|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DELMARVA SURFERS COMPETE DURING SEVERE WINTER STORM AT HO-HO SURF OFF
While most Delmarva residents stayed warm and dry watching their local news warn them of the severe winter storm that was sweeping through the area, 24 of the most hardcore winter surfing competitors from Maryland, Delaware and Virginia headed to the Delaware Seashore State Park's North Side Indian River Inlet to compete in the 2007 Ho-Ho Surf Off. The same storm that brought 40 to 60 mile per hour winds and heavy rain to the region also created excellent, perfectly groomed head-high surf with offshore winds for the return of this annual winter surfing event run by the Delmarva District of the Eastern Surfing Association. The gusting wind made the 50 degree water and 45 degree air temperatures seem much colder, but hot chocolate, free Nicola Pizza and a huge bonfire kept the competitors and spectators warm throughout the seven hour event on Sunday, December 16, 2007.
Ocean View, Delaware surfer, Roy Harrell destroyed the perfect waves and his competition by taking first place in the hotly contested Open Shortboard division. Ocean City, Maryland surfer, Ted Smith would have taken top honors in the Open Shortboard division, but an interference penalty against another Ocean City surfer, Adam Antes, dropped Smith into third place. Maryland State Surfing Champion Travis Knight of Ocean City, Maryland dominated the Junior Mens division and took second place in the Open Shortboard division. Five competitors took home first place trophies in multiple divisions: Ted Smith of Ocean City, Maryland won the Mens Shortboard and Mens Longboard divisions; Chris Vaxmonsky of Berlin, Maryland won the Senior Men Shortboard and Masters Longboard divisions; Caleb Buchler of Fenwick Island, Delaware won the Boys Shortboard and Menehune Bodyboard divisions; Jon Ashton of Berlin, Maryland won the Grand Masters Shortboard and Legends Longboard divisions while USA Womens Longboard Surfing Champion Kate Bassett of Berlin, Maryland won the Womens Longboard and Womens Shortboard divisions.
The Ho-Ho Surf off was started in the 1980's by former Delaware District Director Harry Wilson and has returned this year as the final points contest for the 2007/2008 competition season. Delmarva surfers that accumulate the most points throughout the season will be invited to compete in the 2008 Mid-Atlantic Region Surfing Championships in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in the spring of 2008.
For more information about the Delmarva District of the Eastern Surfing Association visit www.DelmarvaESA.org or call Delmarva ESA District Director Art Baltrotsky at 410-641-3329.
2007 Ho-Ho Surf Off results are:
Open Shortboard (all ages)
1. Roy Harrell of Ocean View, DE
2. Travis Knight of Ocean City, MD
3. Ted Smith of Ocean City, MD
4. Jake Buchler of Fenwick Island, DE
5. Jamie Crosby of Berlin, MD
6. Art Baltrotsky of Berlin, MD
7. Adam Antes of Ocean City, MD
Menehune Shortboard (boys/girls 11 & under)
1. Noah Vaxmonsky of Berlin, MD
Girls Shortboard (14 & under)
1. Rachel Harrell of Ocean View, DE
2. Jenna Landon of Newark, MD
3. Kelly Powell of Ocean City, MD
Boys Shortboard (12-14)
1. Caleb Buchler of Fenwick Island, DE
2. Spencer Ashton of Berlin, MD
Jr. Men Shortboard (15-17)
1. Travis Knight of Ocean City, MD
2. Roy Harrell of Ocean View, DE
3. Andrew Stewart of Ocean City, MD
4. Jake Buchler of Fenwick Island, DE
5. Jamie Crosby of Berlin, MD
6. Matt Meinhardt of Ocean City, MD
7. Mike Revel of Frankford, DE
8. Mark Donohue of Stevensville, MD
Jr. Women Shortboard (15-17)
1. Elizabeth Butterly of Milford, DE
Men Shortboard (18-24)
1. Ted Smith of Ocean City, MD
2. Daniel Veith of Dagsboro, DE
Women Shortboard (18-29)
1. Kate Bassett of Berlin, MD
2. Kelsey Willison of Berlin, MD
Masters Shortboard (25-34)
1. Clifton Rogers of Ocean City, MD
2. Chris Makibbin of Ocean City, MD
3. Adam Antes of Ocean City, MD
4. Jack Thomas of Chincoteague, VA
Sr. Men Shortboard (35-44)
1. Chris Vaxmonsky of Berlin, MD
2. Art Baltrotsky of Berlin, MD
3. Keith White of Frankford, DE
Grand Masters Shortboard (45-54)
1. Jon Ashton of Berlin, MD
Legends Shortboard (55-64)
1. Bill Helmuth of Ocean Pines, MD
2. Jeff Phillips of Ocean City, MD
Menehune Bodyboard (boys/girls 14 & under)
1. Caleb Buchler of Fenwick Island, DE
Open Bodyboard (all ages)
1. Nick Leonard of Pocomoke, MD
2. Matt Landon of Newark, MD
3. Jake Lahr of Berlin, MD
4. Caleb Buchler of Fenwick Island, DE
5. Jake Buchler of Fenwick Island, DE
Menehune Longboard (boys/girls 14 & under)
1. Spencer Ashton of Berlin, MD
Jr. Longboard (15-17)
1. Jake Buchler of Fenwick Island, DE
Mens Longboard (18-34)
1. Ted Smith of Ocean City, MD
2. Chris Makibbin of Ocean City, MD
Womens Longboard (29 & under)
1. Kate Bassett of Berlin, MD
Masters Longboard (35-49)
1. Chris Vaxmonsky of Berlin, MD
2. Art Baltrotsky of Berlin, MD
Legends Longboard (50+)
1. Jon Ashton of Berlin, MD
2. Bill Helmuth of Ocean Pines, MD
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 550 active members and is operated by a non-paid, all volunteer staff. Visit the Delmarva ESA on-line at www.DelmarvaESA.org.