Swami’s ’07, just another Fall day at the REEF! Posted Thursday, November 8, 2007 by hunkydude
THE TEAM TAKES 3RD AT O'SIDE Posted Sunday, September 16, 2007 by hunkydude
Gold Leads LBSC to 5th Overall at Church 2007 Posted Friday, February 2, 2007 by hunkydude
LBSC graduate Posted Wednesday, November 15, 2006 by hunkydude
Dale Velzy contest Posted Thursday, October 12, 2006 by hunkydude
Your Party Donations at Work Posted Tuesday, October 10, 2006 by hunkydude
Tate Takes Twenty-fifth Tourney Posted Thursday, August 31, 2006 by hunkydude
Small but Strong, LBSC makes its presence known in NoCal! Posted Thursday, June 1, 2006 by hunkydude
12 Annual Spring Fling Redux Posted Monday, May 15, 2006 by hunkydude
Stoked on Wheels 2 Water Posted Monday, April 10, 2006 by hunkydude
Coalition retreat Posted Thursday, March 30, 2006 by hunkydude
Shon Esparza Represents at San Miguel contest Posted Wednesday, January 18, 2006 by hunkydude
The ’05 Cardiff Classic…Stewart leads the way again! Posted Friday, January 13, 2006 by hunkydude
Swami’s ’07, just another Fall day at the REEF! Posted Thursday, November 8, 2007 by hunkydude
~by Jans Baltgalvis
On October 6th and 7th the Swami’s Surfing Association ran their Swami’s Surf Classic and thankfully this year we were back at ‘The Reef’ in Cardiff. With a strong showing of force (13 surfers to the finals), our club finished in 6th place overall…but if you look at the results from the finals, the LBSC was peppered into almost EVERY age division!
You see sometime in the past, when the surf was unsurfable at contests (Malibu, San Miguel) the ‘directors’ began giving out points for frivolous non-surfing related activities (wheel barrel racing, flags, standing on your board the longest, chicken fights, dodge-ball, even karaoke, etc….) to decide final placings. Well some time in the more recent past, Otis the Director of the Classic, decided to start taking in points for everything under the sun. This year the events tallying up to the final score included (but was not limited to); stand-up paddling, short boarding, super mini groms, super legends, club president’s, the paddle race, the tandem, a specialty board event (GSI), karaoke (yes karaoke) and of course longboarding.
Anyways…here’s how our finalists did by division!
Men’s – Keiichiro Tomi 6th
Master’s – Steve Tate 6th
Grand Master’s – Walter Focht 6th
Legend’s – Mike Dawson 6th
Women’s – Anise Guzman 6th
Jr. Men’s – Mike Dau 5th
Grand Master’s – Tim Whalen 5th
Sr. Women’s – Jill Nakano 5th
Sr. Men’s – Jans Baltgalvis 3rd
Jr. Men’s – Jeff Newell Jr. 2nd
Girl’s 6 & under – Teal Baltgalvis 2nd
Boy’s 7-9 – Dolan Baltgalvis 1st
Women’s Shortboard – Anise Guzman 1st
TEAM – 6th Place Overall!!
See you at Church’s January 5th and 6th for the Gathering of the Tribes! Contact your contest director for more info/entry!< Top Of Page >
THE TEAM TAKES 3RD AT O'SIDE Posted Sunday, September 16, 2007 by hunkydude
~by Jans Balglavis
The Oceanside contest is always a favorite for our club! Of all the contests we do, the break at Oceanside most resembles our own, a semi-fast beach break. The conditions throughout the weekend were 1-2 with 3 foot sets that would sometimes skip a heat. We sent down 19 riders, a small but strong group with 10 making it through to Sunday’s action. The club ended up paying $2000.00 in entry fees and donations to non-profit organizations of choice.
The weather was really super nice and it really ended up being a fun, well run, classic summer long board event. On Saturday and Sunday in the amphitheater Dick Dale (and son) jammed for three hours and narrated his way through the entire session! He explained the origin of some of his songs and how they relate to his life today. Once again the steakhouse food was great and, after switching out a stubborn foamy keg, the micro-beer was tasty.
On Sunday, our young paddle team was sponsored by the generous folks over at the Coronado Longboard Surfing Association who allowed us use of their paddle board. This thing was a Dan Mann made-for-the-paddle-contest-gem, an 11 footer knife board with twinsies in and must of weighed 20 pounds…super light! Anyways the paddle team of Josh Garrison, Anise Guzman, Shaun Thompson, Jeff Newell, Jans Baltgalvis and Mike Jorgensen paddled to a second place finish…literally one wave away from the home team!
Finalists included: SHANE VAN HERK 4TH PLACE men’s division, TRES FOCHT 4th PLACE grand masters division, JANS BALTGALVIS 4th PLACE sr. men’s division and RYAN MATA 3rd PLACE sr. men’s division. These four; along with the 15 other contestants that donated money, time and good vibes took our team to a 3rd place overall finish!
Next up, the Velzy Luau (always fun whether you’re competing or not) on September 15th. After that we’re back at Cardiff Reef for the Swami’s Classic October 6th and 7th.< Top Of Page >
Gold Leads LBSC to 5th Overall at Church 2007 Posted Friday, February 2, 2007 by hunkydude
~by Jans Baltgalvis
On January 6th and 7th the surf clubs battled it out down at Church’s to start off the 2007 Coalition season. The weather was kind and the conditions were good with smoothness flowing throughout the weekend. Saturday saw waves in the 2-3’ range with good shape and Sunday dropped to 1-2 footers. As always the DLSA put on a spectacular show; from the board-n-bag shuttle, to the grinds, to the paid judges, it was kick back and all for a good cause…the toll road.
It is a busy time for us all, but we have to do what ever we can to prevent the toll road from being built. The toll road would just ruin that whole pristine magical area that stretches from Cottons to Old Man’s. If you are a surfer in Southern California you have made a trek to that magical area and know the impact it had on you….now you can give back by trying to save it from pollution and congestion. Go to www.savetrestles.com for more info.
So the club rocked it! With 26 surfers up against 17 other clubs (440 total competitors), sending 8 to the finals and walking away with a 5th place overall team finish! Here’s a re-cap….
On the South site for most of the morning the right was on and as the tide fell, the left would come and go. The North site had a good left on her all weekend into the Middles cove. The afternoons saw the tides sucking out fast. On both days the surf kicked up a bit with the drop and the right at Competition Point was peedling for 200 yards along the rock shoal.
On Sunday, throughout the finals, surfers found themselves constantly out positioning themselves too deep, elbowing for priority and not making the take-off section.
Young Sammy Gold Jr. knew this and played it wide. The entire heat, playing just off the top of the point, Sammy sat solo waiting for the swinger that usually accompanies every set. He ended up scoring gems throughout the heat, uncontested and right in front of the judges stealing the show and taking our clubs only 1st place finish….and it was in the hotly contested JR. MENS 15-19 age division!
Other amazing surfers that tore their way to the finals included: Jill Nakano 6th, Tim Whalen 3rd, Mark Stewart 3rd, Mike Dawson 3rd, Jeff Newell 2nd, and our newest assets…Rachel ‘the ringer’ Barry taking 2nd and the incredibly talented tandem team of Aaron and Leslie Lundquist who finished in 2nd!
Many mahalos to the DLSA and those who surfed for our club, doing their part to fight the toll road…let’s keep control over the decimation of our coastline before there’s nothing left! Do your part!
See you at the Spring Fling!< Top Of Page >
LBSC graduate Posted Wednesday, November 15, 2006 by hunkydude
~submitted by Kelly Hartwyk
From Fox Sports College Website:
Weekly Surf Club Corner with Lolo : With an outstanding history as being one of the nations top surf teams you would think the University of California Santa Barbaras surf team endures grueling practice schedules and rigorous training. However, like all things that thrive in Santa Barbara, the UCSB surf team is laid back and centered on having a good time, focusing more on partying than on practicing. One would think that this team sounds like a bunch of typical surf bums out for a good time, but no one can argue the outstanding success this talented team has achieved. This year UCSBs A-Team ranked second, just trailing San Diego State, in the NSSAs Southwest College Season Event #1, and looks ahead to a promising contest season with sights on reaching nationals.One of the teams newest talents is junior transfer Corey Hartwyk. In his first contest with the UCSB team Corey managed to snag first place in the mens longboard division. This Seal Beach native learned to surf when he was nine, and has been competing for seven years, accrediting his inspiration to Timmy Dorsey, Stormin Norm (Da Hui), John Husak, Surf Bob of Long Beach Surf Club. Corey usually frequents Sands for his daily ride, and when he feels like a bit or a road trip, or actually surf some waves bigger than knee-high, Hartwyk will head down to Rincon. When asked to describe overall vibe of the team Hartwyk stated We have a good team, in the first meeting we were told we?d have more parties than practices-I like that, its not like a normal team, but surfing isnt like a normal sport. When he?s not surfing? Well like any UCSB student Hartwyk says hes either partying, or working to pay for more partying. It looks like another promising year for the UCSB team and with new recruits such as Hartwyk the team is set up to surf a step above the rest, and have the most fun along the way.
If you want your team to appear in our weekly spotlight email me at lauren.schuil@foxcollegesports.net
from: http://msn.foxsports.com/id/1991727< Top Of Page >
Dale Velzy contest Posted Thursday, October 12, 2006 by hunkydude
by Jans Baltgalvis
It was yet another classic weekend at Boneyards for the 2006 Dale Velzy Luau down at Doheny State Beach! The surf was Waist to shoulder high all weekend and the weather was on, bikinis abounded with very little to no wind!
The DLSA put on another bitchin luau serving up killer food and jungle juice, first class show! The spirit of Dale was definetly in the air and the LBSC succesfully defended it's 2nd place finish for the third straight year!
Aside from a nearly all DLSA judging panel, here's how our finalists finished:
Shon Esparza, Troy Elmore and Adrianna Whalen all finished 6th in their divisions.
Ryan Mata, Tres Focht and Trevor Lucca each finished in 4th place.
Both Steve McKenzie and Mike Dawson took 3rd's in their divisions.
Tim Whalen was utterly robbed at gun point with a 2nd place finish.
And once again, noquestions asked, hands down 1st place finisher Mark Stewart put on a clinic for all in attendance and walked away with the highest wave point totals of the weekend!
And once again the LBSC took 2nd place in this, the newest of Coalition events.
Thanks to all who participated and continue to perpetuate the greatness of our club! See you at Swami's!< Top Of Page >
Your Party Donations at Work Posted Tuesday, October 10, 2006 by hunkydude
Dear LBSC Membership,
Thank you for the generous donation to the Los Angeles Pink Dragons, a division of Los Angeles Racing Dragons Foundation, a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal revenue Code.
Your continuing support helps provide a physical fitness program to women who have been affected by cancer. This important program allows women to regain control of their physical well being while enhancing their fight for recovery. Emotional support from other team members is also an important component.
We thank you for your gift and invite you to watch us race at a future dragon boat event!
Sincerely,
Sharon Mitchell
Team Manager< Top Of Page >
Tate Takes Twenty-fifth Tourney Posted Thursday, August 31, 2006 by hunkydude
~by John Narz
August 19, 2006, Bolsa Chica 23.
With a lot of folks on holiday, Katin doing a contest up the beach, Oceanside having their Coalition event and 1-2 foot surf forecast, it was a small but loyal crew that showed up for the 25th Annual Old Man’s Long Board Surf Classic.
First out were the girls. Jill Nakano showed her competition savvy by ripping the small but workable waves and besting Su Godwin and Laurie Craig. She also surfed the Super Heat and then high-tailed it down the 405 in time to make her heat in Oceanside.
Steve Tate eased through the first Men’s Heat, looking like a ballerina dancing all over his board. Steve Nelson took second over Joe Mottes Sr. and Tom Reed.
The second Men’s Heat featured a long-standing bitter rivalry. While John Narz and Surf Bob Edmondson fought for world supremacy, Phil Marte snuck by to take first place honors. Leon Darley filled out the heat.
South Bay charger Shige Shimomura outlasted Joe Mottes Jr., Randy Mendoza and Ross Marte in Men’s Heat 3.
The crème de la crème of Surf Club competitors advanced to the Super Heat. Catching eight scoring waves in the 15 minute final, Steve Tate squeaked by Shige Shimomura to become the 25th Annual Old Man’s Long Board Surf Classic Champion. With many finals under his belt but never a win, it was finally Steve's moment to shine.
Many thanks to all who pitched in to help with judging and toting stuff on and off the beach.
Fall Classic in late October.
TEAM RESULTS:
1st Team Pink
Captain Su Godwin
Phil Marte
Joe Mottes Sr.
Shige Shimomura
2nd Team Blue
Captain Jill Nakano
Surf Bob Edmondson
Steve Nelson
Joe Mottes Jr.
3rd (tie) Team White
Captain Laurie Craig
Leon Darley
Steve Tate
Ross Marte
3rd (tie) Team Green
Captain Wanda Lange
John Narz
Tom Reed
Randy Mendoza
HEAT RESULTS
WOMEN
1 Jill Nakano
2 Su Godwin
3 Laurie Craig
4 Wanda Lange
MENS 1
1 Phil Marte
2 John Narz
3 Bob Edmondson
4 Leon Darley
MENS 2
1 Steve Tate
2 Steve Nelson
3 Joe Mottes Sr.
4 Tom Reed
MENS 3
1 Shige Shimomura
2 Joe Mottes Jr.
3 Randy Mendoza
4 Ross Marte
SUPER HEAT
1 Steve Tate
2 Shige Shimomura
3 Phil Marte
4 Jill Nakano< Top Of Page >
Small but Strong, LBSC makes its presence known in NoCal! Posted Thursday, June 1, 2006 by hunkydude
~by Jans Baltgalvis
Memorial Day Weekend. May 26 & 27, 2006. Your Long Beach Surf Club competition team just returned from another bitchin' weekend up at 'the Lane' in beautiful Santa Cruz. It was the 22nd running of the Memorial Day Classic, the oldest longboard contest on the coast! They were claiming all kinds of anniversaries up there; like, the first surfboard ever made (it was shaped from redwood) for the first surfers surfing in America (3 Hawaiians in 1885 at the Santa Cruz river mouth), and the 20th year of the Lighthouse Surf Museum. They're getting serious about that whole 'Surf City' deal...they're pretty pissed at HB! There are surf city signs being thrown up everywhere!
The surf was a solid 2-3 foot at Steamer Lane, with a swelling tide all morning, then receding all afternoon. The days were classic early summer conditions with strong winds blowing off the point and sheltered conditions in the cove. Cowells (the novice and menehune venue) was full of sand giving way to long slow rollers, more like dribblers, up to 250 yards long! The seals were barking all day and you couldn't escape the smell of the ocean!
Here are the results from the finals...a huge shout out to Sammy Gold (Jr. Men) and Justin Hugron (Sr. Men) for taking First Places in their divisions, especially Justin who took overall top score honors for the weekend against the likes of 'Rat Boy' Collins, CJ Nelson and Josh Mohr!!! Huge congratulations goes out to, Mike Jorgensen (Jr. Men 4th), Dolan Baltgalvis (Novice 2nd) and newbie Catherine Vazquez (Menehune 6th against all guys) for making the finals in their divisions as well! Our paddle team also scored a 4th place raking in big points!
Once again we enjoyed great weather, fun surf, tasty grinds, and good times! With a contingency of only 18 surfers we managed to pull off a sixth place showing overall! Our club's best showing to date at the prestigious NoCal venue! Many Mahalos go out to the SCLU for putting on another user friendly show full of good vibes!
I thank the whole crew that sacrificed (especially at the pump) for making the journey, it takes a team effort and it paid off! I also thank everyone else in the club for supporting our efforts in contributing to local charities up and down the coast! We easily donate $1500.00 or more in entry fees at each of the coalition contests and that couldn't be down without you.....and the mighty Katin Surf Shop!
SCLU Memorial Day Contest 2006: Complete Results
Novice:
1 – Henry Buckley MBC
2 – Dolan Baltgalvis LBSC
3 – Matt Hertzberg PPSC
4 – Kyle Jackson PPSC
5 – Izzy Yserbrands SBSC
6 – Keoni Alexeou SCLU
Menehune:
1 – Zach Hines DLSA
2 – Blake Humann OLSC
3 – Jimbo Borland MSA
4 – Josh Grandula SSA
5 – Clay Pfaendler SBSC
6 – Cathy Vasquez LBSC
Tandem:
1 – McEvilly WSC
2 – Linquist WSC
3 – Banner/Valerie SSA
4 – Cosby/Harris OLSC
5 – Schwodel/Rubacal SBSC
Jr. Women:
1 – Marissa Barry DLSA
2 – Britlyn Coleman MSA
3 – Alison Casey MSA
4 – Kaitlin Maguire OLSC
5 – Erin Lewis OLSC
6 – Gigi Goldeen SCLU
Mens:
1 – Justin Hugron LBSC
2 – Tyler Warren DLSA
3 – Andrew Barker SCLU
4 – Buck Noe WSC
5 – Anthony Daddario BSSA
6 – Ryan Engle DLSA
Masters:
1 – Mike Emerson SSA
2 – Danny Cortazzo MBC
3 – Doug Rayle PBSC
4 – Wayne Rich SBSC
5 – Beck Selzer SBSC
6 – Robert Waldemar SCLU
Sr. Women:
1 – Chris Chieci BSSA
2 – Jane McKenzie SCLU
3 – Mary Schwinn MBC
4 – Amelia Valley CWCS
5 – Asi Ghiassi PPSC
6 – Karen Cochran PPSC
Sr. Men:
1 – Josh Mohr HBLC
2 – Osh Bartlett WSC
3 – Jason Collins SCLU
4 – Brian McEvilly WSC
5 – Mike Gerhardt MBC
6 – Vince Felix MSA
Women:
1 – Julie Cox MSA
2 – Ashley Lloyd MSA
3 – Janna Irons SBSC
4 – Cathy Mayerhofer SCLU
5 – Michelle Blight PPSC
6 – Dayna Pietrantoni SCLU
Jr. Men:
1 – Sammy Gold LBSC
2 – Richey Cravey SSA
3 – Bucky Berry DLSA
4 – Mike Jorgensen LBSC
5 – Alex Calkins DLSA
6 – Brett Robius MSA
Legends:
1 – Rym Partridge SCLU
2 – Greg Cochran PPSC
3 – Harold Reed WSC
4 – Burt Davis SBSC
5 – Jack Ellis CWSC
6 – Pat Rogan MSA
Grandmasters:
1 – Mario Quiros MSA
2 – Danny Bralver SBSC
3 – Tom Davidge WSC
4 – Frosty Hesson SCLU
5 – Bob Pearson SCLU
6 – Joel Baldwin PPSC
Paddle Race:
1 – Doheny
2 – SCLU
3 – Santa Barbara
4 – Long Beach
5 – Oceanside
6 – MSA
7 – Swamis
8 – Big Stick
9 – Pedro Point
Best Wipe Out – Douglas Smith OLSC
Highest Scoring Wave – Justin Hugron LBSC (17)
Team Standings:
1 – SCLU 1,270
2 – MSA 1,180
3 – Doheny 990
4 – SBSC 900
5 – WSC 840
6 – LBSC 700
7 – PPSC 560 Tied for 7th
8 – SSA 560
9 – BSSA 460
10 – MBC 410
11 – OLSC 400
12 – PBSC 200 Tied for 12th
13 – CWSC 200
14 – VSC 120 Tied for 14th
15 – HBLC 120
16 - Blackies 0< Top Of Page >
12 Annual Spring Fling Redux Posted Monday, May 15, 2006 by hunkydude
~by Jill Nakano
Tower 23 Bolsa Chica, May 13, 2006.
Life is good as it gets and good karma was here. The rescheduled Spring Fling finally flung its way on May 15 after disappointing conditions on April 15 were cancelled due to stormy and unsurfable conditions.
At 7:30 am, the sun was shining and the parking lot was unusually already packed and a definite buzz was in the air. Cars circled around like predatory vultures while others with engines running double-parked and waited hoping for dawn patrollers who got their quota of waves to leave and free up prime parking spaces. It was epic, solid head high 3 – 4 foot overhead continuous non-stop pumping wave sets. Amped up by the conditions, the happy-shiny, die-hards who showed up, donned on their neoprene battle suits, smearing wax on their finely tuned sticks and charged like the light brigade. This was the scene at T R E S T L E S…DOH!
Meanwhile at Bolsa Chica Tower 23 it really - no really - it went down like this…
Greeted by overcast skies, conditions were 2’– 3’ knee to waist high, inconsistent and fair on a rising tide. As far as the eye could see, the weekend wave warriors were lined up in full force north and south of Tower 23. In front, clean and glassy waves hit the shifty contoured sand bars ranging from waist - high sneaky outsiders peeling left and right into a ledgy back wash shore break where surf legend and club elder, Jericho Poppler and John Narz, where spotted competing nose-to-nose vying for enlightenment status.
The club elders, the legend, the committed die-hards and ardent few showed up. Elders, John Narz and Dave Stanfield, using their keen judgment and prowess, quickly surveyed the situation and deemed it a free surfing expression session. Leading the brigade, the highly motivated world champion, Jericho Poppler, was spotted fashionably attired in her spring suit, dashing across the beach into the water - the expression session was on! Here’s a partial list of the who’s who also spotted in the line-up…Randy Mendoza, Doug Snow, Su Godwin, Tres and Madeline Focht, Steve McKenzie, Leon Darley, Phil and Ross Marté, Shige Shimomura, Sam and Sammy Gold, Jill Nakano and Pat Butler.
Second session players included, but were not limited to, Shon Esparza, the Lucca crew and Erica Villaraza.
The Spring Fling brought out true Long Beach club spirit amongst down-to-earth and talented members alike. The beauty of free surfing lay in the love and good vibes experienced by all that no container of multi-colored jelly beans could ever create whether it was pink, green, black, yellow, white, or red jelly bean team – everyone was a winner!< Top Of Page >
Stoked on Wheels 2 Water Posted Monday, April 10, 2006 by hunkydude
~ by Jans Baltgalvis
On March 26th about a dozen of our club members, myself included, went down to Main Tower Bolsa Chica State Beach to participate in the Wheels 2 Water event that apparently takes place monthly. The surf was on! It was glassy and 2 foot with some 3 foot sets out of the NW on a dropping tide. Participants didn’t get out into the water until around 9:30 or so and the tide had created a shallow inside section that turned out to be perfect for long 50 yard rides!
As people in wheelchairs showed up they were escorted to the wetsuit changing area then loaded onto wheelchairs modified for the sand and rolled out onto the tidal berm. From there they were briefed and taken down to the shoreline, where they were met by water volunteers (mostly surfers) who took them out for the ride of their lives!
About 75 volunteers were present and 15 participants ranging in age, but mostly adult. Each participant was taken out, by at least 4 volunteers, past the inside break and into the mid-channel where they were briefed again on what to do if they wiped out. Lining the inside were yet more volunteers waiting to catch the participants as they surfed their way to the inside on their bellies to hoots and hollers. The first two riders pearled it over the falls, but after some adjustments everyone else made the drop and ended up catching at least 3 waves.
The smiles and stoke on their faces just lit up the crowd, and the water’s chilly temperature was no match for the love being shared for our sport. I don’t know who was more stoked, us volunteers or the participants themselves. For almost every participant it was their first time in the water, let alone surfing. Truly a dream made reality.
Thanks Wheels 2 Water!< Top Of Page >
Coalition retreat Posted Thursday, March 30, 2006 by hunkydude
~by Shon Esparza
The Coalition Of Surfing Clubs had a gathering March 25th 2006 at Leo Carrillo State Beach. I counted six clubs including us that attended this meeting. Oceanside, Doheny, M.S.A., Swami's, & Malibu Board riders.
We discussed a number of topics, voted and passed three new standards.
1st. standard. = The 7 clubs that host contest have the right to veto any rule passed by the general group of clubs.
2nd standard = all contest (except Santa Cruz who was not there) will score the best two waves of any heat. M.S.A. and Oceanside may score 3 waves in the finals.
3rd. standard = all contest will run 10 year age groups. 20-29, 30-39 and so on. (except Santa Cruz who was not there)
Topics put on the table for a future gathering were:
Mark Calkins & Joe Barry from D.L.S.A. would like to see the San Miguel contest taken off the Coalition list of contest due to unfair judging and switching surfers in other age groups.
The Swami's club is looking for a place hold their contest. The State Parks will not allow them at Cardiff this year.
All the clubs including Long Beach want any future Coalition meeting to talk 90% about environmental / charities issues, and 10% contest issues.
All and all it was a good weekend, no name calling or fighting. Waves were 1-2 & glassy. Love that place.< Top Of Page >
Shon Esparza Represents at San Miguel contest Posted Wednesday, January 18, 2006 by hunkydude
~by Shon Esparza
On Thanksgiving weekend 2005, Windansea held their year-end contest down in San Miguel, Baja. Long Beach Surf Club member, Shon Esparza, participated in this annual event. He took a 4th place in his first heat and was out on Saturday. The wave conditions were head-high and bumpy. But, the sun was out and the sky was clear. Overall, the event was well organized and run smoothly. Many of the other clubs in attendance had great turnouts.
You are encouraged to contact Shon if you would like to go in 2006.< Top Of Page >
The ’05 Cardiff Classic…Stewart leads the way again! Posted Friday, January 13, 2006 by hunkydude
~by Jans Baltgalvis
October 8th and 9th saw the LBSC down at Cardiff reef for the 14th annual Swami’s surfing contest. This year Sir Guy Takayama also included one of his nose-riding events for cash money, an expanding circuit of objectively judged nose-riding contests to keep an eye on. Our club had a couple of great campsites again and the weather was decent.
Saturday saw the ugly left overs of a recent storm that kicked up overhead surf in messy…no ugly conditions. In fact, some talented traditionalists on the team that had camped Friday night bailed out on their first round heats…too cool for school I guess. Sure enough, Sunday was firing! Those who braved Saturday were paid off with head high, glassy surf and sunny skies. Karma had set in once again!
We had a solid team on all accounts aside from the flakes we lost on Saturday morning. Our short-boarders finished as follows; Raquel Bartlow took two 2nd’s on her way to a 7th place overall. Mark Stewart finished an unusual overall 6th, with all around ripper Justin Hugron taking a 5th. Scott Stopnik finished with a 2nd, and both Connie Hurst and Steve Thomas led the way finishing in 1st place!!!!
In the nose-riding event, Mark Stewart blew up! Footage taken show incredibly long rides that ended in the head high impact zone of ‘inside lefts’. His performance would have dominated had it not been for the oversight of wearing a leash. After watching him walk by, paddle out and surf the entire semi-finals with a leash on, Guy happily disqualified him after an incredible show.
In long boarding, Master Steve Thomas rode two 2nd’s to an overall 5th place finish, as did new phenom Sam Gold in the Jr’s. Connie Hurst tore her way to the finals with back to back 1st’s, finishing in 4th place overall amongst the Sr. Women. Scott Stopnik literally pulled in over at ‘suck outs’ during his finals heat in the Men’s division earning him a 3rd place overall finish. While once again Mark ‘en fuego’ Stewart blew the competition away and again garnering yet another 1st place finish in the Sr. Mens division.
With the tandem team of Bartlow/Baltgalvis taking an all time high 5th place overall and a 7th place finish in the ‘hoakie’ modified paddle/run race the club had a strong overall showing. Long Beach walked away with a 4th place team finish, our third highest finish of the year!
A giant thanks to all our members, competitors and support staff (significant others) for yet another heaping helping of good waves, good times and good memories…all with good friends!< Top Of Page >