The 2011 Sponsor Me Sunset Open Champion is Crowned

SUNSET BEACH, Hawaii, Jan. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Maui's Hank Gaskell, 24, delivered a stellar performance to win the 2011 Da Hui Sponsor Me Sunset Open. Gaskell reveled in Sunset's 4-8 foot wave faces despite the ever changing conditions from a building swell. Gaskell was in perfect rhythm with the ocean and secured the second ASP victory of his career, with both wins coming at Sunset Beach.

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Gaskell proved that he was the best surfer of the event, as he won all five of his heats throughout the 2 Day $10,000 event. The Final heat was stacked, featuring Gaskell, 24, Joel Centeio, 27, Ian Walsh, 27, and the 2010 Sunset Open Champion Myles Padaca.

The 35 minute Final was action packed from the get go with Centeio posting a 7.0, Gaskell a 6.4 and Padaca a 5.75 out of 10 points.  Walsh who started slowly, struck back with two good rides totaling 12.65. Centeio backed up his first ride with a solid 6.0 back up score and held the lead going into the closing minutes of the Final.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110120/LA33851-b)

With time counting down both Gaskell and Padaca were able to muster quality waves and find the tube to record their second solid scoring rides.  As time expired and the scores came in, Padaca posted a 7.1 and Gaskell a 7.25. The final results literally came down to the buzzer, with only one point separating all four of the finalists; heat totals of 13.65 for Gaskell in first to 12.65 points out of 20 for Walsh in fourth.

"I can't believe that I won!" shouted Gaskell.  Hank was in visible shock as he heard of the news that he had won as soon as he hit the beach.  "I'm so stoked that I won, I've been working really hard for this and it all paid off."  Gaskell received $2,500 for his efforts and will take this momentum on into the upcoming Volcom Pipeline Pro, January 24 - February 5.

The 2 day event was webcast live throughout the world by Ubiquity Broadcasting Corporation. Ubiquity Broadcasting's patented IP backhaul technology broke the boundaries of webcasting at this year's event with live in-water audio commentary from competitors, caddies and water patrol.  It was the goal of Chris Carmichael, CEO of Ubiquity Broadcasting and his crew to bring the action right to the viewing audience and they did just that.  

The 2011 Da Hui Presents Sponsor Me Sunset Open was produced by Sponsor Me and ASP Hawaii, and partnered with SONY, Da Hui, and Tamba Surf Company.  The event was broadcasted LIVE in HD Worldwide by Ubiquity Broadcasting Corporation on mobile devices including Apple's iPad and iPhone at sponsorme.com and on Time Warner Oceanic Cable TV.

About:

Sponsor Me

Sponsor Me is the premier action-sports social media group. Sponsor Me is creating a signature contest series for both professional and amateur athletes in the action sports of surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, motocross, MMA, drifting and others. The contests are supported by live webcasts via the Sponsor Me site and delivered to mobile devices. Sponsor Me competitions will be held regionally, judged by the pros, and the winners will go on to compete on a national level where fans will have the opportunity to vote online and via SMS.  The founders of Sponsor Me grew up competing and participating in all areas of action sports, and some continue to compete at a professional level today. For more information please visit www.sponsorme.com

Apple Inc.

Apple Inc., together with subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and markets personal computers, mobile communication devices, and portable digital music and video players, as well as sells various related software, services, peripherals, and networking solutions. The company sells its products worldwide through its online stores, retail stores, direct sales force, third-party wholesalers, resellers, and value-added resellers. In addition, it sells various third-party Macintosh, iPhone, iPad, and iPod compatible products, including application software, printers, storage devices, speakers, headphones, and various other accessories and peripherals through its online and retail stores, and digital content and applications through the iTunes Store.

Ubiquity Broadcasting Corporation

Redefining content creation and distribution for the digital age, Ubiquity Broadcasting Corporation is a next-generation company, creating the world's first ubiquitous network, where content distribution is platform and screen independent.  With more than 60 worldwide patents and patents-pending, Ubiquity is accelerating the ultimate convergence of media: mobile, internet and television.   In addition to its technology developments, Ubiquity Broadcasting Corporation also produces and distributes video coverage for the upcoming "Sponsor Me" series of Action Sports events.  The company is privately held, based in San Juan Capistrano CA.  

For more information on Ubiquity's technology, applications and innovations, please visit www.ubiquitybc.com

The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP)

ASP was formed in 1982 to protect the interests of professional Surfers. The association organizes the six professional surfing circuits including the World Championship Tour or WCT, which was renamed to the ASP World Tour in 2007.

Time Warner Oceanic Cable

Time Warner Cable (TWC) makes coaxial quiver. The company is the #2 US cable company, after Comcast, with operations in 28 states. TWC has about 14 million basic cable subscribers, mostly consumers, including about 9 million digital video customers. It provides broadband Internet access to about 9 million customers primarily through ISP Road Runner. The company also offers VoIP digital phone service to about 4 million customers in conjunction with Sprint Nextel.

Sony Corporation

Sony Corporation is engaged in the development, design, manufacture and sale of various kinds of electronic equipment, instruments and devices. Sony operates in five segments: Electronics, which develops, designs, manufactures and sells electronic equipment, instruments and devices for consumer and professional markets; Games, in which Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. develops, produces, markets and distributes PlayStation 2 (PS2), PSP (PlayStation Portable) (PSP) and PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3) hardware and related software; Pictures, which encompasses motion picture production and distribution, television production and distribution, and digital content creation and distribution; Financial Services, which includes the activities of Sony Financial Holdings Inc. ,and All Other, which comprises Sony Music Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. (SMEJ). On October 1, 2008, it acquired Bertelsmann's 50% interest in SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (SONY BMG). Sony Electronics is the largest unit of Sony Corporation of America, the holding company for Sony Corporation's US-based electronics and entertainment businesses. Sony Corporation of America's consumer electronics unit makes and markets products to tap into Sony's music, films, games, and other businesses. The electronics arm sells PCs (the Sony VAIO) and their peripherals, as well as TVs, VCRs, PDAs, DVD and MP3 players, digital cameras, camcorders, CD players, and car audio items. The company's also a retailer and operates about 60 Sony Style retail shops in the US, mostly in California, Texas, and Florida.

SOURCE Sponsor Me Inc. from Jason Shibata