Six surfboard craftsman to compete as a tribute to Australian legend during Sacred Craft Expo.

ENCINITAS, CA. (JUNE 22, 2010) — Foam will be flying during the Tribute to the Masters Shape-off presented by US Blanks honoring Australian surfing and shaping legend Simon Anderson. Six premier shapers have been chosen to replicate the classic Simon Anderson Thruster design that the square-jawed regular-foot rode to victory during the epic 1981 Bells event that was graced with waves upwards of 15′.

The competing shapers are defending San Diego champion Pat Rawson, Matt Biolos, Brian Bulkley, Larry Mabile, Jason Bennett and Michael Baron. The winning shaper will receive a check from US Blanks for $1000 and their name inscribed on the Mike Marshall perpetual trophy alongside past winners Ricky Carroll, Pat Rawson and Wayne Rich.

“Everyone knows that Simon’s Thruster design was a groundbreaking concept,” said Hawaiian shaper and defending champion Pat Rawson. “Sacred Craft’s shape-off is a very fitting and deserved tribute to a legendary shaper and surfer. It should be a ton of fun seeing Simon and hanging out with the crew.”

The six shapers will each be allotted one and half hours in the US Blanks shaping bay. They will replicate a classic Simon Anderson Thruster. The Thruster design, utilizing three like-sized fins on a wide tail, took the surf world by storm in the early 80s. Today, in each and every surf shop you walk into, a three-finned Thruster inspired surfboard is for sale. The Thruster design is far and away the most widely ridden and recognized surfboard design in the world, and since 1984 every men’s and women’s world championship has been won on a Thruster inspired design.

I’m very stoked to have the Thruster’s 30-year anniversary honored at Sacred Craft,” said Australia’s Simon Anderson. “The list of shapers is very impressive and I’m humbled to have the guys take to the foam in my honor.”

The Tribute to the Masters Shape-off presented by US Blanks is part of the Sacred Craft Consumer Surfboard Expo weekend, to be held August 14 & 15 in the award winning Sail Pavilion atop the San Diego Convention Center and overlooking the beautiful San Diego Bay. In addition to the shaping competition, the Art of Shaping Orange County Edition auction presented by Billabong and benefiting a wide array of humanitarian causes takes place Saturday evening, August 14.

There are plenty of attractions at Sacred Craft including a vintage surfboard appraisals and surf memorabilia ‘Antique Roadshow’ event presented by Primo Beer, a Bob Simmons exhibit curated by the Surfing Heritage Foundation, the Young Guns of Shaping, hand laminating, vacuum bag laminating, an art grotto curated by Rob Havassy and the Surf Story Project, the Korduroy.tv short films lounge, surfers playing music for surfers on the Rhythm music stage, hundreds of state-of-the-art surfboards, cutting edge wetsuits, fins, surf gear, surf cars, surf art, demos, Surf Nerd surf trivia game, Primo Beer, movies, surfboard giveaways, and tons of fun.

WHO: Surfers, Shapers, Designers, Craftsman, Manufacturers

WHAT: Surfboards and the culture that flows from them.

WHEN: August 14 & 15 2010; Sat. 10am-6pm; Sun. 10am-4pm

WHERE: Award winning Sail Pavilion atop the San Diego Convention ? Center and overlooking beautiful San Diego Bay

WHY: Because surfers really only care about two things; waves and the ? equipment to ride them with.

HOW: $10 at the door includes TransWorld SURF subscription and door ? prizes including four brand new surfboards – U/12 FREE

For more info go to https://sacredcraftexpo.com

Or email Scott Bass – Scott@surfboardshow.com