Labor Day Surf Games

ESA
Narragansett Town Beach Rhode Island
30 - 31 August 2008

ESA Labor Day Surf Games go off in tiny surf, locals rip

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 2 September, 2008 : - - There were waves for the 2008 ESA Labor Day Surf Games, this past weekend, but not too many of them.  'Sometimes you just get skunked,' said ESA South New England Competition Director, Mario Frade.  'We pushed it off for one day, because all swell indicators called for bigger waves on Sunday.  The swell came, but unfortunately one day later…on Monday.'

While the tide was still high, there were plenty of contestable waves ridden by competitors.  But as the tide receded, sets became infrequent.  “We had to extend some of our final heats to almost ½ hour,” said Frade.  “It was certainly a challenge to hunt down the quality waves by early afternoon.”

Despite the tough conditions, local riders found those small pockets of energy in the tiny waves, and made the moves to pull out the wins.  The big winner of the summer’s last contest was Narragansett’s Matt Nota.  He showed great versatility, as he switched from funboard to shortboard, winning two showcase events.

Nota won the always tough Open final, by managing to bang off two hard lip smacks on the beach break close-outs.  Landing both of them, was plenty to put him ahead of second place finisher, Jarrett Parker of Westerly.  Matt switched gears and equipment to win the Boy’s title, gliding through some slow sections on a wide-nose fun shape.

Transplanted Floridians made a big impression in this first ever New England contest.  Jarrett Parker, former ESA stand-out from the South Florida ESA District, won his first Men’s title, and took 2nd in the Open. 

He also finished a solid 3rd in the Master Longboard Final.  It was another Palm Beach County rider, Sarah Lim, who charged to a big win in the Women’s division, and won again in the Women’s Longboard Final.  Both surfers now live in Westerly, R.I., but surf in Narragansett.

Narragansett veteran Janice Causey had an outstanding day, winning both the Senior Women and Senior Women’s Longboard.  She also took a 4th in the Open Bodyboard contest.  Andrew Nota, Matt’s brother did not have such a bad day himself, as he won the Menehune Longboard, cruising across two right slides that held up for what were certainly the longest rides of the day. 

Andrew also finished 2nd in the Boy’s Final, and 3rd in the Open division for a great all-around performance.

Pat Redmond continued undefeated in regional ESA competition, as we easily won the Open Bodyboard Final.  Two solid “El Rollos” sewed the title up.  Redmond, one of the finest bodyboarders in the East, was the only New Englander who made the final at the 2008 Northeast Regional Surf-Offs, and was a finalist at the East Coast Championships, last year.  

“It is important to get in as many contests as you can, “said Pat, after the final heat.  “I need the practice before the Easterns in three weeks.  It could easily be this small for the event.” Other local finishers with double victories included Alex Rastelli, who won both the Junior Men and Junior Longboard Finals.  Peter Pan continued undefeated in regional competition, winning both the Legends and Legends Longboard Finals.

Matunuck “Terror” Ron Belanger captured the Senior Men’s title, and Jim Chabot won his second straight Master Longboard title with some hot tube rides on the inside section.

This was the last tune-up contest before local competitors travel to the 41st Annual ESA East Coast Surfing Championships, to be held from September 21-27th.  This year’s event will take place at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, in Buxton, North Carolina, on the Outer Banks.  The next local New England event will be the 34th Annual Northeast Surfing Titles, to be held in Narragansett on October 18th.

Results of the ESA Town of Narragansett Labor Day Surf Games

Menehunes- 1. Cole Morehead   

Boys- 1. Matt Nota  2. Andrew Nota  3. Mason Morehead  

Junior Men- 1.Alex Rastelli    Men- 1. Jarrett Parker  

Senior Men- 1. Ron Belanger   

Legends- 1. Peter Pan   G

irls- 1. Elizabeth Davis  

Women- 1. Sarah Lim  

Senior Women- 1.Janice Causey   

Menehune Longboard- 1.Andy Nota  2. Matt Nota  3.Mason Morehead  4. Cole Morehead  

Junior Longboard- 1. Alex Rastelli  

Master Longboard-  1. Jim Chabot  2. Ron Belanger  3. Jarrett Parker  

Legends Longboard- 1. Peter Pan  

Women Longboard- 1. Sarah Lim  

Senior Women Longboard- 1. Janice Causey  

Open Bodyboard- 1. Pat Redmond  2. Peter Pan  3. Elizabeth Davis  4.Janice Causey  

Open- 1. Matt Nota  2. Jarrett Parker  3. Andy Nota  4. Elizabeth Davis  5. Sarah Lim  6. Ron Belanger

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