For Immediate Release: February 15, 2007
APT World Tour Tow-In Surfing Circuit
Association of Professional Towsurfers (APT)
Haleiwa, North Shore Oahu, HI – February 15, 2007
$25,000.00 Purse

APT officials and the event directors for the Bank of Hawaii North Shore Tow-In Surfing Championship presented by Buttons Hawaii and Towsurfer.com, kicked the tour into gear today in high performance surf conditions at Puuena Point. Surf ranged in the 12 to the 18-foot range, some 30-foot faces Hawaiian Style.

The hustle began at 6 in the morning. The harbor was jumping with contestants readying their jet-skis and equipment. From the get go the air was tense and the action hot. Teams were pulling off 360 loops high above the spindrift. Team Dustin Barca and Sion Milosky pulled a 720 to wow the crowd but later failed to advance out of the semis. High scores were the call of the morning with a slight drop in surf, a bit of wind then a beautiful pick up of swell and glassy conditions in the early afternoon. “We are all professional so surfing the changing conditions is part of it. It was a great day of towing”, said Makua Kai Rothman. Surf cleaned up to 15 feet High Surf Warning style, some big 20-30 foot faces!

In the final it was a tube-riding exhibition in excellent Puaena Point waves. Makua Rothman and Ikaika Kalama took the lead with a perfect ten ride on a long point section as team Carlos Burle and Eraldo Gueiros pulled into a potentially high scoring wave but had to squeak it out the bottom for a lower score. It was the Hawaiian’s taking it with a strong performance all the way with the highest heat score total of the day. “This is for the Hawaiians”, Exclaimed Makua Kai Rothman. “We are so stoked, we did our best and it paid off.” The Tow Champions won $9,300.00 for their efforts!

“It was a great battle of big wave gladiators, with a super competitive final.” Said, Rodney Kilborn, APT Vice President and event sanctioning director. “It was a long day with a lot of challenges and great surf. We are happy to have the first event of the tour and we are looking forward to the future of professional tow-surfing.” Said Eric Akiskalian, Apt Founder and President.

The call to hold this event was made by the competitors, event directors and APT officials. Everyone wanted to get the tour started and they were all concerned about how late in the season is was already getting.

Heat results:

QUARTERS:
#1 Jamie Sterling/Wedell Wall 20.35
Chuck Patterson/Scott Chandler 13.25
#2 Ikaika Kalama/Makua Rothman 23.5
Grant Baker/Greg Long 19.25
#3 Carlos Burle/Eraldo Gueiros 25.25
Garrett McNamara/Kealii Mamala 20.4
#4 Dustin Barca/Sion Milosky 23.5
Mike parsons/Brock Little 16.6

SEMI FINAL:
#1 Jamie Sterling/Wedell Wall 19.5
Ikaika Kalama/Makua Kai Rothman 24.75
#2 Carlos Burle/Eraldo Gueiros 22.6
Dustin Barca/Sion Milosky 19.85

FINAL:
Makua Kai Rothman/Ikaika Kalama 27    $9,300.00
Carlos Burle/Eraldo Gueiros 20.9    $5,000.00

FINAL RESULTS
The following teams will be automatically seeded in the Mexico and Chile Events.

1st- Makua Kai Rothman/Ikaika Kalama - $9,300.00
2nd- Carlos Burle/Eraldo Gueiros – 5,000.00
3rd- Dustin Barca/Sion Milosky - $2,500.00
4th- Jamie Sterling/Wedell Wall - $1,900.00
5th- Garrett McNamara/Kealii Mamala - $1,600.00
6th- Grant ‘Twiggy’Baker/Greg Long - $1,200.00
7th- Mike Parsons/Brock Little - $975.00
8th- Chuck Patterson/Scott Chandler - $725.00

9th-20th each competitor received $150.00 appearance fee

The next leg of the APT world tour will be the Gottaplay.com Open WQ Maui Tow-In Surfing Championship where another 8 top teams will advance to the rest of the tour.

Click here for contest photos

Event Contacts:
Alec Cooke, Event Director
Phone: 808-227-2425
Hotline 808-641-7038 (Leave Messages)
Email: AceCool45@Hotmail.com
Alec Cooke c/o Tow-In Surfers LLC
PO Box 957, Haleiwa, Hawaii 96712

Rodney Kilborn
APT Vice President / Event Sanctioning Director
Phone: 808-575-2840
Email: Handsomebugga@aol.com
or Handsomebugga@Protowsurfers.org

APT and Media:
Eric Akiskalian
APT Founder/President
805-455-7073
Email: Eric@Protowsurfers.org
or Ericakiskalian@mac.com
www.Protowsurfers.org
www.Towsurfer.com

About the Association of Professional Towsurfers, Inc. (APT)
The Association of Professional Towsurfers, was Founded on March 6, 2003 with the charter to support the responsible growth and development of Tow-In Surfing. The Association of Professional Towsurfers, is dedicated to sanctioning and promoting world class competitions, dissemination of safety and technical information to athletes, and technical direction to event organizers. The empirical growth in alternative sports and the increase in extreme athletic pursuits are well documented. The Association of Professional Towsurfers embraces corporate sponsors and media entities that provide the support necessary to increase its events and goals. The Association of Professional Towsurfers has goals to expand its support throughout the world, lobby government agencies and municipalities to provide more certified tow-in access to ocean venues, and be ever attentive to the unique technical and safety needs of this evolving sport and its constituents.