During the summer of 2005, lifelong surfer Denny Bales, born and raised in Palos Verdes, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma disease. He was 21.
“We all were in college in our spirits were high,” said Nick Weber, one of the founders of Ratopia Surf Classic. “It was a shock at the age when we all felt invincible.”
Weber and his crew of friends came to together to form the surf contest “Ratopia Surf Classic” to raise awareness and funding for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).
“He was the first of our friends to go through something like this,” he said. “We wanted to share Denny’s story to support him as well as other people with the illness.”
Since holding the first Ratopia in December of 2005, the Ratopia Charity Fund has raised over $115,000 donations to the LLS.
“The contest has really evolved into into a holiday tradition bringing together friends and family for a good cause,” Weber said. “It also brings in surfers from all over the world with all different skill levels.”
Since being diagnosed, Bales’ disease is in remission. He is currently a popular art teacher in the South Bay.
“It’s a feel good contest for local surfers with proceeds benefitting cancer,” said pro surfer Alex Gray, who rocked the mic during the men’s shortboard final for last year’s event, cracking up the audience. “It’s a day where bragging rights are held high amongst friends.” ER
SPACE IN CONTEST IS LIMITED, ONLINE SIGN UP REQUIRED which can be found at the Eventbrite link https://ratopia2015.
