Brett to appear at Huntington Surf & Sport, Feb. 19Brett Simpson is a Huntington Beach hero. An ASP tour rookie and the winner of the 2009 US Open of Surfing, Simpson smashed onto the pro scene last year culminating with a rookie of the year award at the 2009 Surfer Poll Awards (check BNQT exclusive video recap).

The party will serve as an official kickoff to his ASP World Tour appearance.

Here's the official release:

Huntington Beach local hero Brett Simpson is about to embark on the 2010 ASP World Tour, and the City intends to send him off right. On February 19, Huntington Surf n Sport, in conjunction with Hurley Clothing and the City of Huntington Beach, will be hosting a Phantom True Performance Go, Brett party a mere hours before Simpson flies to Australia for the first big event of 2010. The party will be more like a Surf City Pep Rally, as hundreds of friends and well-wishers are due to gather to send off HB s highest-ranked professional in style. I m flattered about the whole thing, says 24-year-old Simpson. Huntington Beach has always been so good to me, so it always makes me want to do my best for it.

From 5 to 7 p.m. on Feb. 19 at HSS, Simpson and other Hurley athletes will be in attendance, signing autographs and handing out giveaways and prizes like a hand-shaped Bob Hurley surfboard. The main event will feature a new 15-minute film documenting Simpson s long-but-fulfilling road to ASP World Tour qualification. Huntington Beach mayor Cathy Green will then issue Simpson an official city proclamation, commending him for his competitive excellence and positive reflection on the city.

Simpson, a Huntington Beach High School alumnus and long-standing icon in the city, captured the hearts and minds of everyone at the Hurley US Open of Surfing this past summer. Surfing in his backyard against the world s best in the biggest, most treacherous conditions of the summer, Simpson powered his way to a victory and took home the largest prize purse in pro surfing history. He used the win to catapult himself to a tenth-place finish on the 2009 ASP World Qualifying Series and earn a ticket to the big leagues. After four years of trying, Simpson had finally made it. I came really close a couple of years, remembers Simpson. But looking back on it now, I wasn t ready yet. Now is the time.

The most anticipated ASP World Tour in years all starts on Feb. 19 at HSS. Come and make sure Simpson comes bursting out of the gates. Go, Brett.

WHAT: Phantom True Performance presents Go, Brett an ASP World Tour Send-Off Party

WHEN: Feb. 19, 5 7 p.m.

WHERE: Huntington Surf n Sport, Huntington Beach (PCH and Main)