Professionals from Brazil, Mexico, Japan, East Coast and California to Compete in Skimboarding Event
Santa Cruz, Calif. — The 9th Annual TAC Skimblast skimboarding competition will take place on July 15th at Seabright Beach in Santa Cruz, California drawing an international field of competitors. The professional men’s division will count as part of the United Skim Tour, the world’s premier international professional skimboarding tour. The contest is put on by TAC Apparel.
Professional men riders include the 2022 men’s UST champion Lucas Fink of Rio De Janeiro, the 2021 men’s UST Champion Gerardo Valencia of Barra De Navidad, Mexico and locals including Ben Koscielniak, David Haefele and Chris Alreck of Santa Cruz. Professional women riders include Ashley Poshard of Los Gatos, California, currently ranked 2nd on the women’s UST. The contest will also feature competitors from Japan, the East Coast and southern California.
The TAC Skimblast will count as the second stop for the professional men’s division for the UST. After the first stop of the tour, Bryan Lopez of San Patricio, Mexico is in the top spot followed by Chad Wadsworth of Newport Beach, California.
The event will run from 8 am to 8 pm at the far south corner of Seabright Beach, near the Walton Lighthouse. The event includes a division for professional women and divisions for amateurs of all skill levels and all ages.
“Last year we saw the potential of a solid day of waves at Third Ave with good conditions throughout most of the day,” said Ben Koscielniak, Contest Director and owner of TAC Apparel. “After a pretty wild winter in Santa Cruz, the sand has finally shaped up the past few weeks, and we’re hoping for a repeat of last year with great waves. It’s going to be an epic day.”
Remaining UST tour events include the OBX SkimJam in Nags Head, North Carolina, the Zap Championships in Dewey Beach, Delaware, the Vic West in Laguna Beach, California and the Exile Oktoberfest in Newport Beach, California. In the men’s division, points from the best four performances count toward each skimboarder’s 2023 UST points total.
About the United Skim Tour
The United Skim Tour is the world’s premier international professional skimboard tour. The UST exists as a sanctioning body for the professional division of skimboarding events on both coasts of the United States and abroad. The men’s professional division of the 2023 UST circuit includes six competitions, three on the west coast of the United States, two on the east coast, and one international event held in Mexico. The women’s professional division includes two stops on the east coast, one on the west coast, and one in Mexico. For more information, visit the United Skim Tour website, Facebook and Instagram.
About TAC Apparel
TAC Apparel is a lifestyle clothing brand with origins in Santa Cruz, CA. The brand celebrates a group of local Santa Cruz kids who lived near Third Ave, known as the Third Ave Crew. The brand is dedicated to imaginative art and innovative design. The team riders of TAC include some of the best surfers, skimboarders, kite surfers and skateboarders from Santa Cruz, CA. For more information, visit the TAC Apparel website, Facebook, and Instagram.
All photos taken by Mary Patino Mota (Website | Instagram)
Media Contact:
David Haefele
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714.244.0020
