Dempsey Surf Contest Sets Record

9th Annual WiLDCOAST Dempsey Holder Ocean Festival and Surf Contest

WiLDCOAST's 9th Annual Dempsey Surf Contest Sets Record

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 25 October, 2012 : - - A record 150 surfers from the U.S. and Mexico participated in the 9th Annual WiLDCOAST Dempsey Holder Ocean Festival and Surf Contest on Sunday October 21 in Imperial Beach.

"We had more surfers participate in the Dempsey this year than any other year," said WiLDCOAST Executive Director Serge Dedina. "And given the fact that a storm hit on Sunday, we were lucky to be able to run the contest in 2-4' sideshore and very contestable waves."

The Dempsey is named after legendary Imperial Beach Lifeguard Allan "Dempsey" Holder who pioneered big wave surfing at the infamous Tijuana Sloughs back in the 1930s. The Sloughs was declared a California Marine Protected Area earlier this year in recognition of the ecological value of the cobblestone reef that produces big winter waves there and is a critical habitat for leopard sharks.

Sean Fowler took home top honors in the men's division against a hot crop of San Diego rippers including Jacob Szchely who placed second and Joe Cowan who surfed into third. Puerto Escondido shredder Chavo Nunez came in fifth followed by San Diego's Jay Christensen. In the ultra competitive Jr. Men's division, Josh Johnson took top honors followed by Christensen, Daniel Dedina, Sean Franks and Shane Landry.

For the first time, surfers competed for the King and or Queen of the Dempsey, based on the total highest scores for participating in the Longboard, Men's or Women's, and SUP divisions. As a result, Candice Appleby was crowned the Queen of the Dempsey. Appleby also won 1st place in the Women's division and 2nd in Longboard and Stand-Up Paddle divisions.

This year's Dempsey also featured a Kneeboard division, with contestants from around Southern California competing for top honors. Brad Colwell took home the 1st place kneeboard trophy.

The Dempsey is an annual charity event and funds raised go to support WiLDCOAST's efforts to conserve and protect coastlines and marine ecosystems in San Diego County and Baja California.

Dempsey sponsors and supporters included the County of San Diego, Billabong, Ocean Minded, Cunniff Construction, Pacific Realty, Adept Process Services, Emerald City The Boarding Source, URT Clothing, Pacifica Companies, Baja Bound Insurance, UAPO, and Oakley. Additionally, Firewire, Electric Duck Surfshapes, TNT Surf Shop, JSIndustries, Torka, Pawa, Surfline, Surf Hut, and Matuse provided prizes for the event.

Generous individual donors also provided scholarships to allow children in need to participate in the Dempsey free of charge.

Menehune Boys
1st - Lance Mann
2nd - Peter Stewart
3rd - Cole Quinlan
4th - Jack Stewart
5th - Jack Outlaw
6th - Emiliano Mendez

Menehune Girls
1st - Lily Mann
2nd - Shaylin Weygandt

Boys
1st - Gavin Doan
2nd - Tanner Ford
3rd - Jack Stewart
4th - Ben Outlaw
5th - Vincent Claunch
6th - Loukas Lopez

Jr. Men
1st - Josh Johnson
2nd - Jay Christensen
3rd - Daniel Dedina
4th - Sean Franks
5th - Shane Landry

Jr. Women
1st - Dani Rose Hill
2nd - Daphne Mannhalter
3rd - Aries Chavira
4th - Zoey Curley
5th - Paloma Lopez

Women (18-39)
1st - Candice Appleby
2nd - BreAnne Custodio
3rd - Landy Spencer-Daly
4th - Peachy Allredge
5th - Michelle McDonald

Men (18-39)
1st - Sean Fowler
2nd - Jacob Szchely
3rd - Joe Cowen
4th - Ed Custodio
5th - Chavo Nunez
6th - Jay Christensen

Bodyboard
1st - Eric Seles
2nd - Cameron Bartz
3rd - Joshua Shaw
4th - David Apodeca
5th - Tanner Ford
6th - Robert Tschakart

Longboard
1st - Sven Karlsson
2nd - Candice Appleby
3rd - Noah Bender
4th - Terry Gillard
5th - Darren Smith
6th - Arthur Curtis

Stand-up Paddle
1st - Anthony Vela
2nd - Candice Applyby
3rd - Arthur Curtis
4th - Matt Bagby
5th - Mark Field

Masters (40-49)
1st - Michael Doan
2nd - Craig Macia
3rd - Terry Gillard
4th - Matthew Lord
5th - Mike Jackson

Masters (50+)
1st - Tim Gillard
2nd - Dave Lopez
3rd - Jim Malabanan
4th - Billy Huddleston

Kneeboard
1st - Brad Colwell
2nd - Evan Odom
3rd - Joseph Coyne
4th - Jeffery Wallis
5th - Fred Rodriguez
6th - Alex Pina
7th - Will Johnson