On The Edge

35th Annual Northeast Surfing Championships

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 4 November, 2009 : - - When Chuck Barend took off on a big overhead town beach set wave during the Masters Longboard Final, ESA staff photographer Joe McGovern did not even raise the camera lens up. He knew from his 40 years of riding the Narragansett Town Beach that the wave was going to shut down. But this was not a typical day of overhead surf at the beach as it turned out. “It just jacked up and started to barrel,” said ESA Competition Director Mario Frade. “He stood up in a dry barrel that just kept going....something I don’t think I have ever seen at this beach.” That ride which judges awarded perfect 10’s, was just one of many incredible left and right A-Frame waves that competitors enjoyed throughout the day.

“We postponed it three times,” said ESA Co-Director Ron Belanger. “And it turned out to be the right call for sure. The beach was actually breaking better than anywhere else when we started the contest.  I checked all the spots before we made the decision.” With the relatively balmy air temperatures and big ridable surf, the turnout of competitors was greater than usual for a late October contest. That fact along with the great surf proved to be the right formula for some hot surfing in almost all events.

Belanger should know as he surfed brilliantly in the event, winning the very competitive Open Division with two perfect overhead lefts that kept reeling for the big points. Ana Barend, fresh off her 2nd place finish at the Easterns pulled off the lip bash of the day on another of those perfect rights, to finish 2nd behind Belanger.  Ana’s husband Chuck, could not find the 2nd big set wave and took 3rd place.

It was definitely Ron Belanger’s best contest performance to date, as he sat on the far left sandbar at the corner of the contest area, and picked off three big time left peaks that propelled him to another first place finish in the Senior Men’s final.  Ace Peruvian transplant Jose Galvez finished 2nd with some nice slash backs. Chuck Barend nailed a super right peak, but could not find that elusive set wave and settled for 3rd.

Payback came big time for Chuck in the Master Longboard Final.  The heat was a close one until Barend took off on a big overhead right that looked like it was going nowhere fast. Even as he pumped as fast as he could down the line it looked like the curtain was going to close. Once he hit the inside shorebreak the wave began to throw out over his head and he stayed covered in the tube for several seconds before shooting out onto the shoulder. Longtime locals who saw the ride all admitted that it was probably the best wave ever seen at the town beach. With the take off in front of the seawall parking lot steps and finishing up at the south pavilion, it was tough to argue the point. Needless to say the perfect scores were well deserved and the win was a lock with that one ride. Ron Belanger got more of those perfect lefts to take 2nd place but not nearly enough to win this one. Newcomer to the ranks Jarrett Parker nose rode to the 3rd position.

Youth was served in the Junior Men’s Final with some very hot surfing. James Pilkington showed that local knowledge helps when he snared two overhead fast breaking right tubes to streak past James McGraghan for the title. Chris Orlando was only one point behind with a high scoring left A-frame peak. Ana Barend continued her unbeaten streak in regional competition as she blazed to victories in both the Senior Women’s long and short board finals.  Sara Parker landed some big bombs in the Women’s Final, making a super elevator drop and racking up the points on several nice lefts.

Floridian transplant Randy Chrone charged some nice right peaks to take the Master’s title over Jarrett Parker. Pat Redmond racked up big points with some wild drop-knee 360’s on two perfect left peaks in the Open Bodyboard Final. Kitty Pechet continued undefeated in the Grand Legends division as she worked the inside walls for the win.

The season will wind down with the final event of the year on November 21st. The Annual Holiday Surfabout is scheduled to take place at either the Narragansett Town Beach or an area reef break.  The event is on call for Friday night November 20th, after 6:00 PM.  The ESA hotline phone number to call is 401-575-0003. For more information, email bicsurf@hotmail.com.

Final Results of the 35th Annual ESA Northeast Surfing Championships held at the Narragansett Town Beach on October 25th, 2009 in perfect overhead conditions.  Boys-1.Cob Ingalls Junior Men- 1.James Pilkington 2.James McGraghan 3.Chris Orlando 4.Andy Ragosta  Men- 1.Chris Kelusak   Masters- 1.Randy Chrone  2.Jarrett Parker Senior Men- 1.Ron Belanger  2.Jose Galvez  3.Chuck Barend  4.Kai Holtbakk  5.Scott Sutherland  Legends- 1.Peter Pan  Grand Legends- 1.Kitty Pechet  Women- 1.Sara Parker  2.Katie Ryan  Senior Women- 1.Ana Barend  Master Longboard- 1. Chuck Barend 2. Ron Belanger  3. Jarrett Parker  4. Kai Holtbakk  5.Jose Galvez  6. Scott Sutherland   Legends Longboard- 1. Peter Pan  2. Kitty Pechet  Women Longboard- 1. Ana Barend  2.Sara Parker  3.Katie Ryan  Open Bodyboard- 1.Pat Redmond   Open  Shortboard- 1.Ron Belanger 2.Ana Barend 3.Chuck Barend  4.Jose Galvez 5.Andy Ragosta 6.Chris Orlando 7.James McGraghan  8.Chris Kelusak  9.Sara Parker  10.Jarrett Parker  11.Cob Ingalls  12.Scott Sutherland

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