Surf and SUP Sensation Laird Hamilton Signs On as Honorary 12th Crew Member for the PUMA Ocean Racing Team- Adventure at Sea Begins with Monster Waves, Pioneering New Products and an Ocean Preservation Campaign Led By 13th Crew Member Mascot.
BOSTON, June 28, 2011-- PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG Propulsion today introduced Laird Hamilton, big wave surfer and father of modern stand-up paddleboarding, as the honorary 12th crew member of the PUMA Ocean Racing team. Through this unprecedented partnership, PUMA and Hamilton will join forces in two arenas: 1) to search for the world's biggest, ride-able waves and 2) to launch a line of innovative stand-up paddleboards. Additionally, PUMA revealed an ocean preservation campaign, spearheaded by new mascot, educator and honorary 13th crew member, Marmo.
The Search for the Monster Waves
Hamilton together with the PUMA Ocean Racing Crew will commence a search for the world's monster waves during the upcoming Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012. Skipper Ken Read and the crew aboard PUMA's Mar Mostro ( 'The Monster of the Sea' in Italian) will help track the world's biggest rogue waves which Hamilton will attempt to conquer, getting him one step closer to achieving his life-long ambition of "riding giants." Using the weather and navigational teams onshore and onboard PUMA's Mar Mostro, the crew will track wave patterns while sailing through the remotest reaches of the world's oceans. As monster waves are found, Hamilton will fly in, prepared to surf them.
"PUMA has a history of unexpected collaborations that change the playing field of the sports we engage in," said Antonio Bertone, Chief Marketing Officer for PUMA AG. "The introduction of Laird Hamilton as the honorary 12th crew member on our PUMA Ocean Racing team represents an epic clash of prowess on the ocean. We're bringing together the world's most elite sailors with their counterpart in the surf and paddleboard sector to serve as a key fixture of our Volvo Ocean Race campaign."
The key to Hamilton's success in riding the world's wildest waves rests on an innovative new "concept" surfboard by the same design team that brought PUMA's Mar Mostro to life. Juan Kouyoumdjian (Juan K), the mastermind behind PUMA's Mar Mostro Volvo 70, as well as the boat designer for two previous winning Volvo Open 70 boats, ABM-AMRO ONE and Ericsson 4, will collaborate with Hamilton on the surfboard development.
