 in Teahupoo, Tahiti.

04.17.08
MAGIC SEAWEED!
Visit the online surfstore for our products and the best link ever to find out surf conditions and forecasting.

www.magicseaweed.com