ENERGY: Energy?
What energy? The 27th Annual Pineapple Contest — part of Melbourne
Beach’s annual Founders Day celebration — very nearly hit a swell
stumbling block on Saturday, as nothing over knee-high had been seen in the
water in the week leading up to the event. But Saturday dawned with a
marginally rideable one- to two-foot bump, and like every year since 1983, the
contest was on.
FIRST TIME AT FIGHT CLUB: Not many
contests make it to 27 years old — and even fewer see continual growth
from Year One with the same man at the helm. But the Pineapple Surf Contest is
an exception to that rule, so let’s go back to ’83 for the real First Time
story: “Way back in
1983, the Town of Melbourne Beach wanted to celebrate its 100-year birthday.
The celebration was called Founders Day and one of the main events would be the
Pineapple Surf Contest, named after the many pineapple fields that once dotted
the Town. When Mayor Bud Conrad and Reverend Terry of the Melbourne Beach
Chapel approached Jacky Grayson at Ocean Avenue Surf Shop, Jacky suggested that
the Melbourne Beach Surf Club be invited to organize the Surf Contest. Diane Matzke
had just handed over leadership of the Surf Club to Curtis Byrd, and although
he had only directed one club contest before, he accepted, not knowing that it
was going to be a multi-decade endeavor.”
SLIDE: Of course, a surf contest needs waves to be successful, but if ever
there was an event focused more on the community than on the quality of its
swell, the Pineapple Surf Contest fits the bill. Wrapped in with street
parties, classic car exhibits, skate ramp demos, art shows, live music, raft
races in the Indian River, and visits from the Melbourne Beach Police and Fire
Departments, the Pineapple is a major draw for some and only one of many
activities in an action-packed day for others. Case in point: after nearly all
divisions were run, Head Judge Glenn Klugel put out an all points bulletin for
his Pro Airshow competitors, who were scattered up and down Ocean Avenue
scoping out the crowd and mingling with Melbourne Beach’s many partygoers. But Sean
Tubbs made the call to fellow air patrolmen Mark Dawson, Eric Oed, Travis
Beckmann, Marshall Alberga, and Eddie Guilbeau, who carried on the Futch/Guilbeau
tradition of Pineapple Surf Contest wins thanks to a nifty little frontside
ollie and quick shuvit reverse, two of only a handful of airs landed in the
tiny one-foot conditions.
In regular
competition, a who’s who of Space Coast surfers dominated the heat sheets, with
Fisher Grant doubling up in Boys and Bodyboard, wahine staple Jasset Umbel
winning Women’s, Melbourne High teamer Dan Szakovits claiming Junior Men’s,
Tommy Coleman acing Menehune, Justin Boggs besting Men’s, Randy Sanders
dominating Masters, Sean Hayes winning Seniors, Ken Osborn claiming Super
Seniors, Gulf transplant Olivia Bush winning Girls, and Steven McLean emerging
victorious in a stylish and heated Longboard battle.
THE PAIN: Not much, except from the five Pro Airshow competitors who
made a point of corralling Eddie Guilbeau into the heat and ended up losing to
the nimble-footed Ocean Avenue kingpin in the only money round of the day.
THE MAN: Instead of giving our customary The Man awards to one
person, the Pineapple Surf Contest deets go out to the entire Melbourne Beach
community, who’ve kept this event going for the last 27 years. Catalyst Surf
Shop has been a major sponsor, along with Spectrum Surf Shop, who’ve been
supporting the contest since 1985. Steven G. Casanova Law Firm and Gypsy Surf
& Skate have also stepped up to provide funding for unique trophies by Mai
Tiki and George Robinson Surfboards in recent years, while Monique Richter created
hand-sculpted metal multicolored pineapples for 2010. Of course, Byrd
and Klugel deserve props for giving years of service to the Pineapple Surf
Contest, which looks strong heading into its 28th year.
FINAL RESULTS OF THE 27TH ANNUAL PINEAPPLE SURF CONTEST:
PRO AIRSHOW 1. Eddie Guilbeau, $200
2. Mark Dawson, $125
BOYS 1. Fisher Grant
2. Jack Umbel
3. Chauncey Robinson
4. Pierson Prince
5. Tommy Bell
6. Danny Roberts
JUNIOR MENS 1. Dan Szakovits
2. Justin Boggs
3. David Zehner
4. Kieran Grant
5. Todd Athey
6. Randy Panzarino
MENS 1. Justin Boggs
2. Darlan Lopes
3. Kieran Grant
4. Randy Panzarino
5. Fabrizio Passerine
MASTERS 1. Randy Sanders
2. Glenn Klugel
3. Darlan Lopes
4. Scott Orend
5. Sean Hayes
6. Bill McCardell
SENIORS 1. Sean Hayes
2. Jimmy Norfolk
3. Todd Motsinger
4. Alec Buciress
5. Glenn Klugel
6. Frank Panzarino
SUPER SENIORS 1. Ken Osborn
2. Curtis Byrd
3. Henry Edwards
4. Sue Panzarino
LONGBOARD 1. Steven McLean
2. Tommy Evans
3. Fisher Grant
4. Bill McCardell
5. Debbie Walker
6. Scott Orend
BODYBOARD 1. Fisher Grant
2. Noah Dovin
3. Brett Bush
4. Gavin Weathers
5. Stefan Hartman
GIRLS 1. Olivia Bush
2. Rossi Klein
3. Elle Klein
4. Danae DiGiacomo
5. Lica Taylor
6. Jessica Rua
WOMENS 1. Jasset Umbel
2. Olivia Bush
3. Ashley Francis
4. Sue Panzarino
5. Kori Johnso
Catalyst Melbourne Beach surf and skate team rider Nick Alexander on the Goat Ramp during Founder's Day 2010.
Watch for the near death experience at the end. Video: Catalyst.
South Carolina’s Cam Richards Steals 12th Annual
Tommy Tant Memorial Classic Men’s Pro Title From Florida Vets; Cody Thompson, Amy Nicholl,
Noah Schweizer, And Dan Worley Also Win Big
VQS
HITS THE JACKPOT AT CASINO PIER Jellyfish Surf Series Winners Include Local Boys
Hammer, Schmidt, Vanaman, And Siganos, Along With Florida Girl Emily Ruppert
DUBIOUS RECORD The WRV
Outer Banks Pro Presented By Hurley Offers Locals Genuine Perspective & More
Money Per Square Foot Of Wave Than Any Surf Contest In History
Sweetwater Leaves It Up To The Grom At Oakley Surf Shop Challenge Mid-Atlantic Regional Qualifier; “Uncle” Andrew Gesler Drives Heritage Win Home In Northeast
By Matt Pruett and Nick McGregor;
Photos by Matt Lusk
