Riviera Nayarit to Host the 4th Annual Punta Sayulita Classic, March 8-10, 2013

Riviera Nayarit is pleased to host the 4^th Annual Punta Sayulita Classic taking place March 8 – 10, 2013.  Having welcomed thousands of spectators in the past, now in its 4^th year, the Punta Sayulita Classic is regarded as one of the premier international surfing and stand-up paddle (SUP) events in North America that attracts a deep pool of international professional athletes competing in longboard and stand-up paddle surfing contests. 

Unlike other similar competitions, the Punta Sayulita Classic does not offer monetary rewards to participants; instead, the primary consideration is to raise awareness on the importance for environmental protection as well as to raise funds for the Reef Check Foundation’s area Eco-Diver Program and the Punta Sayulita Foundation’s children’s educational and sports development programs. Founded and organized by the Punta Sayulita resort community, the event is made possible by the generous support of the event’s sponsors, professional athletes, the Sayulita community and the event volunteers.

“The growth of SUP – welcoming thousands of spectators and top caliber professional athletes – has certainly propelled the region, especially Sayulita, into becoming a top surfing destination,” said Kevin Roberts, the event host of Punta Sayulita and Event Director of the Punta Sayulita Classic. “Moreover, given the region’s miles of pristine coastline offering excellent conditions for an array of outdoor pursuits coupled with year-round events and attractions, it’s no surprise that many have chosen to vacation in Riviera Nayarit or even call the destination their second home.”

In addition to the surfing and SUP race competitions held over the weekend, on Friday, March 8th, the festivities kick-off with a surfing clinic for special needs and underprivileged children under the supervision of renowned Malibu, CA longboard surfer, Jimmy Gamboa, and members of his TheraSURF Foundation along with other participating professionals and instructors from local Sayulita surf schools.

Moreover, in conjunction with honorary ambassador, James Pribram of the Eco Warrior Foundation and members from Project Save our Surf, a community-wide beach cleanup event is scheduled with an interactive-educational program following thereafter with a children’s interactive Reef Day art camp with local artist TrevaDea of Sayulita Art Camps.

The event culminates with a festive performance by Mishka, the international recording artist, which will be free and held on the beachfront on Saturday, March 9^th.

This year’s field for the 4^th Annual Punta Sayulita Classic is filled with some of the biggest names in the sport of longboard and SUP surfing and racing including surfing legend Gerry Lopez, defending SUP Surf Champion Zane Schweitzer, defending SUP Men’s Elite and Distance Champion Connor Baxter, two-time defending women’s SUP elite race champion Candice Appleby, defending Women’s SUP Distance Champion Jenny Kalmbach, two-time defending men’s longboard champion Darren Eudaly, women’s defending longboard champion Karina Rozunko as well as past champions, Chuck Patterson, Slater Trout, Sean Poynter, Mary Osborne, Patricio Gonzalez and many more top pros including two-time SUP surfing world champion, Kai Lenny, Roxy team riders Vanina Walsh & Jen Smith, Anthony Vella, Mo Freitas and Sayulita locals Ryan Helm and Mexican SUP National Champion Fernando Stalla.

Alaska Airlines, the official event airline sponsor, is offering a special airfare discount code ECMU117 to anyone travelling to Sayulita to compete or to simply take part in the weekend festivities.

Proceeds raised at the 4th Annual Punta Sayulita Classic will be donated to the Reef Check and Punta Sayulita Foundations.

About Riviera Nayarit

Mexico’s newest destination, Riviera Nayarit, stretches along 192 miles of pristine Pacific coast framed by the majestic Sierra Madre Mountains just ten minutes north of accessible Puerto Vallarta International Airport.  The region extends along the entire coast of the Pacific state of Nayarit including the resorts of Nuevo Vallarta, the historic colonial town of San Blas, exclusive Punta Mita, picturesque fishing villages, miles of serene beaches and spectacular Banderas Bay.  Riviera Nayarit offers countless activities, such as: PGA golf courses, luxury spas, whale watching, turtle release, zip lining, surfing, bird watching, international cuisine, and the local artwork from the traditional Huichol tribe.  This year, as a testament to Riviera Nayarit’s luxury offerings, the destination garnered two impressive awards: the top spot for “Best Luxury Beach Destination in Mexico” from Travelocity’s Battle of the Destinations III and the “Best Destination Crystal Apple Award” by Apple Vacations. The region attracts and satisfies vacationers of all tastes and budgets with its wide range of accommodations including chic luxury resorts, eco-tourism boutique hotels and quaint B&B inns. For more information, visit www.RivieraNayarit.com or follow Riviera Nayarit's Fan Page on Facebook.

About Punta Sayulita

Punta Sayulita is a private oceanfront club and residential community that rests on an extraordinary 33-acre private peninsula adjacent to the quaint seaside village of Sayulita is located in Riviera Nayarit Mexico approximately 40 minutes north of the Puerto Vallarta International Airport. Punta Sayulita has been carefully designed to be an intimate, low-density community that will embrace only 62 detached homes whereby residents will have access to a full-service private Beach & Surf Club. The tropical design for the beach club and the custom homes at Punta Sayulita is by the boutique architecture firm of de Reus Architects of Hawaii. The developer of Punta Sayulita is Contact Development Company, LLC (CDC) of Sausalito, CA. See www.puntasayulita.com.

  

About Reef Check & Punta Sayulita Foundations

Reef Check- (www.reefcheck.org)

The Reef Check Foundation is an international non-profit organization dedicated to conservation of two ecosystems: tropical coral reefs and California rocky reefs. With headquarters in Pacific Palisades, California and volunteer teams in more than 90 countries, Reef Check works to create partnerships among community volunteers, government agencies, businesses, universities and other non-profits. Reef Check goals are to: educate the public about the value of reef ecosystems and the current crisis affecting marine life; to create a global network of volunteer teams trained in Reef Check's scientific methods who regularly monitor and report on reef health; to facilitate collaboration that produces ecologically sound and economically sustainable solutions; and to stimulate local community action to protect remaining pristine reefs and rehabilitate damaged reefs worldwide.

Punta Sayulita Foundation

The Punta Sayulita Foundation (“PSF”) is a non-profit organization focused on supporting various community initiatives for the community of Sayulita and the Bay of Banderas area. Initiatives include educational programs for environmental awareness and protection, community organized beach cleanup events as well as supporting programs for underprivileged children to allow them the opportunity to enjoy various water sports such as surfing, stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, fishing, etc., that they otherwise would not have the opportunity to pursue.

Media Contacts

Media inquiries and general event information regarding the 4^th Annual Punta Sayulita Classic can be obtained by visiting www.puntasayulitasurfclassic.com or by contacting Kevin Roberts or Jose Luis Caselin at U.S. Toll Free (866) 947-6017 or +52 (329) 291-3957.

CONTACT:   

M. SILVER - A Division of Finn Partners

Tel:  (212) 754-6500

Maria Castro, ext. 228

maria.castro@finnpartners.com

Delfina Guemes, ext. 247

delfina.guemes@finnpartners.com

PUNTA SAYULITA CLASSIC

Tel: (U.S. Toll Free (866) 947-6017)

Kevin Roberts

kroberts@cdcglobal.com