<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Following the success of its inaugural professional longboard surfing competition in Malibu last fall, Relik’s organizers—and its world-class competitors—are counting down the launch of its first event for 2018. The Relik™ Modern + Classic Longboard World Tour commences at the iconic, perfectly shaped waves of First Point, Malibu. The waiting period from June15 through 25 provides ample time to run the event during optimal conditions.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“The goal for this new longboard tour is simple,” says Relik’s marketing and media director Devon Howard. “We want to celebrate the art and lifestyle of longboard surfing by gathering its best performers at the world’s best surf breaks. But for Relik, this tour is so much more than just another typical competitive surf sporting event. Each tour stop is ultimately about building community around the sub culture and lifestyle of longboard surfing.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Historically, professional longboard competitions have strictly adhered to a binary approach—focusing on either “Modern” or “Classic” longboard surfing formats. The Relik Modern + Classic Longboard World Tour—presented by Untitled Arts—will be the first of its kind to host divisions for both styles within the same event. Relik’s structure is unique to surfing but shares similarities to other competitive sports like skiing that has multiple disciplines and divisions. Additionally, Relik built in equal prize purses for all divisions.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Relik’s Modern Division fosters an approach to longboard surfing known for its diverse and powerful range of maneuvers that blend high-performance attributes with some notables from the past. “Flow” is a term best used to describe a Modern Division rider that seamlessly pulls all of those elements together into one beautiful ride. Modern board designs are lightweight and versatile, generally allowing them to be ridden on any size or shape of wave.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Classic Division approach is more specialized, known for being ideal in under head high conditions. Classic division riders use heavier board equipment that closely replicates traditional design characteristics of 1960’s era surfing, which lends itself to more stylish and cruisy maneuvers—like noseriding and drop knee turns.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Relik also carved out qualifying spots for those ready to stack their footwork against the world’s best. Its Open Qualifier provided 16 surfers the opportunity to join Relik’s tour by way of video submissions. A panel of professional surfers and judges viewed more than 200 entries from 17 countries before boiling the field down to the six men and six women for the Modern Division, and four surfers for the Classic.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Based on our first event’s beach buzz, and overwhelming positive feedback from the competitors and the local community, we felt as though we’d witnessed the birth of a new movement for surfing,” says Howard. “We’re excited that our Relik Modern + Classic Longboard World Tour will have the opportunity to both inspire and build a sense of community through celebrating all aspects of men’s and women’s longboarding.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Relik’s stop number two is confirmed for surfing’s premiere performance wave: Lower Trestles. Located in Southern California’s idyllic San Onofre State Park, its waiting period runs from September 8 through 18.</div><div><br /></div>