| Evan Geiselman and Kaleigh Gilchrist are 2010 Surfing America U18 champions |
| Tuesday, 29 June 2010 09:32 |
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The 2010 Surfing America USA Championships came to a dramatic close today in firing surf at Lower Trestles in San Clemente, CA. Champions were crowned today in a total of nine shortboard divisions. The Boys U16 and U18 as well as the Girls U18 heats had been particularly competitive all week long with former and reigning Champions looking to reclaim the glory among fresh talent striving to stake a claim of their own. Attempting to defend both, his 2009 Boys U16 and U18 USA Championship Titles, was Kolohe Andino. He dominated all week long taking first in all, but one of his heats. However, today after surfing two back-to-back heats in both, the semis and the finals, he walks away Champion of the Surfing America USA Boys U16 Division. After advancing through his Boys U18 Semi-Final heat with an interference deduction, Evan Geiselman trailed Andino by fractions of a point throughout the first half of their Boys U18 Final. Geiselman ultimately upset Andino’s quest for repeat double championship titles and captured the 2010 Boys U18 Championship Title with a remarkable display of power surfing and technique. “Good job to Evan,” says Kolohe about the result. “I was stoked to be a part of it.” “I was sweating [the semi-final], but I pulled it off and I’m stoked,” said Evan Geiselman. “I always love surfing Lowers with only three guys out.” Similarly, defending Girls U18 Champion, Kaleigh Gilchrist, peaked at the right moment to take the Girls U18 Surfing America USA Championship Title for the second year in a row after spending the better part of the week under the radar; taking it one heat at a time. “I was just getting mediocre scores to get by,” admits Kaleigh. “Luckily, everything turned on for the finals.” Turn on they did. Kaleigh, dominated her Girls U18 heat dropping two strong scores right off the bat and leaving standouts Courtney Conlogue, Lakey Peterson and Nage Melamed attempting to chase her down. “I’m speechless I’m so stoked right now!” smiles Kaleigh. “Defending [my Surfing America USA Championship] Title was a huge goal of mine. This is the best month ever: graduation, this and then Indo next month!” Victory today not only earned surfers a USA Championship Title, but the top two surfers in the Boys U16 and U18 and Girls U18 divisions surfed their way onto the 2011 PacSun Surf Team. The additional three slots are filled by the Surfing America’s Selection Committee. These selections will be announced later this evening at The Dick Baker Memorial Awards Banquet to be held at the Casino in San Clemente. Additionally, the winners of the Boys and Girls U18 divisions were awarded the 10th Annual California State Parks Governor’s Cup Award which ran concurrently with the 2010 Surfing America USA Championships. Providing the perfect close to a week of progressive surfing was the Challenged Athletes Division. The passion and dedication of each of the participating athletes: John Davis, Patrick Ivison, Dana Cummings, Mark Thorton, Ryan Levinson and Barney Miller, was inspiring. Log onto surfingamericalive.com for complete results, daily highlight videos, photos and more. Webcast and event sponsors such as Verizon, Billabong, Hurley, O’Neill, Vans, New Era, Gidget, Got Milk and Kicker as well as media partners SURFER, SURFING, Fuel TV, Transworld SURF, ESM and official event forecaster, Surfline.com, are instrumental to the execution and dissemination of this event. Their support is greatly appreciated. RESULTS: Boys U12: Semi-Finals Boys U14: Semi-Finals Boys U16: Semi-Final Boys U18: Semi-Finals Boys U12: Finals Boys U14: Finals Boys U16: Finals Boys U18: Finals Girls U14: Semi-Finals Girls U16: Semi-Finals Girls U12: Finals Girls U14: Finals Girls U16: Finals Girls U18: Finals
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