iON Named Official Camera Sponsor of US Open of Surfing

MOORESTOWN, NJ--(Marketwired - Jul 17, 2013) - iON America, the global consumer electronics company that brought Shoot/Share™ Wi-Fi connectivity to point-of-view (POV) cameras, today announced it has been named the official and exclusive POV camera sponsor of the Vans US Open of Surfing, a cultural experience featuring action sports, music and art, to be held in Huntington Beach, Calif., July 20-28, 2013.

The Vans US Open of Surfing, owned and operated by IMG Worldwide, brings together the biggest names in surfing, skateboarding and BMX to compete in the largest stadium venues on both water and sand. iON cameras will be used and featured throughout the nine-day event, as well as in event webcasts and broadcast coverage on CBS Sports. Video shot with iON cameras will provide attendees and viewers with unique perspectives of the action that would otherwise not be possible. iON will also be visible in advertising and promotions.

Among the event competitors and attendees will be members of Team iON, a growing roster of pro athletes who shoot and share HD video and still photos using iON cameras. These include the newest member, skateboarder Manny Santiago. Acknowledged as one of the skateboarding elite, Santiago has achieved significant global recognition while collecting accolades and wins in major skating competitions internationally.

"I am in love with these cameras; they are waterproof and virtually bombproof. They make it easy to capture awesome video that I can share with my family, friends and fans," said Santiago.

Joining Santiago in representing Team iON at the US Open of Surfing will be dirt-jumping legend Corey Bohan, who will compete in the inaugural Van Doren Invitational bowl jam for BMX; and acclaimed big-wave surfer Reef McIntosh, who will be shooting and sharing stills and video throughout the event using his iON cameras. All three athletes will be signing autographs at the iON tent in the festival village.

McIntosh, one of the earliest members of Team iON, said he is looking forward to showing off the Air Pro cameras to his fellow athletes at the event.

"It's time to let the rest of the industry in on what I've known for over a year now: iON cameras stand alone in terms of their high quality and capability," he said. "After this event, many more will know how great these cameras are."

"The Vans US Open of Surfing is one of the most important and exciting action sports events in the country, and iON is thrilled to be the exclusive POV camera sponsor," said Mike Vinsonhaler, president, iON America. "We're especially excited because this event has a passionate following that has evolved into a major online community. With the durable, fully waterproof bodies and 'Shoot/Share' Wi-Fi capabilities of our cameras, athletes and spectators alike can shoot video or stills and immediately upload the images to social sites. iON cameras are the perfect match for the Vans US Open of Surfing."

Experience the video quality of iON cameras at the Vans US Open of Surfing by tuning into the live webcast July 22 through July 28 at http://www.vansusopenofsurfing.com/ or tuning into the CBS Sports Network coverage on July 26 at 8 PM EDT, July 27 at 12 AM EDT and July 28 at 8 PM EDT.

All Vans US Open of Surfing events are free and open to the public. Live webcast can be viewed at www.vansusopenofsurfing.com and via the US Open app starting July 22. Having initially broken viewership records over the past two years, last year's event garnered momentum bringing the viewership to more than 1.5 million, with the expectation to grow even more worldwide this year.

About iON Cameras
Designed for professionals and consumers alike, the aerodynamic, expanding iON camera line features a number of significant industry firsts, including Wi-Fi connectivity and free cloud storage. The unique iON PODZ system -- thin, circular discs that attach onto the back of the basic camera, adding virtually no weight or volume -- extends the capabilities of the iON Air Pro, iON Adventure and Speed Pro camera lines. The Wi-Fi capabilities of the iON Wi-Fi PODZ and the iON The Game work with the iON app for iOS and Android devices, allowing users to control camera functions and settings, view the action as it happens as a live stream, and replay or immediately upload footage to Facebook, YouTube or share it via email.

About iON America
iON America is a sister company of global consumer electronics specialist World Wide Licenses Ltd. (WWL). iON America's experienced team has been involved in the design, development and manufacturing of digital imaging products worldwide for over 20 years. For more information, visit www.ioncamera.com.