Huntington Beach, CA – The US Open of Surfing has a storied reputation for going big. This year will only add to that legacy as title sponsor Nike – along with presenting sponsors Hurley, Converse and Nike 6.0 – continue to elevate the event as the world’s largest youth culture and action sport festival. With more than 500,000 people in attendance along a 14-acre stretch of sand on the south side of Huntington Beach Pier, the Nike US Open of Surfing showcases the best in surf, skate, BMX, music, fashion and art.

“It’s hard to match the experience of the world’s best in sports, music and art coming together on the beach in one of action sports’ most iconic locations,” said Sandy Bodecker, VP Nike Action Sports. “Our commitment this year is to bring the energy from Huntington Beach to even more fans across the world.

The 2011 Nike US Open of Surfing will run from July 30 to August 7. All events are FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC or can be viewed live daily at www.usopenofsurfing.com. The event is owned and produced by IMG, the global leader in sports and entertainment.

Anchored by the world’s largest professional surfing competition, the $460,000 US Open is a pivotal point on the ASP World Tour for both the men and women. The Men’s side will feature a North America ASP Men’s Prime event with valuable points on the line right before the coveted ASP Top 32 cut-off. For the women, the US Open of Surfing will witness the final event of the 2011 ASP World Title Tour and crown a women’s world champion in Surf City this summer. “I’m really excited to be returning to Huntington Beach to try to defend my US Open title,” says Hawaii’s Carissa Moore. “It’s so fun to be competing in front of so many people!” In addition to the high-stakes Mens and Womens divisions, the US Open will feature a grade four men’s and women’s Pro Junior as well as the Pacifico Nose Riding Invitational – always a crowd favorite.

A few years in the making and now officially part of the program, Nathan Fletcher is now onboard the Nixon Surf Team. A friend of Nixon for as long as anyone can remember, Nathan was voted onto the team with no hesitation from the current team roster which includes the likes of Bruce Irons, Dusty Payne, Josh Kerr, Lisa Andersen, Dean Morrison, Rob Machado, Claire Bevilacqua, Keith Malloy, and Mark Cunningham. Additionally, Nathan becomes the first new team addition to the Nixon surf program in over two years.

“From his amazing accomplishments, his ability in the water and overall talent on dry land, Nathan brings a lot to the table,” stated Nixon Marketing Manager, Mike Murciano. “He represents surfing at the most core level. I not only speak for myself, but on behalf of the entire Nixon crew, when I say we are excited about the future projects and collaborations that we have on deck with Nathan.”

Known for his prowess with huge airs, monster waves, paddle-ins and pretty much everything in-between, Nathan is best summed up as someone who takes it to another level when it comes to progressive surfing.

“Bruce (Irons) was initially the catalyst,” recounted Nathan about his introduction to Nixon. “He is part of a brand that people really seem to take pride in and I wanted to get involved with that. I like being a part of something that has bigger ideas; where your thoughts become events, projects and so on.”

Expect to see Nathan’s thumbprint on the brand globally beginning this fall. His sponsors include Analog, Vans, Astrodeck and Stretch.

NO SPORT is without its injuries including surfing, new research has found.

A Southern Cross University study involving 700 recreational surfers has found one in three board riders are likely to experience one or more surf-related injuries on any given year.

The most common sore points for surfers include injuries to the knees, ankles, lower back and shoulders.

Dehydration and excessive sun exposure resulting in skin damage were also found to be common.

Drawing conclusions from their survey, SCU scientists in conjunction with Surfing Australia have called for more education and information targeting surfers to help them avoid serious sports-related injuries.

Dr Rudi Meir, who led the research team, said surfers were asked to participate in an online survey to provide more information on injury rates, types and severity of injury, skin cancer and general surf safety.

“While surfing is seen as a healthy outdoor activity, safety is an important issue,” Dr Meir said.

“This includes not only ocean knowledge, but also physiological aspects, which can sometimes be overlooked.

“Much of the time is spent paddling, which is a highly demanding activity placing stress on the shoulders and lower back.

“In addition, the ankles and knees are placed under stress as a result of the dynamic rotational movements of the upper body, which transfers load down through these joints when surfing.

“As a result, an injury prevention program that focuses on increasing the stability and mobility around these joints may help reduce the incidence of these injuries.

“For example, functional balance training on an unstable surface could reduce the likelihood of injury to the knee, ankle and lower back, while additional forms of training such as weight training, stretching and yoga could also play an injury prevention role.

“Given most surfers will spend one to three hours in the water, the need for adequate levels of hydration prior to entering the water cannot be overstated.

Many participants also indicated they were still not using sufficient sun protection, in spite of Australian Cancer Council campaigns warning of the harmful damage caused by excessive skin exposure to the sun.

“The research report, which was provided to the New South Wales Sporting Injuries Committee in May, highlights the need to provide surfers with education and information about the need for adequate fluid intake, warm ups and appropriate sun protection before entering the water.

But Dr Meir said surfers should not be discouraged.

“Despite the inherent risks, which all sports have, surfing is an important form of healthy exercise for a growing number of Australians,” Dr Meir said.

Respondents in the survey indicated they spent an average of 11 hours per week in summer and eight hours per week in winter surfing.

This was found to be well above the five hours of moderate intensity activity recommended by the World Health Organisation.