| Jesus Pro Am celebrates 25th year in Manly Beach |
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| Friday, 24 April 2009 15:40 |
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The Jesus Pro Am presented by Bible Society and Coastalwatch will celebrate its 25th year in style when it returns to the iconic Manly Beach on May 2 and 3. The Christian Surfers Australia (CSA) run event is shrouded in history with previous winners including current ASP World Tour surfers Phil McDonald and Amee Donohoe, big wave charger Mark Matthews and old school rippers Simon Law, Rob Page and Matt Cattle. The Jesus Pro Am always attracts a strong line up of surfers across the 4 divisions and 2009 should be no exception with serious cash and prizes on the line set to attract NSW’s best male and female surfers. The Open Men’s and Women’s winners will both walk away with $1000 cash with a 7-day Line Up surf trip to Samoa exclusively for the Men and a luxurious weekend away to Salamander Shores Resort at Salamander Bay for the Women. The Cadet Boys and Girls will battle it out for their share in $500 cash along with a Misfit Shapes Surfboard for the Boys and MG Surfboard for the Girls division winner. But the action won’t stop with the regulation contest heats, with 12 of the best surfers in the event being handpicked to take to the skies in the Invitational Air Show. The 20 minute extravaganza will see surfers go all out in their quest to land the most innovative aerial maneuver to take home $500 cash! While the surfing is certain to be red hot all weekend, the Jesus Pro Am is no ordinary surfing contest. It is a major outreach tool aimed at connecting elite surfers and the wider surfing community with CSA and ultimately the Gospel of Jesus. “Christian Surfers’ major goal is to be a Christian presence and witness in the Australian surfing community” said Christian Surfers’ Central NSW Regional Coordinator Al Westbury. “The Jesus Pro Am is a major outreach tool for elite surfers – surfers who are focused on competition and who aren’t generally connected with Christian Surfers missions along the coast.” “Our major aim is to run a professional surfing event that engages elite surfers into continuing contact with Christian Surfers’ missions & ultimately local churches,” continued Westbury. While 2009 heralds the event’s 25th year it will also see the establishment of a 3-event series following a partnership with Bible Society NSW as part of their Jesus, All About Life campaign. The Jesus Pro Am Series will see the event travel to Coffs Harbour in August and at Wollongong in November, with plans for further events around Australia in 2010. “We are very excited to be partnering with Bible Society NSW and the Jesus, All About life campaign,” said Westbury. “To establish a 3-event Jesus Pro Am Series will not only provide more opportunities for surfers to compete in the events, but more importantly introduce more surfers to the Gospel and person of Jesus.” The Jesus Pro Am is renowned for being a professionally run event that still maintains a great family atmosphere with outstanding hospitality provided by a dedicated catering team made up of people from several local churches. Additionally, the event will see Christian Surfers continue to partner with local charity Manly-Manado join forces to raise awareness and funds for the people of Manado, a village in Indonesia. Manly-Manado aims to educate, enable and unite residents in and around Manly to make a difference in the lives of people less fortunate living in Manado. Website: Event Contact: Al Westbury
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