January 29, 2009  - Haleiwa -- Ed D'Ascoli, founder and president of Xcel International, Inc. (Xcel) and director of the 25th annual Xcel Pro contest, was recently honored by the City and County of Honolulu for his many contributions to Hawaii's local surfing community.Ed and Mat D'Ascoli at City Council meeting

Joined by his son Mathew, Ed received an honorary certificate in recognition of his efforts at the Honolulu City Council meeting this past week. 2008 marked the 25th anniversary of the Xcel Pro, a 4-Star ASP WQS event first conceived and organized by Ed, who started the contest as an opportunity for local, up-and-coming talent to face off against more-experienced professionals at a world-class venue.

Originally run at Haleiwa Ali'i Beach Park, the Xcel Pro currently calls Sunset Beach home, kicking off the North Shore's winter season each year in late October/early November.

"On behalf of the People of the City and County of Honolulu, the Council congratulates and recognizes Ed D'Ascoli on the 25th anniversary of the Xcel Pro surfing contest," states the City Council in their honorary certificate. "Ed was the moving force that allowed local surfers to advance their careers competing in a world-class contest at home. His desire was to give back to the Hawaiian surfing community."

Today, the Xcel Pro remains true to Ed's original vision, as a high-performance event for both professionals and amateurs, allowing local talent to gain experience against nation-wide and international competition. For more on the Xcel Pro, please visit xcelpro.xcelwetsuits.com.

About Xcel: Founded in 1982, Xcel International, Inc. (Xcel) is a global wetsuit brand distributed throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific Rim. Headquartered on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, Xcel's core wetsuit business focuses on the cutting edge of material and design development. Xcel's primary markets include surf, dive, wakeboard, paddle, and sun (UV protection). In addition to its North Shore office, Xcel has stores on Oahu, Kauai, and Maui; and a warehouse/repair facility in California.

www.xcelwetsuits.com
http://xcelpro.xcelwetsuits.com