Tony is back in U.S. for his benefit contest Saturday 8/1.

TAHARA AICHI, Japan (Thursday, July 30, 2009) – Harley Ingleby (AUS), 25, won the Yumeya presents Oxbow ASP WLT at Tahara, over Duane de Soto (HAW), 32, in peaky two-to-three foot surf (1 metre) after a marathon day of competition at Long Beach in Tahara Aichi, Japan. Kure Beach’s own Tony Silvagni, a former US Open champion, had a tough draw as he was eliminated by former World Champion Colin McPhillips in the first round.

The Yumeya presents Oxbow ASP WLT at Tahara marks the first of two events on the ASP WLT calendar, which crowns the undisputed ASP World Longboard Champion at year’s end. The next contest slated on the 2009 season will be the Oxbow ASP WLT in the Maldives which will be held in October.

After battling through five heats today, Ingleby found the leftover endurance to finish up strong, jumping out to an early lead over de Soto and carrying the lead throughout the 35-minute final to take out the Yumeya presents Oxbow ASP WLT at Tahara.

“It’s just the best feeling in the world,” Ingleby said. “It was pretty hard out there and Duane is such a good surfer. I’m just so stoked I don’t even know what to say, I’m lost for words.”

Ingleby was in an identical situation last year after the ASP WLT in France and is hoping to put together a second solid result to take out this year’s ASP World Longboard Title.

“You couldn’t dream of a better start to the year,” Ingleby said. “Hopefully I can put together a stronger second event this year”

De Soto donated a commendable effort throughout the entire day, defeating reigning ASP World Longboard Champion Bonga Perkins (Haw), 36, on the way to his first ASP WLT Final appearance.

“I lost track of my game plan out there,” de Soto said. “I’m stoked to have made the Final and of course I wish I won, but it’s a good result.”

Perkins, who is a two-time ASP World Longboard Champion, was in amazing form throughout the Yumeya presents Oxbow WLT at Tahara event, but the Hawaiian veteran was stopped short of a Finals berth by good friend Duane de Soto, finishing in third place overall to start off his year.

“I had a heat with Duane (de Soto) and it’s a bummer because he’s my good friend, but there’s only one winner and he took me out,” Perkins said. “I was in this position last year, going in to the final event in third place, and I was able to win the title, so it’s a really good result. I feel really good, I just was stiff on my turns, but none-the-less, I’m stoked that a Hawaiian made the Final.”

Phil Rajzman (BRA), 27, who was the 2007 ASP World Longboard Champion, looked determined to claim a victory in Japan, but was unable to stop young Australian talent, Ingleby, in the Semifinals and finished in third place overall, which still keeps him in contention for an additional ASP World Title.

“I’m happy with the third-place-result,” Rajzman said. “It keeps me in the running for another title and I’m very happy to have competed here and I’m excited to continue to the Maldives. Harley (Ingleby) was the winner of the first contest last year and I think he found the best waves in that heat.”

For Yumeya presents Oxbow ASP WLT at Tahara highlights log on to www.oxbowpro.com

For additional ASP information check out www.aspworldtour.com

Yumeya presents Oxbow WLT at Tahara Final:
1 – Harley Ingleby (AUS) 14.75
2 – Duane de Soto (HAW) 11.75

Yumeya presents Oxbow WLT at Tahara Semifinals Results:
Heat 1: Duane de Soto (HAW) 15.60 def. Bonga Perkins (HAW) 12.75
Heat 2: Harley Ingleby (AUS) 16.50 def. Phil Rajzman (BRA) 13.50

Yumeya presents Oxbow WLT at Tahara Quarterfinals Results:
Heat 1: Duane de Soto (HAW) 13.50 def. Eduardo Bage (BRA) 10.50
Heat 2: Bonga Perkins (HAW) 15.10 def. Keegan Edwards (HAW) 11.35
Heat 3: Phil Rajzman (BRA) 14.25 def. Antoine Delpero (FRA) 12.40
Heat 4: Harley Ingleby (AUS) 15.35 def. Colin McPhillips (USA) 12.00

Yumeya presents Oxbow WLT at Tahara Round 2 Results:
Heat 1: Eduardo Bage (BRA) 12.25 def. Amaro Matos (BRA) 5.65
Heat 2: Duane de Soto (HAW) 10.75 def. Matthew Moir (ZAF) 10.65
Heat 3: Keegan Edwards (HAW) 12.00 def. Ned Snow (HAW) 9.90
Heat 4: Bonga Perkins (HAW) 13.75 def. Carlos Bahia (BRA) 12.70
Heat 5: Antoine Delpero (FRA) 14.00 def. Ben Skinner (GBR) 12.50
Heat 6: Phil Rajzman (BRA) 16.10 def. Taylor Jensen (USA) 15.40
Heat 7: Harley Ingleby (AUS) 12.50 def. Bryce Young (AUS) 10.25
Heat 8: Colin McPhillips (USA) 15.25 def. Alexis Deniel (FRA) 9.45

Yumeya presents Oxbow WLT at Tahara Round 1 Results:
Heat 11: Phil Rajzman (BRA) 13.60 def. Noah Shimabukuro (HAW) 10.10
Heat 12: Taylor Jensen (USA) 15.75 def. Eugene Teal (JPN) 9.00
Heat 13: Harley Ingleby (AUS) 13.65 def. Dylan Macleod (ZAF) 8.00
Heat 14: Bryce Young (AUS) 12.25 def. Sam Bleakley (GBR) 9.25
Heat 15: Colin McPhillips (USA) 14.25 def. Tony Silvagni (USA) 9.80
Heat 16: Alexis Deniel (FRA) 12.85 def. Romain Maurin (FRA) 9.00

The 4th Annual Ocean Grill & Tiki Bar/Silvagni Pro/Am Surf Contest held infront of the Boardwalk next to the Courtyard Marriott in Carolina Beach is being held on August 1st and 2nd. Everyone should park at the Hamlet avenue public parking access and walk down to the event. We are going to be starting up at 8 a.m. sharp for the surf contest on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, we will have a beach sign up at 7 A.M. for any last minute sign ups for any space available. This years event we will have all the same divisions with Pro Shortboard for Men/Women, Pro Longboard Men/Women, and all amateur divisions for longboard and shortboard for all age categories. We will also be doing a Novice division for anyone that has never surfed in a contest before. Everyone who competes in the Novice division will be a winner and will receive a tropy and shirt for entering. Tony Silvagni Surf School will be helping the competitors for the novice division. For any questions about the novice division, call 910-232-1592. All amatuer divisions will receive prizes and trophies for 1st-6th place. Pro Longboard and Pro Shortboard will have cash purses.

Saturday night we will be having the party at the Ocean Grille and Tiki Bar from 6 p.m. – 11: 30 p.m. with the Noseriders playing for the band, food & drinks, a raffle, and a silent auction. The fee for the party will be $5.00 to get a plate of food and there will be a cash bar. All proceeds will go towards Andrew Silvagni and the Lyme Disease Foundation.

If anyone has any questions or needs an entry form, they can go to http://www.carolinasurfcontest.com/

- Information Courtesy ASP & Tony Silvagni