On The Edge
Contest Madness Begins
By Peter Pan
The contest scene began in earnest, this past weekend, at the Narragansett Town Beach. The University of Rhode Island Surf Club put on their annual Spring Fling Surfing Championships, in solid 3-4 foot surf. The event was well attended, according to surf club president, Dominic Cerio. “We held it off until Sunday,” said Dominic, “Because of all the reports on lightning and heavy rains. The surf turned out to be much better on Sunday, so it was the right call.” Complete results will be included in next week’s column.
Newport’s First Beach is the location for the Eastern Surfing Association’s second rated contest of the 2008 season, and on call for tomorrow morning. Many of Newport’s top surfers are expected to attend, which is sure to heat up the ratings race in the New England District.
“We have had decent sized surf for the past five weekends,” said ESA Competition Director, Mario Frade. “It is inevitable that it is going to go flat, now that we have a rated contest on the schedule.” Frade noted that the contest is on call for tonight, and for interested surfers to be sure to call the ESA hotline after 6 PM, to make sure the event is not postponed. The hotline phone number is 401-727-2605. Entry fee is $20.00 and new members can sign up on the beach. Sign-ups will take place from 9:30 AM until 10:30 AM.
On the 26th, the ESA returns to the Newport area, for a special Waterbrothers contest fundraiser for the Alziemers Association of Rhode Island. Newport surf legend Sid Abruzzi is sponsoring the event, along with the Eastern Surfing Association. This event, named “Never Forget,” will also be on call for Friday night, after 6 PM. The location is Second Beach, in Middletown, and sign-ups will begin at 7 AM. Entry fee is $20.00. There will be prizes in all age groups.
Call the ESA hotline at 401.727-2605 or Waterbrothers at either 401-848-WAVE and 401-862-5189 on Friday night. Interested surfers can also go to the website for details, at www.myspace.com/waterbros.
Many local competitors will head to Montauk, New York, on the following weekend, for the ESA 2008 East Coast Surfing Championships North-East Surf offs. This is a 3-day contest that will involve nearly 400 surfers from the Northeast and Great Lakes. Top finalists will be invited to compete at the East Coast Surfing Championships Grand Finals, to be held at Cape Hatteras, in September.
Area surfers who will be competing in this year’s contest include the following: Ryan Richer (Men and Men’s Longboard), Ana Barend (Senior Women and Senior Women Longboard), Chuck Barend (Senior Men and Senior Longboard), Katie Zullo (Junior Women and Women Longboard), Ron Belanger (Senior Men and Senior Longboard), Katie Ryan (Women and Women Longboard), Chad Bruce (Menehunes and Menehune Longboard), Cob Ingalls (Menehunes), John Ryan (Boys and Menehune Longboard), Luke Ryan (Junior Men and Junior Longboard), Chris Orlando (Junior Men and Junior Longboard), Nora Vasconcellos (Junior Women and Women Longboard), Carl Berg (Junior Men and Junior Longboard), Evan Testa (Masters), Matheus F. de Souza (Men and Men Longboard), Peter Pan (Legends, Legends Longboard, and Bodyboard), Pat Redmond (Bodyboard), and Kitty Pechet (Grand Legends).
On May 31st, the Eastern Surfing Association will conduct its’ Annual Bay State Surfing Championships, at Nantasket Beach, in Hull, Massachusetts. This contest will be on call for May 30th, after 6 PM. Interested surfers can call the ESA hotline for more information.
