SUNSET BEACH, Oahu/Hawaii (Monday, December 20, 2021) - The World Surf League (WSL) today announced Hurley as the title partner of the Hurley Pro Sunset Beach presented by Shiseido, the second stop of the 2022 Championship Tour (CT). The partnership marks Hurley's return to the CT after almost four years, and solidifies the brand's strong ties to O'ahu, Hawaii.
"Sponsoring any WSL event is an honor," said Ralph Gindi, COO Bluestar Alliance. "But after a few years off, this opportunity is even more exciting for Hurley as a brand. And to do it on Oʻahu, a place that has played host to important brand moments throughout the years, plus is home to so many of our athletes - including five-time WSL Champion Carissa Moore, and the bulk of our impressive youth roster - makes it even more special. Most of all, we're just proud to be able to show our support for the sport and the athletes in such a big way."
Taking place on her home of Oʻahu, Hurley is using the Hurley Pro Sunset Beach presented by Shiseido as an opportunity to support an event for Hurley athlete, Olympic gold medalist and five-time WSL Champion, Carissa Moore's non-profit, the Moore Aloha Foundation, an organization that empowers the next generation of female surfers to be confident and compassionate individuals both in and out of the water. Hurley plans to have activations with Moore and local surfers during the event window, and will donate proceeds from products sold at the event to the Moore Aloha Foundation.
"It has been over a decade that the women have had the opportunity to compete in a Championship Tour event on the North Shore of Oahu," said Moore. "This event is going to be extra special with the support from my Hurley Ohana, paddling out in front of my home crowd and getting to surf one of the most iconic waves, Sunset Beach with only a few other women in the water."
Hurley is also partnering with Oʻahu-based artist, Nick Kuchar to bring the history and spirit of Sunset Beach to life in art that will be used onsite, online, and on event merchandise. An Oʻahu resident since 2005, Kuchar uses his art and community standing as a way to give back to the place he calls home. By specializing in retro-inspired travel art, Kuchar is sure to beautifully celebrate Sunset Beach as the location for Hurley's reemergence on the world stage.
"I‘m really happy that my major sponsor, Hurley, will be sponsoring this amazing event," said Filipe Toledo (BRA), current No. 2 in the WSL Rankings. "It's amazing support for us athletes and for our sport. Sunset is a really historic wave, super challenging and scary sometimes, and I can't wait to be competing there!"
"As a former tour athlete, I understand how valuable these events are to the athletes and the surfing community," said Brett Simpson, Hurley Sports Marketing. "I couldn't be more proud to get to sponsor this event at the iconic and challenging wave of Sunset Beach. This place will test everyone's cardio, stamina and will to win at one of the tour's top big wave venues!"
"We're very excited to have Hurley join us back on the Championship Tour," said Cherie Cohen, WSL Chief Revenue Officer. "We understand how special Hawaii, and especially Oahu, is for the brand, and we're proud to be able to bring this partnership to life right at their homebase, at the legendary Sunset beach. We're thrilled to see them support Carissa Moore's foundation with this partnership, as well as feature a local artist's work both onsite and on event-related products. This competition will be a big celebration to the local community, and we couldn't be happier to have Hurley join us on this journey."
The holding period for the Hurley Pro Sunset Beach presented by Shiseido, the second stop of the 2022 Championship Tour, runs from February 11 to February 23, 2022. The competition will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and WSL's YouTube channel, as well as the free WSL app. Check local listings for coverage from the WSL's broadcast partners.
About Hurley
Born from Water, Hurley was founded in Huntington Beach in 1999 on the principle of empowering and fueling the voice of the next generation. Through the lens of inclusion, Hurley has partnered with the world's best musicians, surfers, skateboarders, snowboarders, and tastemakers, growing into a global youth culture brand with deep roots deep in beach lifestyle. With strong youth programs on both coasts, Hurley helps thousands of kids excel at their sport, upholding a tradition of believing in and supporting promising up and comers. A unique blend of style and performance has Hurley sitting as the global benchmark for innovation both in and out of water. You can find the world of Hurley on www.hurley.com, and follow our journey on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram.