Rincon Holds Court – Classic Style
 

Springtime sea gods threw down a surfeit of decent waves to the Queen of the Coast for the 23rd Annual Rincon Classic, held April 8th and 9th, hosted by Santa Barbara’s Surf Happens. With a long history to uphold, the fabled point came alive and brought out great surfers, both the young and the wiser — although one wiser couldn’t help his curmudgeonly ways, “It’s just semi-pro,” he grumbled. “All kids, no old guys.”

That said, The Classic, one of the community’s most revered events since 1979, retained Santa Barbara’s surf integrity one more time at one of the world’s most famous spots. At times, the conditions were slightly less than perfect, yet after four postponements due to bad waves, The Classic prevailed.

Stoke was definitely in the air and water. Jesse Brinkenhoff, 10, has competed in The Classic for the past two years. “I caught one wave with a perfect face and I kind of collapsed, but I’m happy with how I did,” he smiled. “This is a pretty special contest. I do the NSSA contests, too, but this is more friendly.”

Branden Aroyan, competing in the Men’s longboard division, agreed with young Brinkenhoff. For his first time surfing in the Classic, Aroyan said the event “brings all people that are normally in the line-up to an official friendly competition.” And that it did, including three generations of one family: Wendy Mochett-Reigert, her son Dalton DeAlba, who “gets teased because he surfs with his grandma,” and her mother. Wendy surfed the Classic “many years ago” for five consecutive years, when still run by Roger Nance of Surf N Wear Beach House.

“This is more a locals contest,” she said. “It’s more fun because we all know each other and you don’t have to do anything to enter. It’s our break.”

Bo Stanley, 16, surfed the Wahine and Women’s heats; with her upcoming pro surfing life, she still “just loves to surf.”

“It’s been my dream to go pro,” she said. “I do this contest for fun. Coming out for this helps keep my training interesting, and I notice I’m improving every year.” 

Speaking of pro, the legendary Chris Brown graced The Classic again this year, and though he no longer competes professionally, he continues to come out for the locals-only contest. 

“It’s great seeing all the gremmies,” he said. “I get stoked seeing how stoked they are. That’s part of the reason why I do this contest — I try to be an example to these guys and show them this is what we do, and to be proud of it.”

Surf Happens sends a special thank-you to all of the Classic’s sponsors: Honolua Surf Co., Red Bull, Pacific Beverage Company, Bud Light, Chipotle, Rincon Designs, Freestyle Watches, Blue Edge Magazine, Clyde Beatty Surfboards, A-Frame Surf Shop, Surf N Wear Beach House, Powell, Surf One.

Also many thanks to the Santa Barbara surf community, Rincon Point homeowners, the Rincon Homeowners Association, Town & Country Realty, and California State Parks.

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