OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE - ENCINITAS, CA – The Second Annual Nixon WTA will kick off  May 8 in Teahupoo, Tahiti during the third stop of the 2008 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Tour.

The Nixon WTA is a winner-take-all event which awards custom, limited edition Nixon timepieces to one person at four different stops along the ASP World Tour. Surfers on the tour will battle it out for WTA top honors and a custom Nixon 51-30 tide watch with a gunmetal finish, a custom-engraved WTA case back, and diamond baguette indices alternating with hand applied flags representing each of the four contest regions valued at over $10,000 USD.

“Year after year this event has provided some of the most memorable moments of the entire Tour,” Said Nixon Director of Marketing, Chad DiNenna. “For the Tahitian stop, we wanted to find a way to recognize the one wave that stands out above the rest for being the heaviest wave ridden. The WTA is all about giving props and taking notice.”

The first WTA watch for 2008 will be awarded in Teahupoo, Tahiti, to the surfer who takes on the heaviest wave. The subsequent three WTA challenges include: highest heat score at Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa, in July; the longest tube in Mundaka, Euskadi, in late September; and the overall Triple Crown winner on the North Shore of Oahu in December.

Video content of each of the WTA stops and winners will be available to view on billabongpro.com

2007 Nixon WTA Winners
Manoa Drollet for heaviest wave at Teahupoo, Tahiti
Kelly Slater for highest heat score at Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa
Bobby Martinez for longest tube at Mundaka, Spain
Bede Durbidge for Vans Triple Crown overall winner, North Shore, Ohau

About Nixon
Founded in 1997 in Encinitas, CA, Nixon is the premium accessories company for the youth lifestyle market. Focused on making the little stuff better, Nixon’s line of watches and accessories can be found globally in specialty surf, skate, snow and fashion retailers.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE - According to a release posted Wednesday, April 30, on MSN NEWS Money Central: Volcom, Inc. VLCM announced today that total consolidated revenues for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008, increased 58.5% to $80.6 million, compared with $50.8 million in the first quarter of 2007.

“It has been an exciting start to the year with our first quarter exceeding our expectations in nearly all aspects of our business,” said Richard Woolcott, Volcom’s president and chief executive officer. “Given the current slow retail environment, we believe these results are a reflection of the power of the brand and our team’s relentless effort to maximize our opportunities in the U.S. and abroad.”

In the 2008 first quarter, gross profit as a percentage of total revenues on a consolidated basis was 52.4%, compared with 52.0% in the first quarter of 2007.

Operating income for the first quarter of 2008 increased 78.6% to $14.4 million, compared with $8.1 million for the first quarter of 2007. Operating margin for the first quarter of 2008 was 17.9%, compared with 15.9% in the first quarter of 2007.

Net income for the first quarter of 2008 increased 70.4% to $9.3 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, compared with $5.5 million, or $0.22 per diluted share for the first quarter of 2007.

2008 Financial Outlook

In casting its financial outlook for the second quarter and the full year, Volcom noted a continued overall soft retail environment. Additionally, the company said the strong consolidated results in the first quarter reflected, in part, a shift in planned product shipments from the 2008 second quarter to the first quarter. As such, for the current second quarter, the company anticipates total consolidated revenues of approximately $69 million to $70 million, representing an increase of approximately 20% to 21%. Fully diluted earnings per share are expected to be in the range of $0.16 to $0.17.

For the full year of 2008, Volcom has increased its financial outlook and now expects consolidated revenue of between $343 million to $347 million, from previously issued guidance of between $339 million to $344 million. This estimate includes the financial contribution from the acquisition of Electric Visual Evolution in January 2008, as well as a full year’s contribution from the company’s European operation, which was up and running at full capacity in the third quarter of 2007. Earnings per diluted share are expected to be in the range of $1.56 to $1.59, an increase from the previously issued guidance or between $1.50 and $1.53

The company will host a conference call today at approximately 4:30 p.m. EDT to discuss its financial results and outlook in further detail. The conference call will be available to interested parties through a live audio Internet broadcast at www.volcom.com.

Volcom is an innovative designer, marketer and distributor of premium quality young men’s and women’s clothing, accessories and related products. The Volcom brand, symbolized by The Stone, is athlete-driven, creative and forward thinking. Volcom has consistently followed its motto of “youth against establishment,” and the brand is inspired by the energy of youth culture. Volcom branded products are sold throughout the United States and internationally. Volcom’s news announcements and SEC filings are available through the company’s website at www.volcom.com.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE - Sorry guys, Celia Miller is officially off the outerwear market - BETTY rides has signed her to contract!  We are so excited to make this announcement as Celia is not only one of the nicest and cutest girls in snowboarding, she is also coming off a season of seriously slaying IT!

Most recently Celia was one of six pro riders invited to Whistler Blackcomb’s “If Ullr Was a Girl” competition.  Earlier this month she was at June Mountain for Ms. Superpark, where her hand-plant shot not only makes the impossible look easier than slicing bread, but also got props from the hard to please, expert eyes, of Pat Bridges (Snowboarder Mag).

This season has also seen Celia throughout Colorado, Whistler, Vegas and Mammoth.  When we caught up with her she was on her way down to Denver to skate the city park, and will be out to Mt. Hood this summer to coach the campers at Windell’s.

Her advice to other girls trying this whole pro snowboarder thing? “Don’t give up and take it one step at a time…start with the 180.”

Celia also rides for Never Summer boards, Pow Gloves, Smith Optics, and Broadcast Snowboard Shop.  This girl has some big things poppin’, fo’ sho’.

We welcome Celia to the team with all our support and warn you to watch out for her. She is a slayer!

PRESS RELEASE - Oceanside, Calif.–April 30, 2008–Four teams of four surfers will compete in a 10-day Cannonball Run style scavenger hunt spanning from San Diego to Santa Cruz in the First Annual Transworld SURF Cali Rally. Teams from Hurley, Lost, Volcom, and Billabong will travel up the coast with a photographer, videographer, team manager challenging themselves to win points by performing the most outrageous and creative stunts that the minds at Transworld SURF could come up with.

The Cali Rally begins on July 10 in San Diego at the Pacific Beach Pier where the teams will receive their Cali Rally challenge and rule book outlining the first leg of their journey. Then teams will battle at the first of four mandatory “Checkpoint Challenges” where sponsors including Hurley, Billabong, Volcom, Lost, Pacsun, Nixon and Sector 9 have helped to come up with some imaginative ways for each team to win their way to the next region.

In addition to each Checkpoint Challenge, teams will have to go through a battery of overall and regional challenges ranging from getting a team tattoo to surfing dressed as a pirate at Buccaneer Beach to riding a team wave or getting a tandem barrel and much, much more. Each challenge will be assigned a point value and the team with the most points at the end will win the title of the first ever Transworld SURF Cali Rally champion. The contest will culminate at the Cali Rally ender party on Thursday, July 24 during the US Open of Surfing (location TBD).

“I’m really looking forward to some serious mayhem, madness, destruction, love, and fun during the first ever Cali Rally,” says Editor in Chief Chris Cote. “I don’t think the teams know what they’re in for, and I know that the state of California has no idea what’s about to happen—fasten your seatbelts, the Cali Rally is gonna be awesome!”

“The Cali Rally is something different and fun that includes our two favorite things; surfing and friends,” said Chad DiNenna, Director of Marketing for Nixon. “Any chance to step outside the box on one of TW’s hair brained ideas of an event feels like the right thing to do and Nixon is stoked to be a part of it.”

For more about the Transworld SURF’s Cali Rally including photos, videos, and live blogs from the road, please visit www.transworldsurf.com/calirally. For a complete look at debauchery that is the Cali Rally, pick up a copy of Transworld SURF magazine.

Since its inception in 1999, Transworld SURF has become the embodiment of youth, progression and innovation. Through its print and online properties, Transworld SURF is the fastest growing surf media company in the industry. Found online at Transworldsurf.com, Transworld SURF is based in Oceanside, California and published monthly by the Bonnier Corporation.

Transworld is a division of the Bonnier Corporation. Bonnier Corporation (www.bonniercorp.com) is one of the largest consumer-publishing groups in America and the leading media company serving passionate, highly engaged audiences through more than 40 special-interest magazines and related multimedia projects and events.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE - SAN CLEMENTE, California (Wednesday, April 30, 2008) – Day 2 of the 6.0 Lowers Pro has commenced with competitors hitting the contestable two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves at Lower Trestles this morning for the remaining seven heats of Round 2 before moving into Round 3.

The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 4-Star event enjoyed a full day of competition yesterday, with standouts Shane Beschen (San Clemente, CA), Jason Collins (Santa Cruz, CA), Zach Keenan (Cardiff, CA) all ripping into the famed Lowers walls.

Today’s action promises much of the same with competition aiming to complete both Rounds 2 and 3 as well as the first two heats of Round 4. For a list of Round 2 match-ups and for updated results, visit Transworld SURF. For results and an overview of Day 1, click HERE.

All 6.0 Lowers Pro action is being webcast LIVE via the Nike Web site. For more information, log onto the ASP World Tour site.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE - Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 29 April, 2008 : - - San Clemente — The 6.0 Lowers Pro commenced competition this morning in clean two-to-three foot surf at Lower Trestles, California and Day 1 saw the famed cobblestone pointbreak play host to some of the most dynamic surfing of the season. The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 4-Star event completed the opening round of competition today as well as the first nine heats of Round 2.

Shane Beschen (San Clemente, CA), a four-time past champion of the ASP WQS event at Lower Trestles (1992, 1993, 1996, 2004) and former world runner-up on the ASP World Tour, proved why he is the man to beat at the venue, posting a solid 14.33 out of a possible 20 to advance through to Round 3.

“I’m just going out and having fun and want to keep making heats,” Beschen said. “It looks like some swell is on the forecast too, and I’m looking forward to a good event.” Jason Collins (Santa Cruz, CA) was another standout surfer today, amassing an impressive 17.16 points out of a possible 20 in his Round 1 heat before advancing through to Round 3 (behind Beschen) this afternoon.

“The waves are pretty good today – better than I thought they would be as I thought it would be flat,” Collins said. “I’m riding a Stretch epoxy and it seemed to be working really well today so hopefully I can keep getting a couple of good waves each heat and have a good event.”

Zach Keenan (Cardiff, CA), a veteran campaigner on the ASP WQS, put his years of competitive experience to use today, winning both his Round 1 and Round 2 heats. Keenan dropped an impressive single wave score of a 9.17 out of a possible 10 for a series of blistering rail gouges and will look to the generated momentum to his advantage in Round 3.

“I usually have a better seed, but I only did a couple of contests last year,” Keenan said.  “I definitely think it’s important to get into a rhythm early on in an event, especially at a wave like Lowers.  It helps to get into a groove in the earlier rounds to get your form up.  That way you’re able to continue that rhythm in the later rounds when it really matters.”

Kyle Ramey (Poipu Beach, HAW), utilizing his progressive blend of new school wizardry, smashed his Round 2 heat choosing the clean Lowers righthanders to unleash his impressive forehand attack. “I’m feeling pretty good, my boards are going good, and the surf is a lot bigger than it has been,” Ramey said. “I’m just going to try to get good waves, go big, do some big turns, and get some good scores in the rest of the event.”

Brent Dorrington (Coolangatta, AUS), last season’s Oakley Pro Junior at Lowers Champion, has graduated from the ASP Pro Junior Series onto the ASP WQS, and proved he is ready for the challenge, dominating his Round 1 heat today.

“I’m feeling good and I’ve got a few good boards right now, so I’m stoked,” Dorrington said. “I really like this wave, and I got a couple of good ones today. I’m just looking to go heat by heat to try and advance through the next rounds.” With Dorrington now competing exclusively on the ASP WQS, a new champion will be crowned in this season’s ASP Grade-2 Oakley Pro Junior, which begins competition on Friday, May 2, 2008.

In addition to the importance of helping surfers qualify for the prestigious ASP World Tour, the 6.0 Lowers Pro also kick starts the 2008 Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series (an ASP North America Specialty Series).  The event at Lowers will see all three past Trifecta Champions in Asher Nolan (Jacksonville Beach, FL), Nathan Yeomans (San Clemente, CA) and Adam Virs (Ventura, CA) all donning competition jerseys in the coming days so the Surf Series is looking at an explosive start.

The ASP WQS 4-Star 6.0 Lowers Pro will recommence tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. with Heat 10 of Round 2. In addition to title sponsor Nike 6.0, the 6.0 Lowers Pro is happy to have support from Red Bull, Oakley, SURFER, SURFING, WaveWatch and FUEL TV.

All 6.0 Lowers Pro action is being webcast LIVE via www.nike6lowerspro.com

WaveWatch.com Forecast for Wed., April 30: Wednesday will be another challenging surf day…the mix of onshore winds and bumpy conditions will continue as strong gusts in the outer waters keep the coastal eddy spinning over the inner waters. Surfwise it will be a mix of WNW windswell and leftover S-SW swell through most of the morning.

Expect waist-chest high surf on most of the average waves while the standout sets see some shoulder high+ sets. Conditions will start out a bit sloppier than Tuesday. Look for S winds around 10 knots through the morning.

Those winds shift SW and increase to 10-15 knots by lunchtime and eventually top out around 15-20 knots by the afternoon. There is one piece of good forecast news though…New long-period SW swell (200-220) starts to arrive late in the day, showing mostly on the buoys at first, and then will start to fill in more on Thursday…eventually peaking Friday and into Saturday, (right as the conditions start to improve.)

For a full list of results, visit Transworld SURF Stay tuned to Transworld for more updates throughout the contest.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE -
When: 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 20th
Where: Duke’s Huntington Beach
Directions can be found HERE.
Happenings: Please join us for a special luncheon as we send off the top junior surfers in the nation.

The following athletes - listed by division and in order of seed - will travel to France to compete in the 2008 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships in Hossegor, France from May 24 – June 1.

Under 18 Boys:
Nat Young
Dillon Perillo
Dane Zaun
Chase Wilson
1st Alternate: Quinn McCrystal

Under 16 Boys:
Andrew Doheny
Conner Coffin
Kolohe Andino
Luke Davis
1st Alternate: Nathan Carvalho

Under 18 Girls:
Courtney Conlogue
Sage Erickson
Amy Nicholl
Demi Boelsterli
1st Alternate: Kaleigh Gilchrist
Additional alternates include Chase Brady, Taylor Thorne, Sara Taylor, and Keenan Lineback.

Jack’s Surfboards adds Eric Geiselman, Evan Geiselman, Bruno Rodrigues, Jared Thorne and Taylor Thorne to its surf team.

They will join the current Jack’s Surfboards team roster with Timmy Reyes, Pat Gudauskas, Dane Gudauskas, Tanner Gudauskas, Shaun Ward, Dane Ward, John John Florence, Nathan Florence, Ivan Florence, Jesse Evans, Alex Knost, Erica Hosseini, Abdel Elharim, Ford Archbold and Brighton Brandenburger.

Eric Geiselman from New Smyrna Beach, Florida was the 2006 ASP Pro Jr Tour Champion and won the 2007 Surfer Poll Award for Most Radical Manuever with his video part in All In the Family.

Evan Geiselman from New Smyrna Beach, Fla., is a member of the USA Surf Team and has 12 NSSA East Coast titles.

Bruno Rodrigues originally from Brazil now living in Huntington Beach, Calif., was the winner of the Ezekiel Pro Jr in March 2008.

Taylor Thorne from Newport Beach, Calif., is a member of the USA Surf Team and is currently ranked #1 in the NSSA Southwest Open Juniors.

Jared Thorne from Newport Beach, Calif., is a member of the USA Surf Team and is currently ranked #4 in the NSSA Southwest Open Juniors.

Welcome to the team!