Ever done a contest? how'd it go?

done a few longboarding ones I think I did average for myself considering I was pretty average...most shameful for me was when I did one completely stoned, did not go for one single wave, that was pretty bad but most embarrassing for me was the first one I did when I was little.. barely knew how to standup like 1 out of 3 waves could actually just pop up... anyways was fckin clueless on where to go or what to do I think I got last it was like some grom dumbass contest in squan, mom thought it would be great experience.. yea no mom

 

You won't find Chandler in no contest!

 

But Rick...Rick is the first one in bro.

 

1) wiggle bottom in public.
2) tell media how good you are.
3) do not surf til next contest.

 

I do contests as much as I can. Its cool to watch your ESA points rack up, and then you can go to regionals in LBI. Its been a great learning experience for me in my surfing.

 

Ive surfed in charity ones like the Brendan Borek and the Nuns Beach contest. They are political like anything else you do that has judges. Its all in good fun in the end no need to take it too serious

 

did esa in Md in the 80s and had a blast. a few in south jersey too. MJ called it tho. they can be highly political and the local 'pros' tend to get judging favoritism.

 

Completely agree with Pump, I did a contest or two in early 90's. The person running the contests for ESA in DE at that time was all about his guys. Even held up a contest start time so his guys could get there. I didn't surf any more contests and just went and had fun.

 

Thats the the thing that happened to me at the Nuns Beach Contest. One of Stone Harbors Surfing Elite's Son was late to the heat and they held it up so he could get back in time.

The Last Brendan Borek I was Dq'd in the second heat cause when I turned out of a wave my nose on my board just passed the boundary .

After that I said I rather just donate get me free shirt and free Surf in between heats or down a few beaches.

 

I drifted into a Pete Smith contest next to the pier in the 70's. I won! AND got to holler "Pete Smith is a rip off!" the entire time.

 

those are the best. when somebody comes out of nowhere and kills it.

 

Yeah, its redonkulous crap like that! I remember going down some time after that and surfed next to a contest. I wasn't timed, judged and didn't have to worry about crap. Plus, the waves were breaking better outside the designated contest area. It was a good day!

 

Ain't that the truth man. Not worth the hassle and BS.

 

Exactly, I do them all for fun and to hang out with some friends I don't see often.

 

Did a few in a series while living in the Western Pacific that served to determine who would represent our island in various ISA Pacific events. Really they were more warm up events for the chosen few, as they sought to make sure there would be no darkhorse winners. Favoritism? You have no idea. Besides heats being strategically arranged so that no favorites met before the semis, if was non-local v. local and close, always went to local. You would have to blow-up in a heat, make it not even close, to advance. Then the unwritten rules...they could tactically keep you from catching waves but you couldn't use the same tactics (well you could, but you would face retribution on the shore), don't take more than 3 waves total in an effort to up your scores even though we were allowed like 9, if you advanced...be humble...very humble... at least a few people were pissed enough to verbally or possibly physically let you know it. But they always wanted you to compete...constantly asking...hyping you up. The night before the contest was beers, bar-b-q, and high fives.

That said it was fun to show what you could do and surf these quality spots on solid days with only a few people. Despite all odds (not to make it sound like the locs weren't top notch surfers, because they most definitely were) we did have one darkhorse non-local that won it all for a year or two, an east coaster at that... straight from the arm pit of the Atlantic...vah beach.

 

I did one in college. Surfed for Stockton college at the Cape Fear contest in Wrightsville beach..2008..?
Showed up 15 minutes late for the heat and caught one wave. Not fun, the road trip was better

 

thats my complaint about contests.
the waves always do that.
nasty waves.

 

surfed in one contest in 1999

1st week in a new town catching waves and drifting down the beach. big happening on the beach on my way home. ask whats going on. its a 3 day beach party and 10 bucks gets you into the contest. so i run home grab 10 bucks and enter. it was a total expression session heats had longboarders shortboarders and no age groups. surfed like 5 heats and took home the gold. seriously the best party i've ever been to. pig roast clam bake, kegs, the whole she bang. some the people i met that weekend are my closest friends.

i still have the trophy. i still brag about it.

 

I was kind of a big deal on the scene - just saying