Jen McGovern : photo Joe McGovern

35th Annual Northeast Titles

Monster Surf For Northeast Titles

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 22 October, 2007 : - - Maybe it was a shift of the planets, or the position of the stars in the northern sky.  Or perhaps just a blast of some good luck mojo?  Whatever it was, the biggest and most powerful surf in nearly six months hit our coastline on the same day as the 35th Annual Northeast Surfing Championships was scheduled to run.

The surf jumped from less than one foot to almost double overhead in the span of 24 hours.  “We really lucked out,” said ESA Competition Director Mario Frade.  “We have a big and powerful swell breaking today.  The shore break is definitely treacherous.”

It certainly seemed so, as long and thick overhead sets pounded and tossed competitors as they tried to negotiate the vicious shore pound.  There were some truly spectacular wipe-outs, as contestants chose to bail out, rather than get caught in the exploding inside shore break.

“There were some bumps and bruises,” said Frade.  “One of the Master competitors got a good sized leg puncture from his own board, but there were no real bad injuries.”  Surprisingly, while ESA contest officials expected the surf to diminish in the afternoon, it got even bigger and more closed out with the incoming tide.

Peter Pan : photo Joe McGovern 

The big showdown came in the always competitive Open Division, where 12-year old John Ryan of Hull, Massachusetts, took his first ever title in that event.  John picked off the biggest and best formed wave of the final, and managed to pull off several strong cut-backs before hitting the devastating shore break.  His graceful exit, just as he hit the impact zone, clinched the win.       

North Kingstown, Rhode Island’s Katie Zullo showed her familiarity with the town beach break, as she took both the Junior Women and Women Long board titles with some nice, down the line moves.  Zullo was actually just one of many outstanding female performers at this event. 

Narragansett’s Jen McGovern ducked into a backside barrel to take the Women’s crown, while Cape Cod’s veteran ace, Sue (Lochiatto) Glidden impressed the judges with her power surfing in both the Senior Womens and Senior Women’s Long board finals. Nantucket’s Mya Kotalac found some inside sections, enroute to her first ever Girl’s crown.  Cambridge, Massachusetts resident Grand Legend Kitty Pechet styled her way to the winner’s circle in that final.

It was a great day for the Ryan brothers of Hull.  Between the both of them, they charged to five wins.  John had his best day ever in ESA competition, as he won three events, including the Open, Boys, and Menehune Longboard finals.  Luke took both the Junior Men’s and Junior Long board heats.

John Ryan : photo Joe McGovern

Scituate’s Chad Bruce continued on his winning streak, carving up some nice right faces to win the Menehune crown.  Former East Coast Championship finalist Pat Redmond of Boston, also continued his streak of 6 straight area wins, as he topped the Open Body board final.

In the oldster divisions, it was Narragansett, Rhode Island’s Peter Pan taking both the Legends and Legends Long board finals, and taking a few close-out sections on the head in the process.  Wakefield’s Jeff Benoit won his first short board contest with some great wave selection, as he took the Masters crown.  Narragansett’s Ryan Richer put out little effort in taking the Men’s event.

Connecticut’s #1 rider, Ron Belanger, captured both the Senior Men’s and Master’s Long board titles with some hard, driving moves in the fast breaking inside sections.  Pawtucket, Rhode Island’s Timmy Brooks came out of a 10-year hiatus, to win the Grandmasters division with some stylish moves on the hollow left walls.  And it was an injured Nick Carter who put together two scoring rides as he scratched out a win in the Men’s Long board final.

It was announced at the conclusion of the contest, that the Annual Surfrider Team Challenge is on call for next Saturday, at Nantasket Beach, in Hull, Massachusetts.  On the following weekend, November 3rd, the ESA will run an open intercollegiate competition for the University of Rhode Island Surf Club. 

This is scheduled to take place at Second Beach, in Middletown, Rhode Island.  Both events are on call for the Friday night before the contest.  The ESA hotline phone to call is 401-727-2605.

Final Results

Menehunes
1.Chad Bruce  

Boys
1.John Ryan 
2.James Pilkington 
3. Ben Murray  

Junior Men
1.Luke Ryan  

Men
1.Ryan Richer  

Masters
1.Jeff Benoit 
2.Nick Carter  

Senior Men
1.Ron Belanger  

Grandmasters
1.Tim Brooks 
2.Mike Salvadore  

Legends
1.Peter Pan 
2.Jeff Goodfriend  

Grand Legends
1.Kitty Pechet  

Girls
1.Mya Kotalac  

Junior Women 
1.Katie Zullo 
2.Nora Vasoncellos  

Women
1.Jen McGovern 
2.Fallon Barker 
3.Katie Ryan 
4.Esther Hahn  

Senior Women
1.Sue Glidden 
2.Melanie Kotalac  

Menehune Longboard
1.John Ryan 
2.Chad Bruce 
3.Mya Kotalac 

Junior Longboard
1.Luke Ryan  

Men Longboard
1.Nick Carter 
2.Ryan Richer   

Master Longboard
1.Ron Belanger 
2.Jeff Benoit  

Legends Longboard
1.Peter Pan 
2.Tim Brooks 
3.Jeff Goodfriend 
4.Mike Salvadore  

Womens Longboard
1.Katie Zullo 
2.Nora Vasconcellos 
3.Esther Hahn 
4.Jen McGovern 
5.Fallon Barker 
6.Katie Ryan

Senior Women’s Longboard
1.Sue Glidden 
2.Melanie Kotalac 
3.Kitty Pechet  

Open Bodyboard
1.Pat Redmond 
2.Ron Belanger 
3.Peter Pan 
4.Katie Ryan 
5.Jeff Goodfriend 
6.Mike Salvadore  

Open
1.John Ryan 
2.Ron Belanger 
3.Luke Ryan 
4.Nick Carter 
5.Jen McGovern 
6.Katie Ryan

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