New England Mid-Winter Champs

Eastern Surfing Assn
Narragansett Rhode Island
20 February 2009

Waves and Wind for Mid-Winters

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 23 February, 2009 : - - The winds were 25-30 knots, the water temperature was 32 degrees, and the air temperature was 28 degrees.  With a solid 2-4 foot swell running, all ingredients were there for another successful Eastern Surfing Association winter contest.

This year marked the 41st consecutive New England Mid-Winter Surfing Championships, making it the oldest and longest running winter surfing contest in the world.  Because of the coverage given to this year’s event in Yankee Magazine, there were well over 100 spectators on the beach, watching the contest.

ESA officials waited until noon, to begin the competition, coordinating the heats with the incoming tide surge and decreasing winds.  This decision turned out to be the right one, as the swells increased in size and quality, as the day wore on.

“There were some great waves coming through,” said ESA Competition Director, Mario Frade.  “But the bottom has really shifted around since the last big swell.  You had to constantly move around out there, to find the best peaks.”

There were some great individual performances, especially in the Men’s and Open divisions.  Former Peruvian surf star, Jose Galvez, came out of retirement, to rip up a tough Open Final.  He found two outstanding right walls and worked them into the beach for the win.  Coast Guard Academy’s top rider, Jarrett Parker nailed down one perfect left tube, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the two rides of Galvez.

Jose Galvez : photo Joe McGovern

Hot newcomers Sean Doherty and Trey Van Buskirk finished 3rd and 4th in what turned out to be the most exciting final of the day.  Sean reversed roles in the Men’s Final, as he pinned down two set waves that sectioned perfectly into the shore break.  Doherty’s hard turns and cutbacks sewed up the title, despite a great performance by another new competitor, Andy Ragosta.

Narragansett’s Matt Nota continued undefeated, as he trimmed across three perfect, peeling right slides, and wrapped up the Junior Men’s title over James Pilkington.  West Kingston’s Kai Holtbakk took the Master’s short board crown, while Narragansett’s Scott Sutherland won the Senior Men’s title.  Peter Pan took the Legends short board division.

In a big shocker, it was 70-year old Grand Legend, Kitty Pechet of Cambridge, Massachusetts, charging to the win in the Women’s Open Final.  Kitty picked off two solid rights, working them into the beach for the title.  Narragansett’s Courtney Sutherland took the 2nd spot, while Connecticut’s top female rider, Sarah Lim finished 3rd.

New England’s top body boarder, East Coast and Regional finalist, Pat Redmond of Boston, continued to remain undefeated in competition, as he “el rollo-ed” his way to victory in the Open Body Board Final. In the long board categories, Matt Nota took the Junior title, John Clancey won the Men’s category, and Kai Holtbakk took the Senior title.  Peter Pan captured the Legends crown.

Special mention must be made of 10-year old Caroline Sutherland, the youngest competitor and winner of the Menehune Final.  This Narragansett surfer also surfed in the Menehune Body Board Final, finishing in second place.

The New England District became the first ESA district on the East Coast to introduce the Stand-Up Paddleboard Division as a new category of competition, at the contest.  “This type of surfing has become very popular in the past two years,” said Competition Director Mario Frade.  “We expect it to take off this summer, so we tested the waters with this first ever contest.  The spectators and competitors seemed to enjoy it.”

All finalists received special “Ice Hockey Player” trophies for their effort, along with icy cold winter surf wax, donated by Jimbo’s Surf Wax, produced in Connecticut.  This was the first rated ESA contest of the 2009 season.  The next scheduled event is for March 21st, 2009 at the Narragansett Town Beach.

Results of the 41st Annual New England Mid-Winter Surfing Championships Held at the Narragansett Town Beach, on February 20, 2009, with 2-3 foot surf, with a stiff off-shore wind. Water Temperature = 32 degrees.  Air Temperature = 28 degrees.

SUP Open-1.Peter Pan

Menehunes- 1.Caroline Sutherland  

Junior Men- 1.Matt Nota  2.James Pilkington  3.James Morse  

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

Menehune Bodyboard-1.Courtney Sutherland  2.Caroline Sutherland  

Men- 1.Sean Doherty  2.Andy Ragosta  3.Trey Van Buskirk  4.Jarrett Parker  

Women Open-1.Kitty Pechet  2.Courtney Sutherland  3.Sarah Lim  4.Janice Causey  

Master/Senior Open- 1.Peter Pan  2.Kai Holtbakk  3.Scott Sutherland  4.Nick Carter  5.Jose Galvez  

Open-1.Jose Galvez  2.Jarrett Parker  3.Sean Doherty  4.Trey Van Buskirk  5.Kai Holtbakk  6.James Morse  7.Nick Carter  

Open Longboard-1.Peter Pan  2.Matt Nota  3.John Clancey  4.Kai Holtbakk  5.Mike Escordi  6.Nick Carter  7.Scott Sutherland   

www.esasurf.org

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