ASP WQS '08 Champion Claims 1st Event of 2009

HALEIWA, OAHU, HAWAII - January 20, 2009 - Congratulations are in order yet again for Xcel's Nathaniel Curran, winner of the ASP WQS 4-Star O'Neill Sebastian Inlet Pro in Florida this past weekend.

Curran is the 2008 ASP WQS champion making his first appearance on the prestigious ASP World Tour in 2009. The O'Neill Sebastian Inlet Pro is the first ASP event of the year, and Curran will not surf another contest until World Tour competition begins next month.

Sebastian Inlet produced 2 to 4 foot conditions for the final heat, in which Curran jumped out to an early lead and outlasted fellow finalists Aaron Comican, Blake Jones, and Cory Lopez. Curran's two-wave total of 15.43 proved enough to secure his first 2009 victory, and confidence-building momentum moving into ASP WCT competition.

“The final clicked for me,” said Curran after his win. “I was stoked to be in the final … it was a fun heat. There's been a four month break for me, and I didn't want to go into my first [WCT] event without doing anything.”

With the victory, Curran remains atop the ASP WQS ratings and now turns his focus to his ASP Dream Tour debut.

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 protection).  In addition to its North Shore office, Xcel has stores on Oahu, Kauai, and Maui; and a warehouse/repair facility in California.

To learn more about Xcel, please visit http://www.xcelwetsuits.com.