American Cancer Society Relay for Life 2007 Maryland State Surfing Championships PRESS images

Travis_Knight.JPG Jassett_Umbel.JPG Wyatt_Harrison.JPG Beth_Deeley.jpg Ian_Tilghman.JPG Joey_Boulanger.JPG Matt_Landon.JPG Ted_Smith.JPG Jon_Ashton.JPG Sam_Deeley.jpg Spencer_Ashton.JPG Kate_Bassett.jpg Justin_Weismiller.JPG Finalists.JPG MD_State_Champions.JPG

TRAVIS KNIGHT WINS STATE SURFING TITLE AT AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY RELAY FOR LIFE MARYLAND STATE SURFING CHAMPIONSHIPS

After winning his first Open surfing event in July, Travis Knight of Ocean City, Maryland dominated his competition once again to become the 2007 Maryland State Surfing Champion. Knight out-surfed 45 of the region's top surfers in the all-ages Open surfing division and also took the Jr. Mens division title at the American Cancer Society Relay for Life Maryland State Surfing Championships held at 47th Street in Ocean City, MD, August 11 and 12, 2007.

More than 230 competitors came to celebrate cancer survivors and remember those who lost their lives to cancer during the two day event. Kevin Kranfield of K-Coast Surf Shops along with American Cancer Society Relay for Life Co-Chairperson Lisa Shiels lead a ceremony on the beach while 108 roses donated by Kitty's Flowers of Ocean City, MD were distributed to surfers for an emotional surf session on Saturday. Surfers paddled out with their roses through head-high surf and tossed them into the ocean to show respect for those that lost their lives to cancer. Lisa Shiels of the American Cancer Society also performed free DermaScan skin cancer screenings for hundreds of competitors and spectators to raise awareness to the dangers of skin cancer.

The American Cancer Society Relay for Life Maryland State Surfing Championships had five special open divisions along with the twenty-one regular surfing competition divisions. These five divisions were open to all ages and determined the Maryland state champion for shortboard, longboard, bodyboard, women's longboard and women's surfing. Jake Buchler of Fenwick Island, DE claimed his fourth consecutive Maryland State Open Bodyboard Champion title while and Jasset Umbel of Melbourne Beach, FL took her second consecutive Maryland State Open Women's Surfing Champion title. Wyatt Harrison of Ocean City, Maryland is now the Maryland State Longboard Champion and Beth Deeley of New Smyrna Beach, FL is the Maryland State Open Women's Longboard Champion.

Surfers were treated to the best contest surf this year as chest-high to head-high waves continually rolled through during the entire event. All competitors and spectators also received free Ponzetti's pizza while they enjoyed perfect beach weather with sunny skies and a water temperature near 80 degrees. Jon Ashton of Ashton Surf Designs along with Chauncey's Surf Shops, Malibus Surf Shop, K-Coast Surf Shops and Quiet Storm Surf Shops surprised Delmarva ESA Director Art Baltrotsky with a new custom epoxy Ashton surfboard as a gift for his service to the surfing community.

For more information or to make a donation to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life program, please contact Lisa Shiels at 410-208-2711 or email her at justls@verizon.net. Check out the Eastern Surfing Association Delmarva District's web-site at www.DelmarvaESA.org to view a schedule of upcoming events or call the toll-free contest info-line at 1-888-632-4742.

American Cancer Society Relay for Life 2007 Maryland State Surfing Championships results are:

Open Shortboard (all ages)
1. Travis Knight of Ocean City, MD- 2007 Maryland State Surfing Champion
2. Ted Smith of Ocean City, MD
3. Ian Tilghman of Ocean City, MD
4. Art Baltrotsky of Berlin, MD
5. Joey Boulanger of Ocean City, MD
6. Roy Harrell of Ocean View, DE

Open Longboard (all ages)
1. Wyatt Harrison of Ocean City, MD - 2007 Maryland State Longboard Champion
2. Chris Makibbin of Ocean City, MD
3. Dean Jackson of Berlin, MD
4. Ted Smith of Ocean City, MD
5. Art Baltrotsky of Berlin, MD
6. Justin Weismiller of Ocean City, MD

Open Women's (all ages)
1. Jassett Umbel of Melbourne Beach, FL- 2007 Maryland State Women's Surfing Champion
2. Rachel Harrell of Ocean View, DE
3. Kelsey Willison of Berlin, MD
4. Jenn Abrams of Seaford, DE
5. Danielle Ariano of Lewes, DE
6. Emily Ruppert of Indiatlantic, FL

Open Women's Longboard (all ages)
1. Beth Deeley of New Smyrna Beach, FL- 2007 Maryland State Women's Longboard Champion
2. Kate Bassett of Berlin, MD
3. Rachel Harrell of Ocean View, DE
4. Kelsey Wilson of Berlin, MD
5. Chelsea Remines of Berlin, MD
6. Carley Linthicum of Salisbury, MD

Open Bodyboard (all ages)
1. Jake Buchler of Fenwick Island, DE- 2007 Maryland State Bodyboard Champion
2. Caleb Buchler of Fenwick Island, DE
3. Matt Landon of Newark, MD
4. Jake Lahr of Ocean Pines, MD
5. Nick Leonard of Pocomoke, MD
6. Brady Faby of Lutherville, MD

Menehune Shortboard (11 & under)
1. Sam Deeley of New Smyrna Beach, FL
2. Noah Vaxmonsky of Berlin, MD
3. Myles Deppe of Ocean City, MD
4. Shane Moore of Berlin, MD
5. James Edmunds of Ocean City, MD
6. Simon Hetrick of Harrisburg, PA

Boys Shortboard (12-14)
1. Austin Deppe of Ocean City, MD
2. Caleb Buchler of Fenwick Island, DE
3. Brady Dashiell of Salisbury, MD
4. Brad Flora of Ocean City, MD
5. Spencer Ashton of Berlin, MD
6. Avery Sieg of Berlin, MD

Girls Shortboard (14 & under)
1. Jassett Umbel of Melbourne Beach, FL
2. Emily Ruppert of Indiatlantic, FL
3. Rachel Harrell of Ocean View, DE
4. Jenna Landon of Newark, MD
5. Kelly Powell of West Ocean City, MD

Jr. Men Shortboard (15-17)
1. Travis Knight of Ocean City, MD
2. Joey Boulanger of Ocean City, MD
3. Roy Harrell of Ocean View, MD
4. Jake Buchler of Fenwick Island, DE
5. Aviad Sasi of Ocean City, MD
6. Matt Meinhardt of Ocean City, MD

Jr. Womens Shortboard (15-17)
1. Kelcey Bodolus of Berlin, MD
2. Carly Lithicum of Salisbury, MD
3. Laurel Harrington of Berlin, MD
4. Meegan Smith of Ocean City, MD
5. Liz Hamilton of Monkton, MD

Men Shortboard (18-24)
1. Ted Smith of Ocean City, MD
2. Mike Lawson of Berlin, MD
3. Robby Mears of Chincoteague, VA
4. George Vitak of Berlin, MD
5. Ian Tilghman of Ocean City, MD
6. Walden Remington of Berlin, MD

Women Shortboard (18-29)
1. Jenn Abrams of Seaford, DE
2. Kaitlyn Curran of Berlin, MD
3. Kate Bassett of Berlin, MD
4. Chelsea Remines of Berlin, MD
5. Kelsey Willison of Berlin, MD

Masters Shortboard (25-34)
1. Chris Makibbin of Ocean City, MD
2. Gatey Dawkins of Chincoteague, VA
3. Jess Baunhoffer of Berlin, MD
4. Drex Harrington of Ocean City, MD
5. Jack Thomas of Chincoteague, VA

Ladies Shortboard (30+)
1. Danielle Ariano of Lewes, DE
2. Emily Shattuck of Lutherville, MD

Sr. Men Shortboard (35-44)
1. Keith White of Frankford, DE
2. Art Baltrotsky of Berlin, MD
3. Chris Vaxmonsky of Berlin, MD
4. Chris Shanahan of Ocean City, MD
5. JD Moore of Berlin, MD
6. Craig Garfield of Ocean City, MD

Grand Masters (45-54)
1. Jon Ashton of Berlin, MD
2. Roger Wooleyhan of Millsboro, DE
3. Nathan Jester of Dover, DE

Legends Shortboard (55-64)
1. Josh Merritt of Chincoteague, VA
2. Bill Helmuth of Ocean Pines, MD

Grand Legends Shortboard (65+)
1. Bryant Hungerford of Ocean City, MD

Menehune Bodyboard (boys/girls 14 & under)
1. Caleb Buchler of Fenwick Island, DE
2. Zach Mitchell of Berlin, MD
3. Anthony Crisalli of Silver Spring, MD
4. Michael Murrey Ocean City, MD
5. Brad Flora of Ocean City, MD
6. Dallas Harrington of Ocean City, MD

Menehune Longboard (boys/girls 14 & under)
1. Spencer Ashton of Berlin, MD
2. Roland Gerachis of Ocean City, MD
3. Sam Deeley of New Smyrna Beach, FL
4. John Moore of Berlin, MD
5. Brad Flora of Ocean City, MD
6. Ben Vaxmonsky of Berlin, MD

Jr. Longboard (15-17)
1. Justin Weismiller of Ocean City, MD
2. Jake Buchler of Fenwick Island, DE
3. Roy Harrell of Ocean View, DE
4. Aviad Sasi of Ocean City, MD
5. Matt Meinhardt of Indiatlantic, MD
6. Dane Wooleyhan of Millsboro, DE

Mens Longboard (18-34)
1. Wyatt Harrison of Ocean City, MD
2. Dean Jackson of Berlin, MD
3. Ted Smith of Ocean City, MD
4. Chris Makibbin of Ocean City, MD
5. Matt Reuther of Harbeson, DE

Masters Longboard (35-49)
1. Chris Vaxmonsky of Berlin, MD
2. Chris Shanahan of Ocean City, MD
3. Art Baltrotsky of Berlin, MD
4. Craig Garfield of Ocean City, MD
5. Keith White of Frankford, DE

Legends Longboard (50+)
1. Jon Ashton of Berlin, MD
2. Josh Merritt of Chincoteague, VA
3. Bill Helmuth of Ocean Pines, MD
4. Roger Wooleyhan of Millsboro, DE

Womens Longboard (29 & under)
1. Kate Bassett of Berlin, MD
2. Rachel Harrell of Ocean View, DE
3. Chelsea Remines of Berlin, MD
4. Kelsey Willison of Berlin, MD
5. Emily Ruppert of Indiatlantic, FL

Ladies Longboard (30+)
1. Beth Deeley of New Smyrna Beach, FL

For more information about the Eastern Surfing Association contact:
Art Baltrotsky
Delmarva District ESA Director
http://www.DelmarvaESA.org
P.O. Box 207, Ocean City, MD 21843
410-641-3329
delmarva@surfesa.org

The Eastern Surfing Association (ESA), founded in 1967, a non-profit, IRS tax-exempt corporation, is the largest surfing organization in the world with more than 11,000 members. It is dedicated to the sport of surfing, to the operation of a program of competition for surfers of all ages and abilities, and to the establishment and preservation of public access to a clean shoreline and ocean environment. The association's activities are organized in a total of twenty-seven districts, which extend along nearly 2,000 miles of coastline, stretching from Maine through the Gulf Coast of Florida and Alabama and also including the Great Lakes and Puerto Rico. The Delmarva District currently has more than 600 active members and is operated by a non-paid, all volunteer staff. Visit the Delmarva ESA on-line at www.DelmarvaESA.org.