PRESS RELEASE: Freestyle/Surf Happens Season Championships (Sports, Surfing)

FROM: Chris Keet, President, Surf Happens Surfing Schools
For Immediate Release
March 17, 2004

Hot Action in the Water for Season Finale at Tarpits

Hazy skies and a chilly northern breeze did little to cool the hot action at the Surf Happens’ AAAA-rated Freestyle Surf Happens Season Championships, held Saturday, March 13, at Tarpits in Carpinteria.

The championships were held in fun, head-high surf. The surf happened to come up just for the event increasing from dead flat the day before to perfectly groomed 3-5 feet on the waves’ faces the morning of the event. The waves were glassy all morning and remained contestable at waist- to head-high throughout the entire event, despite onshore wind conditions in the afternoon.

“It was a great day to close out our contest season,” said Surf Happens President Chris Keet. “Time and time again, Mother Nature cooperates with us to ensure a great family event at the beach with good, wholesome local surfing competition.”

All of the Tarpits/Carp boys were out at the main peak dominating, but allowed the contestants to catch their fill. They had it wired. Standouts including Mike Lane, Aaron Smith, Ian O'Neill, Brian Aresco, Scrubo, and a couple other cameo appearances. Local standout Matt Johnson used his Tarpits knowledge, smooth solid surfing, and powerslides to manhandle the boys division.

SBSS sponsor Clyde Beatty blew his knee out in contest #1 at Jalama Beach back in November, and, after going under the knife and enduring three months of rehab, was back on the attack. Beatty came in from the Masters/Grandmasters final with a huge smile and chuckled, “It is so great to be back out in the water...I am back, and I love it!” He placed fifth.

Carpinteria legend Chuck Graham finessed through critical arcs and powerful off the lips to steal the victory away from Montecito hero and Hammonds honcho Steve Hanson.

Once again, the SBSS was blessed with what Tarpits local and SBSS judge Mike Billgren said was “one of the best days at Tarpits all year....woohooo!”

The youth of Santa Barbara is coming out! With all of the new kids divisions in the SBSS the age level and intimidation factor are really diminished creating more of a sense of camaraderie and accomplishment than competition. The level of support for one another in each division was overwhelming with heaps of “ you were ripping” and “how fun was that?,” “way to go,” and “nice wave” abounding.

Parker Coffin won every Mini Chim event this year and was the only one to make it all of the way out the back, taking it with an overhead left were he bobbed and weaved through top turns and reform sections with power and finesse well beyond his eight years. Bidu Powell tackled the conditions with gusto to place second.

Charlie Dentzel took the Gremlins Final over Connor Coffin, which was his first SBSS victory. Landing a huge frontside off-the-lip air-drop, Dentzel never looked back, continuously scoring the set waves.
Aiyana Powell dominated the Micromina final over Glennie Rodgers, scoring an eight-point ride on an overhead lefthander on which she pulled a few top-turns and rode all the way to shore. Watch out, world: the grominas are coming!

The gromina final was taken by Demi Boelsterli over Sage Erikson when she landed a clean frontside floater. However, Erikson dominated the Wahines final with fluid, powerful turns reminiscent of Santa Barbara legend Kim Mearig. Erikson is one girl is one to watch. Bo Stanley was close at her heels like Toto to Dorothy, but in the end, she couldn’t click an off-the-lip that would have given her the SBSS title.
Erikson also took the Womens shortboard division by a narrow margin over Montecito shredder Jordan Goldberg.

Junior Mens winner Nick Argyropoulos won his first SBSS contest at Tarpits four years ago and simply destroyed the competition in the final with power and finesse. Mike Lonson finished second.
Mens winner Aaron Ernst stole the day with huge backside blasts, linking turns through the porkchop section and ripping the inside.

Airshow winner was Tyler Anderson, who flew back from a Hawaii vacation just in time to fly over the lip with a few TA signature airs to take the victory over aerial upstart Robert Curtis.
Womens Longboard winner Kelli Cuttrell made it look easy with smooth switch-stance cutbacks, walking 360s, and head-dip barrel rides. She took the victory from fellow standout Heather King.

The season was a complete success and made possible by local support. Thanks to Elephant Bar Restaurants, the Nancarrow family, Clyde Beatty Surfboards, Surf ‘N Wear/Beach House, Freestyle, and the Handtmann family for helping to fund the events. Without their support, the SBSS would not have happened.

Special thanks also to all of the local media for its coverage of the events, all of the parents, and to the contestants and staff who made the season a success.

The next event will be the annual A-Frame/Surf Happens Beach Party surf contest at Santa Claus Lane July 10.

The season’s awards ceremony and results will be staged to announce seasonal winners and distribute awards and trophies. The event will be a potluck in mid-April at 1117 Las Olas Avenue, on the Mesa in Santa Barbara. Please visit the Upcoming Events link on <surfhappens.com> in late March for details.

For further information about Surf Happens and the 2004-2005 Santa Barbara Surf Series, visit <surfhappens.com> or call 805-966-3613.