The International Surf Festival Surf Contest benefited from almost winter like conditions Saturday morning on the north side of the Manhattan Beach Pier. Glassy, three-foot walls were peeling off under cool, overcast skies. Contest director John had two heats running simultaneously, with the groms surfing in front of the lifeguard tower and the adults to the north of them. John Grannis, Joey Lombardo, John Joseph Jr., John Gonzales, Alfred Laws, Chris Wells and myself were enlisted to judge.
The contestants ranged from gradeschoolers to seniors.
Spyder Surfboards Tamara Lantz observed, “Half of the girls I am surfing against are not even in high school. I don’t know if I’m surfing in a contest or babysitting.”
Manhattan Beach Middle School’s Megan Seth tore the lip off a fast right racing off the pier, looking just like pro Tatiana Weston Webb. Asked her how it was, she answered, “So fun. I had a blast out there.” In her final heat, she caught the biggest set waves and went for huge floaters that most of guys wouldn’t even attempt.
Seth won the Women’s Open division and the Junior Men’s division.
“Holly Beck and Natalie Anzivino better move over because there is a new lady sheriff in town and her name Megan,” Chris Wells quipped.
In the boys division, Peus Briggs started things off with some nice backside coasters on the fast rights off the Pier. Chad Parks and Ryan Hughes also went after the rights, popping out of some fast tubes and slicing deep cutbacks and roller coasters. Ryan said
“The surf is fun and it gets better with every heat. I love it out there,” Hughes said.
Parks agreed. “It’s perfect for my hacks off the top,” he said.
Young Cash Cherry from El Porto tore it up on his longboard, riding the fast lefts down the beach into the pier.. Steve Wilson from Seal Beach was the major longboard standout, getting long lefts, hanging 10 down the line and scampering back in time for a nice redirect off the right.
Wilson won the Longboard Division.
The shortboard standout was this skinny regular footer who tore apart the rights off the pier with big cutbacks and 10 yard floaters down the line. He made at least three coasters on every wave. Wells asked,”Who is this guy? He is taking this little local surf contest to a whole new level.”
After his heat he said, “I am Yuri Fresia from Brazil. I just got here and I am having fun.” He won the men’s division
In the Legends division, Mike McGruder was riding the peak away from the pier and getting long rides while Joey Lombardo scooted down the face of the big sets. Rick Logue and I were lost until settling in on the big peak right next to the pier. After Rick and I caught our first wave Joey and Mike jumped, on it forcing me down the beach. Rick caught a nice set right and received roars from the beach as he flew out of the tube and off the top, landing a big floater. It was the high point wave of the day and earned him the Legends division win. ER
