Ashworth Awards Named the Official Awards Sponsor of the 2015-2016 Sea Otter Classic

Massachusetts-Based Company Continues to Lead the Way in Custom Award Design

February 5, 2015 – Ashworth Awards announces its partnership with Sea Otter Classic as the official awards sponsor of the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

Ashworth Awards is a leading manufacturer and supplier of custom medallions, awards, plaques and other recognition products. Through dedicated service and a commitment to quality the Ashworth Awards team has developed long-standing relationships with some of the most recognized endurance events and skill competitions in the world, including the Boston Marathon, IRONMAN, US Figure Skating and a variety of other national and international events. Ashworth Awards offers award and recognition products for events of every size and scale.

The 2015 Sea Otter Classic, "A Celebration of Cycling," will be held April 16-19, 2015 at Laguna Seca Recreation Area, Monterey, California. This four-day, action-packed cycling festival features a full schedule of amateur and professional events, as well as activities for family members of all ages. The Sea Otter Classic also plays host to the largest consumer bike exposition in North America.

Racers make the annual pilgrimage to Sea Otter to participate in cycling’s best competitive and non-competitive events. Mountain bike races include an epic cross-country, dual slalom, downhill, and more. Road cyclists enjoy road racing and circuit racing on the world-famous Laguna Seca Raceway. And for those who want to bike in less-competitive fashion, Sea Otter offers the Gran Fondo, with two great options. 

The Sea Otter Village serves as the hub of the event and pulses with free bike demos, stunt shows, and live entertainment ---plus kids’ playhouses and special activities for children 12 and under. Other village hotspots include an international food court, a beer and BBQ garden, as well as the Sea Otter exposition area. The expo area features hundreds of vendors with new products on display, sample giveawarys and fantastic bargains. In the Sea Otter Village, hundreds of professional road and mountain bike athletes will be present to share their racing techniques with fans and sign autographs.

EVENT BACKGROUND: "You guys should put on a mountain bike race." That simple statement from a Monterey bike shop owner in 1990 was the genesis for the Laguna Seca Challenge, later renamed the Sea Otter Classic.

Co-founders Frank Yohannan and Lou Rudolph hosted the inaugural Laguna Seca Challenge on April 6 and 7, 1991. The event had a total of 350 athletes and 150 spectators. In 1993, the Laguna Seca Challenge was renamed the Sea Otter Classic. By 2010, the Sea Otter Classic had become a four-day celebration of cycling welcoming more than 8,500 athletes and 50,000 fans. The event is now regarded as the bicycle world’s premiere festival and one of the world’s largest. The little mountain bike race has grown up.

About Sea Otter Classic, Inc. 

Regarded as the world’s largest cycling festival, this four-day “Celebration of Cycling” hosts nearly 10,000 professional and amateur athletes and 65,000 fans. The 25th Annual Subaru Sea Otter Classic Powered by SRAM takes place April 16-19, 2015 at the Laguna Seca Recreation Area, Monterey, California. For more information, visit www.seaotterclassic.com

About Ashworth Awards

For 50 years, Ashworth Awards has been a go-to resource for race directors, event coordinators, coaches, and industry leaders with their recognition products and awards. By providing the highest quality manufacturing and materials, unbeatable pricing, custom designs, and industry leading customer service they have created a seamless experience, assisting in recognizing their customer’s event participants as well as acquiring the proper recognition and exposure that events deserve.