Congrats go out to Bubble Gum team member Kanoa Igarashi on signing his new deal with Quiksilver. Good things ahead!!

2-year-old holds NSSA record for most wins in one season

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 10 February, 2010 : - - Quiksilver announced today the newest member of its world-class surf team--12-year-old Kanoa Igarashi--putting him among the ranks of surfing's elite. Amid the sea of young athletes trying to break into the pro surfing circuit, Igarashi stands out as the most promising that any have seen in a long time. And with an eye for talent and a roster of the world's best surfers, no one has been monitoring the influx of talent as closely as Quiksilver.

"Quiksilver is really excited to have Kanoa join the team," says Chad Wells, Quiksilver's Surf Team Manager. "He is a phenomenal athlete at such a young age and has a solid foundation of both air and rail surfing. Kanoa shows true signs of a world class athlete and his competitive record speaks for itself."

Among his competitive achievements, Igarashi holds the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) all-time record for 30 wins in one season- an impressive accomplishment for someone of his age. Through his driving spirit, Igarashi has consistently built an ambitious range of skill, tricks and maneuvers--leaving seasoned pros in awe of his talent.

"I'm really excited about my future and how Quiksilver is going to help me reach my goals," said Igarashi. "It's a dream come true."

Igarashi was born in Santa Monica, CA, to Japanese parents who taught him to surf at just three years old. He speaks fluent English and Japanese and currently resides in Quiksilver's home base of Huntington Beach, CA.

Citing his favorite spot as Snapper Rocks on Australia's Gold Coast, Igarashi is looking forward to traveling there at the end of the month to attend and watch the rest of the Quiksilver surf team as they compete in the Quiksilver Pro Australia, the first stop on the 2010 ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals) Men's World Championship Tour.