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Press Release by White Whale Productions
Boulanger ends up with Malibu's Classic title
OCEAN CITY – It took 12 hours of surfing on Saturday, July 22, plus more than a week of head scratching by Eastern Surfing Association officials before they declared Vince Boulanger the official winner of the 12th annual Malibu's Classic.
A judging snafu in the final caused the mix up on July 22 when Ian Tilghman was awarded the title only to have it rescinded the next day when the error in tabulating was discovered. After the results were re-tabulated, Boulanger was then named the winner until Monday, July 24, when an appeal was sent to the ESA executive director.
While the results were on appeal, Tilghman was named the unofficial winner until Monday, July 31, when the ESA ruled Boulanger the official winner and awarded Tilghman second place.
The final was so close between Tilghman, 18, and Boulanger, 17, that they could have been named co-champs, which Tilghman agreed, would have been a good idea.
Tilghman, who recently graduated from Stephen Decatur High School, said the conditions were tough in the final, but everyone surfed well.
“I was tired, it was a long day,” Tilghman said. “But I thought I surfed well.”
No one managed any long rides during the final, but Boulanger worked in a few critical turns on the small waves, which closed out quickly.
“Ian surfed really well and it was really close – it could have gone either way. On my best waves I had one or two turns – a few rights,” said Boulanger, a rising senior at Stephen Decatur and a Team Malibu's surfer.
Gatey Dawkins, of Chincoteague, Va., won Men's Shortboard and Boulanger took the Jr. Men's Shortboard title.
Jenn Abrams, of Seaford, Del., won the Women's Shortboard division over Brandi Zirckel, of Ocean City. Kaitlyn Curran won Jr. Women's Shortboard.
Dean Jackson took the Men's Longboard division and Hannah Preziosi, 18, of Ocean Pines, won Women's Longboard.
Surfing started at 8 a.m. and, because of the more than 200 surfers entered in the event's 23 divisions, didn't wrap up until after 8 p.m. when the Open final finished.
“The day was awesome,” said Lee Gerachis, owner of Malibu's Surf Shop, the main sponsor of the contest. “The weather was iffy in the morning, but we ended up with small, but good surf. It was a fun event.”
12th annual Malibu's Classic results:
Open Shortboard (all ages)
1. Vince Boulanger
2. Ian Tilghman
3. Mike Lawson
4. Roy Harrell
5. Art Baltrotsky
6. Joey Boulanger
Menehune Shortboard (boys/girls 11 & under)
1. Emily Ruppert
2. Brad Flora
3. Dallas Harrington
4. Gabe Bell
5. Max Sieg
6. Noah Vaxmonsky
Girls Shortboard (14 & under)
1. Jasset Umbel
2. Jenna Landon
3. Rachel Harrel
4. Emily Ruppert
Boys Shortboard (12-14)
1. Brady Dashiell
2. Caleb Buchler
3. Dillon Harrington
4. Austin Deppe
5. Avery Sieg
6. Spencer Ashton
Jr. Women Shortboard (15-17)
1. Kaitlyn Curran
2. Charlotte Deck
3. Mackenzie White
4. Liz Hamilton
Jr. Men Shortboard (15-17)
1. Vince Boulanger
2. Logan Helmuth
3. Aviad Sasi
4. Joey Boulanger
5. Waldon Remington
6. Jake Buchler
Men Shortboard (18-24)
1. Gatey Dawkins
2. Mike Lawson
3. Clifton Rogers
4. Zack Hogan
5. Jess Baunhofer
6. Ian Tilghman
Women Shortboard (18-29)
1. Jenn Abrams
2. Brandi Zirckel
3. Kylene Miller
4. Kate Bassett
5. Hannah Preziosi
6. Jenna Ruppert
Masters Shortboard (25-34)
1. Fletcher Birch
2. Drex Harrington
3. Dennis Cappo
4. Rhett Chervitch
5. Jack Thomas
Sr. Mens Shortboard (35-44)
1. Art Baltrotsky
2. J.D. Moore
3. Keith White
4. Chris Vaxmonsky
5. Craig Garfield
Grand Masters Shortboard (45-54)
1. Jon Ashton
Legends Shortboard (55-64)
1. Bill Helmuth
Ladies Shortboard (30 & up)
1. Bonnie Preziosi
Open Bodyboard (all ages)
1. Avery Harrison
2. Caleb Buchler
3. Matt Landon
4. Mike Lawson
5. Garrett Faulkner
6. Nick Leonard
Menehune Bodyboard (boys/girls 14 & under)
1. Caleb Buchler
2. Matt Landon
3. Austin Cook
4. Joshua Mitchell
5. Jeff Kidwell
6. Jeffrey Vitak
Menehune Longboard (boys/girls 14 & under)
1. Brady Dashiell
2. Spencer Ashton
3. Brad Flora
4. Brian Miller
5. Jesse Harman
6. RJ Smith
Jr. Longboard (15-17)
1. Justin Weismiller
2. Logan Helmuth
3. Chris Dashiell
4. Aviad Sasi
5. Nick Hogan
6. David Miller
Mens Longboard (18-34)
1. Dean Jackson
2. JT Hazard
3. Ian Tilghman
4. Wyatt Harrison
5. Mike Lawson
6. Jess Baunhofer
Womens Longboard (29 & under)
1. Hannah Preziosi
2. Rachel Harrel
3. Chelsea Remines
4. Jenna Ruppert
5. Kate Bassett
Masters Longboard (35-49)
1. Chis Vaxmonsky
2. Art Baltrotsky
3. Craig Garfield
Legends Longboard (50+)
1. Bill Helmuth
2. Jon Ashton
Ladies Longboard (30+)
1. Bonnie Preziosi
2. Pat Gentry