Vertra Sunscreen’s Team at the 2010 Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race

::FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE::

Eric Abbott
Vertra's Paddlesports Marketing
www.vertra.com

Vertra Sunscreen’s Team at the 2010 Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race

Catalina, CA (August, 26) The 2010 Catalina Classic Paddleboard race kicks off this Sunday at Two Harbors. The 32-mile course will begin at the Isthmus and cross the Catalina Channel and end at Manhattan Pier. This will be the 35th annual crossing of the event with just over 100 athletes entered. This race is unique in that it is solely a prone paddlers race, which paddlers can either choose to paddle a 12 ft. (20 pound) "stock board" or an "unlimited board" in which anything goes.

Vertra's Paddlesports team will be well covered and racing in this years event. Brian Rocheleau a top Hawaiian paddler will be making his way over from the warm pacific to race. As a consistent top 3 finisher at the Molokai World Championships of paddleboarding, he will be a contender for this year’s trophy. "I am excited to make it over," commented Rocheleau. "It's a big race with lots of history, the Californians come out to Hawaii for our race, so well come over for theirs." The unlimited field looks competitive this year, with many new and old faces showing up once again to test their skills and endurance in the channel.

Other Vertra paddlers to make the trip to Catalina will be Brian's brother Mark Rocheleau paddling an unlimited board and Eric Abbott paddling on a stock board.

For more information on the Catalina Classic visit their website http://catalinaclassicpaddleboardrace.org/links.html

For any additional information regarding Vertra Sunscreen, dealer locations or the Vertra Paddlesports team, Contact: Eric

Abbott at: wailupeabbott@gmail.com (808)-551-9890. Or visit us on facebook at www.facebook.com/vertrapaddle

Vertra Sunscreen embodies the characteristics of being a quality, innovative and stylish product. Our superior line of sun resistant products carries the full endorsement of the Hawaii Lifeguard Association in addition to all our products bare the Skin Caner Foundation Official Seal of Recommendation. We have developed, formulated, and manufactured a product with superior ingredients in a designer quality fashion…we would not settle for anything less!

Ching, Becker perform well at the 2010 Ta-Hoe Nalu SUP!

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Contact:

Keoni Watson

Eric Abbott

Vertra’s Paddlesports Marketing

http://www.vertra.com/

Ching, Becker perform well at the 2010 Ta-Hoe Nalu SUP Event

Lake Tahoe, CA (August, 24^th 2010) In windy, cold and over-cast conditions, paddlers at the 2010 Ta-Hoe Nalu SUP event still took to the water. As the weather service predicted, a summer storm brewed on the lake resulting in consistent 25 MPH wind gusts. The event coordinators decided that the Elite SUP race would be run in a similar fashion to the world renowned Battle of the Paddle event. Athletes participating in the elite event were required to paddle .5 miles straight upwind, turn 180 degrees on the Quiksilver buoy, and surf their way back to the beach for a 100 yard beach run. This course was completed four times. As one of the premiere paddling events at Lake Tahoe, Vertra’s Paddlesports Team performed top notch!

Vertra’s own Danny Ching paddled to an impressive and comfortable 1^st place finish in the men’s elite SUP race taking home 2500$. In his normal fashion Ching got out to an early lead, and built the gap on the rest of the field on each turn. “I just went out hard, and tried to hold on,” commented Ching. Danny is considered by his peers as being one of the sports best and is second to none in paddling in all types of weather conditions. This weekends 25 MPH wind gusts proved to be no different as he powered his way up wind, and used his surfing knowledge from years of paddling the OC1 to build a sizable lead on the rest of the competitors.

The young sixteen-year-old Matt Becker battled his way in the top of the pack throughout the entire race. “It was tough to push it up wind,” commented Becker. Matt who just returned back to the States after a SUP surf expedition in Colombia found the best parks of the race surfing the .5 mile downwind leg of the race. “It was a great event today, a good starting point as I prepare for the Hennessey’s International Race and Battle of the Paddle in a few months.”

For any additional information regarding Vertra Sunscreen, dealer locations or the Vertra Paddlesports team, Contact: Eric Abbot at: wailupeabbott@gmail.com. Or visit us on facebook at www.facebook.com/vertrapaddlesports

Vertra Sunscreen embodies the characteristics of being a quality, innovative and stylish product. Our superior line of sun resistant products carries the full endorsement of the Hawaii Lifeguard Association in addition to all our products bare the Skin Caner Foundation Official Seal of Recommendation. We have developed, formulated, and manufactured a product with superior ingredients in a designer quality fashion…we would not settle for anything less

2010 Quiksilver Tahoe Nalu Standup Paddle Race

Contact:

Keoni Watson

Eric Abbott

Vertra’s Paddlesports Marketing

www.vertra.com

The 2010 Tahoe Nalu SUP race kicks off this weekend with two days of elite and recreational paddling. With over 600 Paddlers expected to participate and race in this years event, the competition is forecasted to be tough. Vertra's Standup team will be present at this years event. Amongst these competitors is the 2010 Hawaii Battle of the Paddle Champion and Vertra's own Danny Ching. Fellow teammates competing will be the young Matt Becker, who took 10th overall in the this years Hawaii BOP and John Becker. These athletes are a force to be reckon with, and will be amongst the leaders in the races to follow this weekend!

Matt Becker

Danny Ching

For any additional information regarding Vertra Sunscreen, dealer locations or the Vertra Paddlesports team, Contact: Eric Abbot at: wailupeabbott@gmail.com. Or visit us on facebook at www.facebook.com/vertrapaddlesports

Vertra Sunscreen embodies the characteristics of being a quality, innovative and stylish product. Our superior line of sun resistant products carries the full endorsement of the Hawaii Lifeguard Association in addition to all our products bare the Skin Caner Foundation Official Seal of Recommendation. We have developed, formulated, and manufactured a product with superior ingredients in a designer quality fashion…we would not settle for anything less!

Team Vertra takes 2 of 3 paddleboard divisions - Abbott, Duncan-Seraphin win “Molokai”

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Contact:

Keoni Watson

Vertra’s Paddlesports Marketing

www.vertra.com

Team Vertra takes 2 of 3 paddleboard divisions - Abbott, Duncan-Seraphin win “Molokai”

Eric Abbott Mid Channel

Honolulu, Hi (August, 4^th 2010) Hawaiian paddlers Eric Abbott and Kanesa Duncan-Seraphin dominated their respective divisions at the Molokai 2 Oahu paddleboard race last weekend. The 32-mile course across the Kaiwi Channel is considered the World Championships of paddleboarding and two of Hawaii’s finest came up big against the international field.

After winning the Soljah-Primo Challenge, the 17 mile Cline Mann Memorial race, and the Maui International in the weeks leading up to Molokai, Eric was definitely the favorite to win the stock (12 foot, no rudder) division in Molokai. The field was definitely stacked with Shane Scoggins entered, who ran the table in California this year, but it just was tough to bet against Abbott. He came through despite all the pressure and not only smashed the next stock paddler by 9 minutes, turned in one of the best times in the race’s history. “It’s a great honor to keep the stock crown in Hawaii,” Eric commented after the race. “This race encompasses a lot of tradition, and to have my name next to guys like Cote, Watson, Pere and Monahan is truly an honor.”

The solo stock class is about as burly as it gets - ask a cross section of paddlers from all racing disciplines and you will hear this listed as the most demanding way to cross this channel. Although stockers don’t garner the fanfare, the paddlers know the Molokai Stock is one of the most coveted titles this sport has to offer.

Every year, the question surrounding Kanesa is not only if she will win the women’s division, but also how much of the men’s field she is going to take down in the process. This year was no different as she delivered her 8^th title and finished in front of a good deal of the men and even 2 man teams. “We are so proud of Kanesa” – Vertra President Bobby Higa said at the finish, “every year we hear her name called as she paddles the final stretch and it is just unbelievable when you think of what big names haven’t come in yet. She is truly an inspiration to women in all aspects of water sports”.

In addition to the two paddleboard titles, Vertra athletes accounted for half of the top 8 in the unlimited paddleboard class including a 2^nd place overall by Singapore’s Jackson English and 4^th place by Mikey Cote. It was the Australia-born Jackson’s 2^nd runner up finish in 3 years and Mikey shocked the field as the first Hawaiian finisher in the unlimited division after winning stock the previous 2 years. “I had an interesting year getting equipment dialed in and making the adjustment to the stroke on the longer board” Mikey admitted. “I left it all out in the channel today and I’m ecstatic It all came together in the most important race of the year”.

There were also some incredible performances by Vertra athletes in the Stand Up Paddle (SUP) division as well. Hawaii’s Scott Gamble finished with a podium spot at 3^rd and turned in the 4^th fastest time overall Sunday.

But probably the most inspirational performance of the day was from 12 year old Riggs Napoleon who earned the distinction of being the youngest person to ever paddle any craft across the Kaiwi channel. “What Riggs did today was truly shocking, but when you think about his grandfather Nappy’s 53 consecutive crossings in the Molokai 6 man canoe race, and his dad Aaron’s staggering body of work he has compiled on all types of watercraft, you realize that this kid has a unique set of genes and that we are going to be hearing his name for a long time” said Vertra’s Marketing Director Keoni Watson

For any additional information regarding Vertra Sunscreen, dealer locations or the Vertra Paddlesports team, Contact: Eric Abbot at: wailupeabbott@gmail.com. Or visit us on facebook at www.facebook.com/vertrapaddlesports

Vertra Sunscreen embodies the characteristics of being a quality, innovative and stylish product. Our superior line of sun resistant products carries the full endorsement of the Hawaii Lifeguard Association in addition to all our products bare the Skin Caner Foundation Official Seal of Recommendation. We have developed, formulated, and manufactured a product with superior ingredients in a designer quality fashion…we would not settle for anything less!

Verta Athletes Gear up for the 2010 Molokai to Oahu Paddleboard Race

• ::FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE::

Contact:

Keoni Watson

Eric Abbott

Vertra’s Paddlesports Marketing

www.vertra.com

Kanesa Duncan

Scott Gamble

Verta Athletes Gear up for the 2010 Molokai to Oahu Paddleboard Race

Honolulu, Hi (July 23, 2010) As anticipation grows for the 2010 Molokai to Oahu paddleboard and standup race, Vertra Suncare paddlesports athletes are tapering down and gearing up for the thirty-two mile open-ocean course. Armed with a stock or unlimited paddleboard, athletes will navigate the Kaiwi Channel and round China Walls as they paddle their way to the finish line inside Hawaii Kai on Oahu.

This year Vertra Suncare will be supporting a talented group of elite athletes paddling in the both the prone and standup divisions.

Prone Paddlers

• Brian Rocheleau
• Jackson English
• Marc Rocheleau
• Mikey Coté
• Kanesa Duncan
• Mitch DeGeus
• Eric Abbott

SUP Paddlers

• Scott Gamble
• Riggs Napolean

“We are excited to see our athletes perform well in the channel this year,” commented Vertra’s President Bobby Higa. In the past Channels, Vertra’s athletes have performed top notch. In the 2009 channel crossing Mikey Coté crushed the stock record while winning his second straight channel title. Kanesa Duncan championed the women’s division by capturing her 7^th world title. Brian Rocheleau took 2^nd overall in the men’s unlimited paddleboard division. In the unlimited standup division Guy Pere and Scott Gamble placed 2^nd and 3^rd respectively. Jackson English did not race in 2009, but in 2008 he placed 2^nd overall, and is considered a contender for the title in this years channel.

The channel conditions are looking favorable with a rising tide and strong winds predicted. The finish line will be at the bathhouse in Moanalua Bay. The front leaders will be rounding China Walls in less than five hours.

For any additional information regarding Vertra Sunscreen, dealer locations or the Vertra Paddlesports team, Contact: Eric Abbot at: wailupeabbott@gmail.com. Or visit us on facebook at www.facebook.com/vertrapaddlesports

Vertra Sunscreen embodies the characteristics of being a quality, innovative and stylish product. Our superior line of sun resistant products carries the full endorsement of the Hawaii Lifeguard Association in addition to all our products bare the Skin Caner Foundation Official Seal of Recommendation. We have developed, formulated, and manufactured a product with superior ingredients in a designer quality fashion…we would not settle for anything less!

www.wailupeboys.com

Guy Pere is Battle Ready!

::FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE::

Contact:

Keoni Watson

Eric Abbott

Vertra’s Paddlesports Marketing

www.vertra.com

Photo Guy Pere Facebook

Guy Pere is Battle Ready!

Honolulu, Hi (June 10, 2010) Vertra Suncare’s Guy Pere is battle ready for the 2010 Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle Hawaii. As a celebrated Hawaiian waterman over the last decade, Pere has consistently found success in Hawaiian waters. Prior to making the switch to standup paddling, Pere was a champion prone paddler winning the prestigious Molokai to Oahu paddleboard race. As a proficient waterman, the move to standup paddling became a natural addition to his extensive repertoire of ocean activities. “I really enjoyed prone paddling, but with standup paddling evolving in Hawaii and abroad, I wanted the opportunity to try new things,” Pere commented. At the 2009 Molokai to Oahu standup race, Guy finished second overall.

This year for BOP Hawaii, Pere will be a competitive force in both the elite surf race as well as the distance race this weekend. Pere, who has paddled the “Hawaii Kai” course hundreds of times, will have local knowledge in choosing the best route for this Sundays elite distance race. Knowledge in wind and wave direction will separate the proficient paddler from the elite. “It is going to be tough competition in both race” Pere mentioned, “but you always strive to do your best and have fun!” Guy has been a tremendous and revolutionary athlete in the paddling disciplines working on perpetuating the sport with revolutionary board designs and concepts.

Be on the look out for Guy and other Vertra athletes this weekend. Swing by to Vertra and Wet Feet tent to check out the latest in Vertra Suncare products and well as talk with Vertra’s athletes.

For any additional information regarding Vertra Sunscreen, dealer locations or the Vertra Paddlesports team, Contact: Eric Abbot at: wailupeabbott@gmail.com. Or visit us on facebook at www.facebook.com/vertrapaddlesports

Vertra Sunscreen embodies the characteristics of being a quality, innovative and stylish product. Our superior line of sun resistant products carries the full endorsement of the Hawaii Lifeguard Association in addition to all our products bare the Skin Caner Foundation Official Seal of Recommendation. We have developed, formulated, and manufactured a product with superior ingredients in a designer quality fashion…we would not settle for anything less!

Vertra Team Paddler Scott Gamble gears up for Battle of the Paddle Hawaii

::FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE::

Contact:

Keoni Watson

Eric Abbott

Vertra’s Paddlesports Marketing

www.vertra.com

Vertra Team Paddler Scott Gamble gears up for Battle of the Paddle Hawaii

Honolulu, Hi (June 10, 2010) Vertra Suncare’s team paddler Scott Gamble is geared up to do battle this weekend in the inaugural Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle Hawaii Standup Paddling event. Over the weekend Gamble will compete in both elite races as well as the SUP surf team relays on Sunday afternoon. After a strong showing at the 2009 BOP in California, Gamble is excited to race on his home turf in the warm pacific waters of Waikiki.

Equipped with his new Joe Bark 12’6 SUP battle board for the elite surf race and the Bark 17’0 Molokai Unlimited SUP board design, Gamble will prove to be a competitive force in both races. “It is a special event, and I am excited Rainbow Sandals brought the race to Hawaii as well,” Gamble commented. The sports largest cash purse of $25,000 will be up for grabs over the weekend. However, for many athletes including Gamble, it’s not about the money, but rather the opportunity that Rainbow Sandals provides to race the best standup paddlers in the world at one time. The distance race will be held on the nine mile technical Hawaii Kai run. “I am looking forward to the distance race,” Gamble commented. “The elite race is exciting and hectic, but the distance race for me is a better race because that is the type of paddling that got me into standup. Picking a fast course and reading the ocean swells is what paddling is all about!” With strong winds forecasted, having home court advantage for many of the Hawaii local paddlers like Scott will be a big advantage.

Be on the look out for Scott and other Vertra athletes this weekend. Swing by to Vertra and Wet Feet tent to check out the latest in Vertra Suncare products and well as talk with Vertra’s athletes.

For any additional information regarding Vertra Sunscreen, dealer locations or the Vertra Paddlesports team, Contact: Eric Abbot at: wailupeabbott@gmail.com. Or visit us on facebook at www.facebook.com/vertrapaddlesports

Vertra Sunscreen embodies the characteristics of being a quality, innovative and stylish product. Our superior line of sun resistant products carries the full endorsement of the Hawaii Lifeguard Association in addition to all our products bare the Skin Caner Foundation Official Seal of Recommendation. We have developed, formulated, and manufactured a product with superior ingredients in a designer quality fashion…we would not settle for anything less!