Carlsbad, Ca — Spy Optic, Inc., a leading action sports eyewear brand, announces the 7th Annual ‘Spy Boot Camp Contest’ offering contestants the opportunity to share the experience of a lifetime with Spy world-renowned action sports athletes in their environments.

“Boot Camp gives our Spy action sports enthusiasts’ unprecedented access to meet, befriend and participate in their favorite sports with Spy’s roster of world-class professional athletes. They will leave with the most memorable experiences from Spy Boot Camp,” said Fran Richards, Spy Optic Vice President of Marketing.

Spy Boot Camp 6 winner, Griffin Blackburn of Tyler, Texas from last year’s event said, “My overall impression of the experience was a life changing one. This was the trip of a life time. I left with confidence that my time spent in school to be a part of the industry that a company like Spy represents will not end in vain. The trip was the absolute time of my life. I never want to forget the people I met on that trip or the things I was allowed to be a part of.”

Seven Grand Prize winners will win a six-day, five-night all-expense paid trip to San Diego, California. Winners will surf and wakeboard with Spy’s elite professional athletes and will ride motocross with Spy’s seven-time Supercross champion Jeremy McGrath. In addition to experiencing each sport with Spy’s top athletes, winners will attend X Games 15 in Los Angeles and receive red carpet treatment by attending the hottest after party with action sports athletes and celebrities. Fuel TV will be covering the event and the winners will have the chance to be on television. Each winner will receive generous gift packs from Spy and industry partners.

Retail contestant entries will be received until June 21st, 2009. Consumer entries will be accepted until June 30th, 2009 through participating retailers and online at spyoptic.com/contests by submissions in 50 words or less of why they should be chosen to attend the “Spy Boot Camp 7 Contest.” One Grand Prize consumer winner will be chosen based on the most original creative submission. In addition, 25 consumer runner-up winners will receive prize packs from Spy and industry partners.

Winners will be posted online on July 15th, 2009.

The 7th Annual Spy Boot Camp Contest partners include Fuel TV, Monster Energy, Liquid Force, Plan B, KTM, Ogio, Omatic, Vestal, Skullcandy, Sanuk, Silver, Surf Diva and No Fear MX.

For more information, including complete rules and regulations, about the 7th Annual “Spy Boot Camp Contest” please visit spyoptic.com/contests

ABOUT SPY OPTIC, INC: Spy Optic, Inc. designs, develops and sells premium eyewear products for the youth lifestyle market within action sports, fashion, music, and entertainment sectors.  Spy’s principal products, sunglasses and goggles, target the action sports market, including surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, motorsports, and wakeboarding and skiing.

Spy’s innovative proprietary products utilize high-quality materials, handcrafted manufacturing processes and engineered optical lens technology to convey premium quality, contemporary style, and progressive design.  Spy Optic, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Orange 21 Inc. (NASDAQ:ORNG).

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Davenport, Ca — Save The Waves Coalition and Cottonwood Creek Environmental Film Festival are proud to announce that Keeping Coast, the latest documentary film by Save The Waves, has received the Dumosa Award for Best Short Film at the Cottonwood Creek Environmental Film Festival.

The festival screened the film and presented the award this past weekend in downtown Encinitas, California at the historic La Paloma Theatre. “We love the engaging message of Keeping Coast,” announced festival jury chair Elizabeth Taylor who presented the award in a ceremony on Friday night, “and we are excited to reward its inspiring environmental message to protect our coastlines.”

Writer of the film and Save The Waves environmental director Josh Berry was present at the awards ceremony in Encinitas to accept the award on behalf of his friend and film director Angel Marin, and for Save The Waves Coalition. “I’m stoked we won – when you see the film you will understand why, but for now just remember my mantra: film as activism,” said Josh Berry, “and many thanks to the festival for producing such a great event to raise environmental awareness at the local community level.”

Keeping Coast is a 15-minute documentary film about Save The Waves Coalition’s community activist work in Chile and its efforts in co-founding Chile’s first Waterkeeper Alliance program, the Maule Itata Coastkeeper. The film chronicles local efforts against a proposed coal plant and other development issues presently threatening a pristine stretch of coastal waters in rural South America.

The film premiered at Adventure Film Festival in Chile in March of 2009, and will be screening at other festivals in coming months, including: World Oceans Day Film Festival this week in San Francisco; Surfilm Festibal in San Sebastián, Spain; the Wild and Scenic Film Festival Tour; and others to be announced soon.

Film trailer, screening information and synopsis can be viewed at keepingcoast.blogspot.com

About Save The Waves Coalition: Save The Waves is an environmental coalition dedicated to preserving the world’s surf spots and their surrounding environments. The organization’s goal is to preserve and protect surfing locations around the planet and to educate the public about their value. Save The Waves works to prevent coastal development from entering the surf zone. Save The Waves is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. savethewaves.org

About Cottonwood Creek Environmental Film Festival: The Cottonwood Creek Environmental Film Festival aims to collect the most innovative and inspiring films regarding environmental issues, nature and the ocean.  The CCEFF mission is to use film to inspire positive action on behalf of the environment and encourage stewardship of the planet: cottonwoodfilm.com

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Rebekka Stone had not quite overcame her fear of water when a friend persuaded her to try stand-up paddle surfing in March 2008 at a Miami beach.

A year and two months later, Stone finds herself teaching this unique sport to others in one of the most unlikeliest of places — the Great Salt Lake.

Stone, who grew up in Hartford, Conn., owns and operates Utah Paddle Surfing, a company that provides lessons primarily on the weekend and by appointment on other days at the Great Salt Lake. Stone moved to Salt Lake City in January after spending four years in Miami, and received a business license for Utah Paddle Surfing in early March.

Stand-up paddle surfing can best be described by its name — a mix between surfing and paddling. The sport utilizes a sizable surfing board (10 to 14 feet long) and an angled-blade paddle with that is usually 6 to 9 inches taller than the surfer’s height. Though the name implies that surfers stand up, they can also paddle surf on their knees or sitting down, all while using the paddle to direct their movement and speed.

Stand-up paddle surfing originated on the shores of Waikiki in Honolulu in the 1940s and has become increasingly popular. It doesn’t require big waves, allowing it to gain a following among people who live in land-locked areas, such as Utah, where only rivers and lakes are available.

The sport helped Stone overcome her fear of water, and she believes that it could provide similar benefits for others.

“My whole life, I’ve been afraid of water, and swimming has been a challenge for me,” Stone, 34, said. “About a year and a couple of months ago, a friend introduced me to surfing. I don’t have good balance, have never been a good skier and can’t skateboard or roller blade, so I didn’t think I’d be able to surf. But the first time I tried it, I thought maybe this would help me overcome my fear of water. So, I went back every week, a couple of times every week, and I started being there almost everyday. Then I kind of needed to get my own board to cater to that craving.

“It’s helped me overcome my fear of water and helped me develop balance and focus. There’s an inner peace that comes when you’re able to be on a board.”

Stone and fellow trainer, Greg Gbrow, offer clinics for $10 from noon to 2 p.m. every Saturday at the Great Salt Lake Marina State Park. Their boards, which can hold up to 300 pounds, can be rented for $20 an hour from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Private lessons are available for $40 an hour on Saturday and on Sunday. Rentals or lessons for other days are arranged by appointment. The company occasionally holds lessons at the Saltair.

Stone said that between five and 10 people attend each clinic. She believes that the business is growing well, despite the misconception that you can’t surf in Utah.

“People think you can’t go surfing in Utah, but you can go surfing anywhere there’s water,” she said. “People will take these paddle boards on the river, and even in whitewater rapids.”

Shawn Young, 36, received his first taste of stand-up paddle surfing in late May and liked it.

“A couple minutes into my first time out, I felt myself feeling that sensation of planing across the water,” said Young, who lives in Washington, D.C. “It was wonderful; I felt stoked. I just think that it’s the most surreal place, this salt water lake in the middle of the Rocky Mountains.”

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