February 18, 2007

ESTERO BAYSURF CLUB

17^TH ANNUAL “BIG, Bad, and Ugly”

SURFING CLUB INVITATIONAL CONTEST

MORRO ROCK

The Estero Bay Surf Club held off a powerful contingent from Pedro Point Surf Club of Pacifica to capture its third Surfing Invitational title in a row in the longboard contest called the “Big, Bad, and Ugly.” The Central Coast contest, that drew 92 surfers from Northern and Southern California, has the reputation within the Coalition of Surfing Clubs as the largest wave event of all Coalition contests and the 17^th annual was no exception. Surfers began the early morning start time with sunny skies, an off-shore wind, and near perfect waves ranging from five to eight feet. As the day wore on and the tide dropped those conditions soon turned “Ugly” as the wave increased to seven to ten feet and on-shore winds.

The Junior Men’s division opened with Pedro Point scoring with a 1^st for Pat Faugnder and 2^nd to Chris Duran. Morro Bay’s Quaid Birchell settled for 3^rd and Cayucos Junior Jackson Newell took 6^th. Estero Bay quickly rebounded in the Men’s division with progressive surfing from Charlie Howland who took first over Pedro Point’s star, Ryan Devine. Estero Bay’s Kevin Reynolds, now living in Thousand Oaks, returned to his old club to take fifth place.

Estero Bay began to show their local knowledge of the extreme conditions in the Sr. Men’s division when Morro Bay’s Todd Lewis took first and San Luis Obispo resident, Dave Morgan captured second. In the Masters division, Estero Bay pulled away from Pedro Point, when Cayucos surfer, Craig Barkley topped Robert Barnhill for first while Morro Bay’s Eric White, Atascadero resident, Jon Wickstrom, and Bill Burke, also of Morro Bay took 3^rd through 5^th place.

Just when it looked like Estero Bay had the contest locked, Bet O’Rourke of Pacifica upset Miranda Joseph of Santa Margarita to take the Women’s championship. Jan Kennedy settled for 3^rd and Loren Barker took 6^th. Both women are from Morro Bay.

Perhaps the most competitive division was the Grandmaster’s. Thirty six surfers competed in this group led by two traditional style masters Joel Baldwin of Pacifica and Bob Matchette of Morro Bay. The two had the crowd cheering in appreciation of the outstanding surfing displayed. It was Matchette, however that caught the Judges’ decision as the Estero Bay surfer led a powerful final consisting of San Onofre and Santa Barbara surfers.

Another close contest was in the Legends division where Morro Bay’s Bruce Pilnick took back the crown he lost last year to Greg Cochran of Pacifica. The two have battled three times in the past with Cochran winning last year. San Luis Obispo’s John Dubiel scored a 3rd, Morro Bay’s Tom Laurie claimed 4th, and Jerry Hughes of Atascadero settled for 5^th.

The Consolation bracket was an all Estero Bay final. Ray Savoie, of Los Osos, edged out his teammate, Morro Bay’s Tim Cowan to claim his first place trophy. Rusty Birchell and Annette Reder, both of Morro Bay, got 3^rd and 4^th place.

The most fun was found in the Grommet and Menehuni divisions for youth new to the sport of surfing. In the Groms’ division, Daniel Schuman of Atascadero bested Evan Trauntvein of Santa Barbara to take first. Kenny Campion, Walker Birchell, and Nathan Schuman, all Estero Bay up-and-comers took 3^rd through 5^th place. In the Menehuni division, Keary Kennedy won over fellow teammate, Cole Birchell. Justine Cooper managed third. All the surfers were from Morro Bay.

Representatives of all the clubs met at Sea Pines Golf Coarse in Los Osos, on Sunday, to play in a tournament that would play into the fimal standings. Jerry Meyers of Los Osos won the golf segment with a 38 on the nine-hole course.

Estero Bay Surf Club

17^th Annual “Big, Bad, and Ugly” Surfing Club Invitational Contest

Results of All Divisions

Clubs Competing:

Big Stick Surfing Assoc. BSSA Pacific Beach Surf Club PBSC

Estero Bay Surf Club EBSC Ventura Surf Club VSC

Pismo Beach Longboarders PBL Santa Barbara Surf Club SBSC

Pedro Point Surf Club PPSC San Onofre Surf Club SOSC

Jr. Men Men

1^st Pat Faughnder PPSC 1^st Charlie Howland EBSC

2^nd Chris Duran PPSC 2^nd Ryan Devine PPSC

3^rd Quaid Birchell EBSC 3^rd Sanny Moa VSC

4^th Matt Hertzberg PPSC 4^th Aaron Wright PPSC

5^th Robbie Barnhill PPSC 5^th Kevin Reynolds EBSC

6^th Jackson Newell EBSC 6^th Hunter Childs PPSC

Sr. Men Masters

1^st Todd Lewis EBSC 1^st Craig Barkley EBSC

2^nd Dave Morgan EBSC 2^nd Robert Barnhill PPSC

3^rd Twen Chalocintiaranna PPSC 3^rd Eric White EBSC

4^th Jon Wickstrom EBSC

5^th Bill Burke EBSC

6^th Sean Scanlon PPSC

Women Grandmasters

1^st Beth O’Rourke PPSC 1^st Bob Matchette EBSC

2^nd Miranda Joseph EBSC/WSC 2^nd Joel Baldwin PPSC

3^rd Jan Kennedy EBSC 3^rd Todd Smith PPSC

4^th Asi Ghassi PPSC 4^th John Vetter SOSC

5^th Karen Cochran PPSC 5^th Tom Trauntvein SBSC

6^th Loren Barker EBSC 6^th Ray Brenner PPSC

Legends Consolation

1^st Bruce Pilnick EBSC 1^st Ray Savoi EBSC

2^nd Greg Cochran PPSC 2^nd Tim Cowan EBSC

3^rd John Dubiel EBSC 3^rd Rusty Birchell EBSC

4^th Tom Laurie EBSC 4^th Annette Reder EBSC

5^th Jerry Hughes EBSC

Grommet Division Menehuni Division

1^st Daniel Schuman EBSC 1^st Keary Kennedy EBSC

2^nd Evan Traunvein EBSC 2^nd Cole Birchell EBSC

3^rd Kenny Campion PPSC 3^rd Justine Cooper EBSC

4^th Walker Birchell EBSC

5^th Nathan Schuman EBSC (tie)

5^th Cameron Jackson EBSC (tie)