Local community embraces Easter Surf Fest
COCOA BEACH – Day two of this weekend's three-day Sundance Ranch Easter Surf Festival was one that saw plenty of sunshine, contestable waves for competitors, even surfing dogs at Lori Wilson Park.
For long-time volunteers Rod Crews and Steve Boyles, who have been helping with the event since it began, the festival is one they refer to as a "family reunion."
"It's an event that I have been inspired to be a part of every year since it began," Boyles said. "Though I really don't surf, I enjoy watching these kids and their families come out and enjoy this holiday weekend together. Each year, this festival has been one that has grown and has become a vital part of our community."
Palm Bay residents Jim and Jane Jackson agreed.
"We have been attending this event for several decades," said Jim. "It's great to watch these kids, even the dogs surfing, and visit the many exhibits."
For Mike and Suzie Leverette, it was a day spent with their four-legged family member, a 5-year-old Tibeten Terrier named Waldo, who was winner of the Central Brevard Humane Society's Southeast Dog Championship contest.
Mike, a surfer, and Suzie, who boogie boards, rescued Waldo from a Palm Beach animal shelter and have been bringing him to the beach for the past several years.
"Every time we went out to enjoy the surf, he wasn't happy about us leaving him on the beach. About 18 months ago, we got him into surfing."
The entry fees from the dog surfing event, one of the crowd favorites at Saturday's festival, along with donations and parking fees collected, is one Central Brevard Humane Society Executive Director Theresa Clifton said will raise up to $5,000 for the non-profit. "We are thrilled to be a part of this festival again. The participation has been overwhelming."
For several Brevard County surfing competitors, including 11-year-old William Hedleston, being a part of the event and surfing at his "home break" is what he says is the best way to spend his holiday weekend. As the first-place winner of his heat in the U-12 boys division quarterfinal event, he will advance to the semifinal round today. Hedleston, who competed in dwindling surf near the end of the day, was all smiles as his family congratulated him on his performance.
"It is awesome to be here with my friends and even though the waves were small, it's always fun," said the NSSA (National Scholastic Surfing Association Association) and ASF (Atlantic Surfing Federation) competitor who was the youngest grom competitor to win last year's Costa Rica Dos Pinos Invitational at Playa Hermosa Beach. There he tackled 6- to 8-foot overhead waves. "I'm hopeful it will be a little bigger for my next round," he smiled.
Melbourne Beach's Rachael Presti, another up and coming young standout who will surf in both the Women's Pro Shortboard and the Women's Pro Longboard semifinal of eight, in hopes of winning a share of each contest's $1,000 purse, was just happy to have the opportunity to spend the day doing what she loves with her family there supporting her.
"I normally don't ever compete in longboard events, and was shocked to have advanced," said Presti.
Today's semifinal pro and amateur rounds will begin at 8 a.m. and continue throughout the day, with four slots being awarded to competitors in each division that will compete in the finals.
Saturday's results
TRADITIONAL PADDLEBOARD
MEN OPEN
1, Jens Hoffman, 0:53:57
2, Daniel Prosser, 0:55:46
3, Michael O'Shaughnessy, 0:59:44
4, Jason Geiger, 1:10:57
TRADITIONAL PADDLEBOARD
WOMEN OPEN
1, Cynthia Aguilar, 1:02:59
SUP - MEN 18-49, 12'6' & UNDER
1, Connor Bonham, 0:55:15
2, Jamie Twigg, 0:55:27
3, Abraham Wilson, 0:55:37
4, Andres Pombo, 1:00:11
5, Zach Rounsaville, 1:00:12
6, Jeffrey Berry, 1:02:01
7, Grant Begley, 1:05:40
8, Darryl Austin, 1:10:40
9, Damon Cooper, 1:16:53
10, Erik Thomas, DNC
11, Ryan Findley DNC
SUP - MEN 18-49, 14'
1, Kieran Grant, 0:51:03
2, Garrett Fletcher, 0:51:42
3, Michael Tavares, 0:51:44
4, Brad Ward, 0:52:38
5, James Douglass, 0:55:17
6, Cristian Prado, 0:55:57
7, Barrett Hoard, 0:58:30
8, Chip Bock, 1:00:58
9, Kevin Hill, 1:01:02
10, John Beausang, 1:04:01
11, Christian Grause, 1:06:05
SUP - MEN 18-49, UNLIMITED
1, Patrick Klemawesch, 0:51:54
2, Zach Bankhead, 0:59:09
SUP - MEN 50-59 12'6"& UNDER"
1, Mark Athanacio, 0:56:20
2, Mark Preece, 1:18:54
DNC, Bruce Wall
DNC, Walter Bunso
DNC, Hal Atzingen
SUP - MEN 50-59 14'
1, Brian Hovnanian, 0:57:12
2, Danny Smith, 1:01:18
3, Keith Cook, 1:05:59
4, David Rush, 1:14:41
SUP - MEN 60+, 12'6" & UNDER
1, Albert Chicra, 1:14:46
SUP - MEN 60+, 14'
1, Rand Perkins, 0:53:39
2, Rick Dean, 1:04:05
3, Alan Montgomery, 1:07:02
SUP - WOMEN 18-49,
12'6"& UNDER
1, Victoria Burgess, 0:59:32
2, Kristin Apotsos, 0:59:45
3, Francesca Morrow, 1:04:17
4, Meg Bosi, 1:07:33
5, Corrine Banks, 1:08:01
6, Monica Arche, 1:09:26
SUP - WOMEN 60+,
12'6"& UNDER
1, Beth Winkler, 1:16:18
SUP - WOMEN, 14' WOMEN OPEN
1, Kate Pagan, 1:08:28
2, Laura Siljestrom, 1:17:38
SUP – JUNIOR MEN
1, Connor Rush, 0:56:51
2, Conrad Garcia Jr., 1:04:25
3, Peyton Thomas, 1:14:45
SUP – JUNIOR WOMEN
1, Annette Garcia ,1:05:38
OC-1 MEN OPEN
1,Wendell Martin, 0:53:03
2,Conrad Garcia Sr., 0:55:36
SURFSKI MEN OPEN
1, Reid Hyle, 0:39:26
2, Josh Ashley, 0:47:45
3, Brent Robitzsch, 0:49:01
SEMI-FINALIST COMPETITORS TO ADVANCE TO TODAY'S ROUNDS
MEN'S STEVE CASANOVA
$2,000 SHORTBOARD PRO
Evan Thompson
Logan Hayes
Daniel Glenn
Chauncey Robinson
Michael Flores
Noah Schweizer
MEN'S CERTON
$3,000 LONGBOARD PRO
Fisher Grant
Justin Quintal
Steven McLean
Saxon Wilson
Alex McCammack
Brier Haycox
WOMENS BIKINI READY
$1,000 SHORT BOARD PRO
Caroline Marks
Julia Levine
Savannah Bradley
Harley Dawson
Ashley Kendal
Kayla Durden
WOMENS BIKINI READY
$1,000 LONGBOARD PRO
Debbie Walker
Rachel Presti
Jordan Krueger
Jessica Williams
Amanda Giberson
Caroline Krueger