HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., Nov. 4, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Koa Smith (Kauai, Hawaii) has won GoPro of the World powered by Surfline with his game-changing 27-second POV tube ride from Skeleton Bay, Namibia. The inaugural competition challenged surfers from around the globe to document their epic surfing moments on GoPro cameras with the single-best clip earning $20,000.
"I'm just so psyched, it was the barrel of my life and I had a GoPro in my mouth," said an elated Koa Smith after being presented with an oversize check from GoPro by his brother Alex. "I just couldn't even believe it. If I didn't have a GoPro, I would try to explain [that wave] to people and they would just be like, 'Yeah right, whatever.' I'm just so stoked that I got that wave, that guy didn't burn me, and I filmed it."
Watch Koa Smith's reaction to winning GoPro of the World: http://www.surfline.com/video/featured-clips/koa-smith-wins-gopro-of-the-world_119715
"GoPro congratulates Koa Smith for winning GoPro of the World and taking home $20k, by catching the longest barrel of his life at Skeleton Bay," said Adam Instone, Sr. Manager, Action Sports at GoPro. "Koa has been a consistent content producer, so it's no surprise he captured this epic session on his GoPro. Thanks to everyone who submitted their clips, as its truly amazing to see the the level of talent and caliber of surfing present today worldwide."
The online video contest opened May 1st, with over 140 entries submitted from all points of the globe leading up to the September 30, 2014 cutoff. Judges Cyrus Sutton, Pete Hodgson and Mike Prickett deliberated over the clips, comparing top tube riders like Jamie O'Brien, CJ Hobgood, Shane Dorian and others' entries to Smith's never-ending barrel.
The 2014 GoPro of the World followed on the success of 2013-2014's GoPro of the Winter, won by Jamie O'Brien.
"Expanding the event worldwide really opened up endless possibilities," said Mike Cianciulli, Surfline's event director. "It was amazing and exciting to absorb all the entries we received this year."
GoPro and Surfline are kicking off another round of GoPro of the World powered by Surfline on November 1, 2014 until March 31, 2015 with another $20,000 up for grabs.
About Surfline
Surfline/Wavetrak, Inc. specializes in providing live and predicted ocean weather information, editorial content, and consulting services to consumers, businesses, and government agencies worldwide.
Headquartered in Huntington Beach, California, Surfline/Wavetrak Inc. is focused on enabling its customers to pursue peak surfing, marine, and fishing experiences through the Surfline.com, Buoyweather.com, and FishTrack.com brands on web and mobile platforms.
The Company offers paid premium subscription services on both web and mobile platforms. In addition to paid subscriptions, the Company also offers advertising and provides a range of marketing services designed to reach and connect with users of Surfline, Buoyweather, and FishTrack.
For more information on Surfline, please visit http://www.surfline.com and check out our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/surfline. You can follow us on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/surfline and Instagram: @surfline.
About GoPro, Inc. (Nasdaq:GPRO)
GoPro, Inc. is transforming the way consumers capture, manage, share and enjoy meaningful life experiences. We do this by enabling people to capture compelling, immersive photo and video content of themselves participating in their favorite activities. Our customers include some of the world's most active and passionate people. The volume and quality of their shared GoPro content, coupled with their enthusiasm for our brand, are virally driving awareness and demand for our products.
What began as an idea to help athletes document themselves engaged in their sport has become a widely adopted solution for people to document themselves engaged in their interests, whatever they may be. From extreme to mainstream, professional to consumer, GoPro has enabled the world to capture and share its passions, and the world, in turn, is enabling GoPro to become one of the most exciting and aspirational companies of our time.
For more information, visit www.gopro.com or connect with GoPro on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or LinkedIn.
GOPRO® and HERO® are trademarks or registered trademarks of GoPro Inc. in the United States and other countries.
A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=28821
