The Becker South Bay Surfriders Club contest, the first of the club’s six-contest series this winter, attracted over 200 surfers Sunday at26th StreetinManhattan Beach. The entries included 48 groms and micro groms (12 and nine and under). A primary goal of the series, said SBBC president Mike Balzer, is to develop young surfers. The success of that effort was apparent not only from the increase in the number of groms, but also by the improvement shown by returning groms, such as Shane Mosley, Noah Steinmetz, Kiernan Walls and Finn Bertino. During last winter’s series, they were being pushed into wave by their moms and dads. On Sunday, they were paddling into outside waves on their own.[scrollGallery id=266]Photos (CivicCouch.com)
In the men’s open, old guy Ted Robinson, 48, put on a clinic for his young challengers. The former ASP pro, turned long board pro, turned big wave tow-in surfer proved he’s not forgotten how to rip the one- to three-foot Manhattan slop where he got his start. Robinson squeaked through the semis with a couple of thirds, then took control of the finals. Bewildered South Bay Surf League stars Kelly Zaun and Kent Nishia had to settle for second and third.
In the women’s open, youth did prevail when Mira Costa surfer Rachel Tominaga edged out Becca Rosen and last year’s series winner Natalie Anzivino.
To accommodate the large number of entries, contest director Matt Walls and beach marshal Wright Adaza ran two heats simultaneously through the day. The E.T. SBBC contest, the second in the series of monthly contests is January 21 at26th StreetinManhattan.
Results, in order of finish. Men open: Ted Robinson, Kelly Zaun, Kent Nishia. Women’s open: Rachel Tominaga, Becca Rosen, Natalie Anzivino. Juniors: Kelly Zaun, Kent Nishia, Jordan Robinson. Boys (14 and under); Chris Stimpfl, Jack Rowan, Kyle Beatty. Groms: (12 and under) Sam Reichel, Cole Warner, Jeff McBride. Micro groms: (9 and under) Luke Snyder, Shane Moseley, Matt Hahn. Longboard: Tommy Ostendorf, Hudson Riche, Jiro Ikeda. Masters (40-59): Ted Robinson, Matt Walls, Warren Kushner. Legends (50 and over): Scott Daley, Mike Purpus, Derek Levy.
