AMATEUR HOUR

WHO: NSSA Southeast Conference

WHAT: NSSA Southeast Conference Contest #8

WHEN: Sunday, March 21st, 2010

WHERE: Ponce de Leon Landing, Melbourne Beach, FL

WHY: For trophies, prizes, and valuable NSSA points towards the NSSA East Coast Championships, and eventually the NSSA National Championships. With dark skies hovering in the west, the NSSA Southeast Conference held their final event of the 2009/2010 season. The oncoming threat of heavy wind and thick rain made for constantly changing and challenging wave conditions throughout the day. Surfers showed up ready to suit up and surf for the last remaining ratings points offered this season. We got off the beach just in time, as an hour later the monsoon-like rain and wind came on strong.

The standout of the event was without question Deerfield Beach, FL’s, Tanner Strohmenger. Tanner had his A-game going all day and easily captured three titles — Open Men’s, Open Juniors and Explorer Juniors, improving his overall season ratings in all three divisions.

Jupiter’s Giorgio Gomez made his mark by posting the top scores of the day and taking the win in the highly contested Explorer Boys final. Giorgio also posted the second-highest scores in Open Juniors, finishing his season run strong. Luke Marks also continued his winning streak, adding 1st-place finishes in both the Open Boys and Explorer Menehune divisions.

Little Merritt Island ripper Noah Dovin accomplished perhaps the most important win of his young career at this contest in the Open Mini Grom division. Noah, who is only seven years old, has been at every contest for two seasons and this is his very first NSSA Southeast Conference win. Noah started with the NSSA as a push-in surfer and graduated to catching his own waves last season. Congratulations Noah — all your hard work and consistency has paid off. Noah is an excellent example of what the NSSA program is all about and we are really proud of you.

Special thanks to our primary sponsor, DNA Energy Drink, for a great season. Supporting cast members include Freak Traction, FCS, A Perfect Pear, Rob Viesin’s amazing beach BBQ, Vero Beach Magazine, Cinemaworld Theaters and the Starr Family for our NSSA movie nights, Justin Beard at The Press Journal/Scripps, and Hillard Grossman from Florida Today. Head Judge Gordon Lawson pulled off an incredible season assembling some of the area’s top judging and surfing talent to man the judging tent. “Scheduling events when there is surf and seeing talented competitors that have improved at each event made the 2009/2010 season hard to beat,” Lawson said. “I’m stoked to be involved with the NSSA Southeast Conference!”

Finally, we send tremendous applause to the following officials: Brevard County Parks & Recreation, Melody and Bernice, you rock; The Town of Juno Beach’s Damian Peduto and Ruben Cruz, thanks for the pier permit; Sebastian Inlet State Park Ranger Terry O’Toole and Park Manager Terry Coulliette, mahalo for your help and guidance; and last but not least, Kerry Strohms at Satellite Beach Parks & Recreation, Pelican Park is one of our favorites. It is because of the many people working hard behind the scenes that this kind of success for the NSSA Southeast Conference is possible.

WHAT, YOU WANT MORE? www.nssasoutheast.typepad.com