Bede Durbidge Takes 2nd on ASP World Tour; Nathaniel Curran Wins WQS  Qualifies for '09 WCT; Bonga Perkins Wins ASP World Longboard Title

HALEIWA, OAHU, HAWAII - December 23, 2008 - In a banner year for Xcel's surf team, riders Bede Durbidge (AUS), Nathaniel Curran (USA), and Bonga Perkins (HAW) are leading the way into 2009 after turning in stellar 2008 performances on their respective circuits.

Australia's Bede Durbidge finished second in the 2008 ASP WCT, second only to nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater. Durbidge finished out his year with a 9th place showing at the Pipeline Masters, the final ASP WCT event of 2008 and won by Durbidge in 2007.

In 2007, Durbidge was the first Australian to win the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing since Mike Rommelse in 1997.

Highlights of Durbidge's year on the WCT include a win at the Hang Loose Pro (Santa Catarina, Brazil) and a second-place result at the Rip Curl Pro (Bells Beach).

2009 ASP WCT competition begins next February, when Durbidge will find Xcel teammate and first-time ASP WCT qualifier Nathaniel Curran in the mix.

Curran has won the grueling 2008 ASP World Qualifying Series, after leading the WQS ratings for much of the year thanks to his consistent high performances. His back-to-back wins at the Honda U.S. Open and 6-Star Lacanau Pro ensured that 2009 would become his rookie year on the prestigious World Tour.

“If I can make the ASP World Tour [in 2009],” Curran had said after his Lacanau Pro win, “I'll just be over the moon.”

Bonga Perkins of Hawaii is the 2008 ASP World Longboard Champion, after winning the Oxbow World Longbourd Tour (WLT) contest at San Onofre, the final event of the 2008 ASP WLT. It is Bonga's second ASP World Longboard Championship, having previously won the title in 1996.

“I've been bridesmaids and thirds and fourths so many times now, and I was hoping that my second title would come soon before I bow out,” Perkins told the ASP right after his win in San Onofre, following a final heat in which Perkins led Antoine Delpero (France) the entire way. “I can't even speak - I'm blown away right now.”

Finally, congratulations are in order for Xcel rider Greg Long, who was recently voted Orange County Surfer of the Year. Big-wave surfer Long was honored during an awards ceremony yesterday with fellow winner Courtney Conlogue. Long and Conlogue were selected for a poll of tens of thousands of voters.

About Xcel
Founded in 1982, Xcel International, Inc. (Xcel) is a global wetsuit brand distributed throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific Rim. Headquartered on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, Xcel's core wetsuit business focuses on the cutting edge of material and design development. Xcel's primary markets include surf, dive, wakeboard, paddle, and sun (UV Performance Gear).

In addition to its North Shore office, Xcel has retail stores on Oahu and the outerislands; and a warehouse/repair facility in California.

To learn more about Xcel, please visit xcelwetsuits.com.