Volcom Stone Greatwhite Surf Series scores Santa Cruz

Winners : photos Bart Keagy

Volcom Stone's Greatwhite Surf Series

VQS
Pleasure Point Santa Cruz
20 - 21 September 2008

Volcom Stone's Greatwhite Surf Series scores Santa Cruz

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 24 September, 2008 : - - Once again the Greatwhite Surf Series came alive for the season opener at Pleasure Point in Santa Cruz. Just like the last years first event the Greatwhite as greeted with some fun rippable 4-5 surf.

With overheads sets pooring in at first light, the cliff was quickly packed with competitors scrampling to be the first to get their entry forms in. Here's how the day unfolded. The Girls final was nuts, the division seems like it gets better every contest. The girls hit the water faster than a strike of lightning and their surfing was equally explosive.

Savannah Shaughnessy looked like a force to be reckoned with early on, nabbing a decent score on her very first wave. This was all it took to fire up Demi Boelsteri who snagged a set wave and threw a huge fins out turn, which had her in contention for the Electric volt thrower move of the day.

Pleasure Point : photos Bart Keagy

Lexi Wilson answered back with a high scoring wave of her own, but Demi quickly squashed all hope by grabbing an insane back up wave which she ripped it all the way to the inside getting her 8’s across the board. Mackenzie Kessler, Camila Gerard, and Vanessa Floyd surfed well all day but fell short in the final, bringing up the back half.

The Groms hit the water like a pack of wild hyenas. Wille Eaglton started the heat off quickly grabbing a solid score and taking the lead for the early part of the heat. Jake Logan answered back with some solid scores of his own but it was Kadin Puresi who really rose above the rest. Near the end of his heat he grabbed two massive set waves and put on a display of backside surfing even Occy would have been jealous of.

He grabbed the two big scores he needed just in time for the final buzzer to ring, getting him the win, a sick iPod dock, Riviera complete skateboard and more prizes then he knew what to do with. Seven Adams, Willie Eaglton, Jake Logan, Caleb Adams and Sachel Douphinez rounded out the final.

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The Juniors are stepping up there game and pretty soon they'll be giving the Pro Am division a run for the money. Noah Wegrich looked like a favorite to win all day but was unable to find the right waves in the final and had to settle for fourth. Patrick Shaughnessy had a huge score early in the final, getting him 7's across the board, but was unable to find a back up score and fell short to Cheyne Pearson's consistency.

In the end it was Shaun Burns whose ability to get a couple solid scores grabbed him the win and a backpack overflowing with prizes. Aaron Godfrey and Cody Frans rounded out the final.

The Pro Am division is always an exciting one in Santa Cruz with a constant struggle between the wiley old veterans and eager, up and coming young bucks. Bud Freitas came out of the blocks hot with some solid scores and put on a display of incredible surfing which showed that he deserved his spot in the final.

Matt Myers was also ripping, throwing down a series of blow tails and gouges to mix up some new school flair with old school power. Nick Erickson stuck a massive tail chuck which grabbed him the Electric Volt Thrower move of the event but he failed to find any kind of backup and fell short in the end. Tyler Smith showed his knowledge and experience by grabbing some of the longest and best waves which he ripped all the way to second place.

Pleasure Point : photo Bart Keagy

However, the real standout of the day was Randy Bonds, who put on a mental display of backside surfing. Bonds probably only caught a total of 8 waves in the entire event, just the two he needed to get him through each heat. In the finals it was another impressive display that got him the win, $500 cash and enough prizes to support a small village for a week. Bud Freitas, Matt Myers, Ashton Madley, and Nick Erickson rounded out the final respectively.

Special Thanks Goes Out To Our Product Sponsors: Electric Visual, Monster energy drink, Fuel TV, Riviera Skateboards, Skull Candy, Chipotle, Santa Cruz-NHS, Ogio, DVS Shoes, Vestal, Creatures of Leisure, Freak Traction, Da-Kine Traction & Accessories, Future Fins, Famous Wax, H20 Audio, Speck Products, Sun Cure & Ding All, Headhunters, Surfing, Surfer, Transworld Surf, Water, Bliss Magazine.

Extra special thanks to Monster for providing a kick ass lunch for all the competitors!

Josh Loya : photo Bart Keagy