DANA POINT, Calif., Jan. 16, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Quiksilver Chairman & CEO Bob McKnight, O'Neill CEO John Warner, former Gamespy CEO Fred Thiel, and OP (Ocean Pacific) CEO Dick Baker are joining forces with the leading surf industry publications, Surfer Magazine, SG and Surfing Magazine to present the contest, "Water = Life(tm)," to benefit the Ocean Institute in Dana Point. "Water = Life(tm)" is an international contest in which participants may compete by submitting original surfboard art or an ocean-themed photograph between January 15 - May 15, 2004. McKnight, Warner and Thiel are all members of the Institute's Board of Directors. Baker, also President of SIMA (Surf Industry Manufacturers Association) is also a longtime supporter of the Institute.
The entries will be judged and prizes awarded the weekend of June 26-27, 2004, at the Institute during a festival featuring food, music, games, surf and art. The surfboard art will be judged by leading surf artists, including Drew Brophy. The photographs will be judged by editors from the three surf magazines, Surfer Magazine, SG and Surfing Magazine. Category winners from both contests will have their works produced for public display at the Institute for the month of June. Grand Prize winners will have the opportunity to be published in one of the sponsoring surf magazines. Prize sponsors include Quiksilver, O'Neill, OP, and Gamespy.
"Our mission at the Ocean Institute is to inspire people through education to become responsible stewards of our oceans," remarked Dan Gee, Ocean Institute President. "The goal of the Water=Life(tm) contest is to heighten awareness of the importance of preserving our oceans through recycling and conservation."
The cost to enter Water=Life(tm) is $25, with proceeds benefiting the continuing work of the Ocean Institute. Seventy-five prize winners will be selected; prizes include all-expense paid trips to California, Sony cameras and Walkmans and surfing and gaming gear from the sponsor companies. The June 26-27 weekend will include a multi-brand fashion show presented by Quiksilver, OP and O'Neill. The winning surfboard art and photographs will be used in Ocean Institute publications.
To enter the Water=Life contest, see www.waterequalslife.com. Information: (949) 496-2274, ext. 616.
Founded in 1977, the Ocean Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to ocean preservation through education, setting the standard for educational excellence and serving as a leading resource for universities, museums, teachers and all others seeking to increase their knowledge of the ocean. The Ocean Institute is open to the general public on weekends, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Cost: $5 adults, $3 children (ages 4-12), Ocean Institute members free.