Southern New England Surf Community Comes Together For 2010 Ryan Roberts Surf Classic By Ray Jarvis; Photos by Joe McGovern
TURF: 2010
Ryan Patrick Roberts Surf Classic; Second Beach, Newport, RI; May 2nd, 2010
ENERGY: This year’s 3rd annual benefit surf comp, held in the name of Ryan Roberts, was
an all-out beach party, with a moon bounce for kids, a grill man serving up
free food all day, amazing raffle prizes, good music, and solid commentary. The
event raised over $2,500 for the Linda & Joe Caruso Family Fund, and the Southern
New England community helped to make it a memorable and successful event. A
typical spring day along the coast in New England, it was actually warmer at 10:00
a.m. than it was at noon, and the temperature slowly dropped throughout the
day. This didn’t bother anyone, though, as the crowd was huge, at times easily
topping a couple of hundred at little ol’ Second Beach in Newport. “The best
event, for the best cause, the Ryan Roberts always has waves,” contest director
and Rhode Island legend Sid Abruzzi put it as heats got underway Sunday
morning. There was a definite buzz on the beach as well, which had carried over
from a crazy night of rock ‘n’ roll at The Pit the night before.
FIRST TIME AT FIGHT CLUB: Could have had to do with our nice stretch of recent
warm weather in Newport, but the Ryan Roberts brought affirmation that this
event will continue and grow into the future. The crowd was all smiles all day
long, even through the cold patches; Sunday seemed to mark the official return
from hibernation for many New Englanders. Abruzzi was working hard all day,
amping the crowd up and keeping a smile on everyone’s faces. “The lack of waves
Saturday actually worked out perfect, because everyone was down on the beach Sunday
whether they were in the competition or not, so it really helped our raffle and
T-shirt sales that all go to the Linda & Joe Caruso Family Fund,” Sid said.
“This all came together because of the generosity of a lot of people —
prizes were donated, trophies were donated, time was donated, and the best
thing of all is that this came together without me writing a single thing down
on paper… no written plan on how this beach would look today.”
SLIDE: At
just past 9:00 a.m., the first heats got underway, with everyone jacked up on
Monster Energy Drink, coffee, and a fresh one- to two-foot southwest windswell. With the Men’s
50+ Longboard division out first in the clean and workable conditions, official
event MC Miguel Roman began his long stand behind the mic — when he
wasn’t surfing, that is. Tom Casey made quick work of the available sets, milking
several waves all the way to the inside to win that division.
There aren’t many surprises
when Chuck Barend gets in the water — his fluid style and keen wave choice
were impressive to watch. Fellow competitor Travis Rogan watched Barend surf in
shock: “He just floats through sections and makes any wave look fun out here.”
Chuck went on to win the Men’s 40+ Longboard division over Dan Scott and ESA-Southern
New England District Director Ron Belanger.
Keeping it in the family was
Chuck’s wife Ana Barend, who was the first to make a move in her Women’s
Longboard heat, quickly getting two solid waves under her belt to win that
division. Next up was the 14-and-under Shortboard division, with the groms charging
full speed into the water at the sound of Head Judge Brian Sargent's horn. As the tide pushed in a
little, a few spots on the sandbar offered up some nice lefts for the boys to
work with, and Liam O’Reagan even found a few sections to lay into. Liam took
the win over Ellis Colladion in 2nd and Will Cissell in 3rd.
The action in the water
began to heat up as the 15-18 Shortboard division got underway, with Pat Brown
dominating the heat. “It was kind of difficult out there,” Pat said, “but I
just got this new board and it was working well.” The real story of the Ryan
Roberts Surf Classic happened to be one of the best turns of events at any comp
in these parts, though. The 19-40 Men’s Shortboard division was stacked, and as
more water made its way back into the cove at Second Beach, it didn’t take long
before everyone started to notice that the only woman surfing in the division was
taking everyone down. Not by just barely advancing, either, but by winning each
and every single heat she surfed in. “Ana Barend is going to win this whole
thing, watch,” proclaimed Abruzzi after Ana took down some notables in her
first heat.
Things only progressed from
there, as the waves and competition got better. A very consistent Justin Casey
made his way to the finals by connecting some of the longer waves in the
event, while Chuck Barend worked a number of rights to the beach and found
himself in the final, as well. But in the end, it was Ana downing her husband
and Casey to steal a win out from under the men.
THE PAIN: The
waves on offer at Second Beach made for difficult conditions, but that challenge
made it clear who could and could not surf typical New England mush. And every
guy that entered the 19-40 Men’s Shortboard division must have felt a little
pain this year, not because of any injuries or mind-numbing cold, but because
of the dominant performance of Ana Barend.
THE MAN: Without a doubt, the 2010 Ryan Roberts Surf Classic was not about an individual
winner, but rather a cause that everyone did their best to help. But if there had
to be one The Man, I think she would much rather go by The Woman, as in Ana Barend.
That’s right guys, Ana opted to enter the Men’s 19-40 Shortboard division due
to a lack of female competitors, and as the day progressed, so did Ana through
the rankings. She won every single heat she entered in this year’s competition,
and was crowned champion in two different divisions.
YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT FIGHT CLUB: “Thank you to everyone for coming down today, and thank
you especially to my family.” –Stoked beneficiary Joe Caruso, of the Linda
& Joe Caruso Family Fund
“Look at these trophies! These
are the coolest trophies anyone could ever get at a surf comp.” –Contest
director and Rhode Island legend Sid Abruzzi, still surf stoked to this day
“I know that any of these guys could beat me out in the water.”
–Ever-humble Men’s 19-40 Shortboard and Women’s Longboard champion Ana
Barend
“I slept in a tent last
night so I wouldn’t be late — where are those Monster Energy Drinks at?” –Dedicated
Ryan Roberts Surf Classic competitor Joe Booth
FINAL RESULTS OF THE 2010 RYAN PATRICK ROBERTS SURF
CLASSIC:
MENS 19-40 SHORTBOARD
1. Ana Barend
2. Justin Casey
3. Chuck Barend
MENS 15-18 SHORTBOARD
1. Pat Brown
2. Lukas Leys
3. Will Cissell
MENS 14-UNDER SHORTBOARD
1. Liam O’Reagan
2. Ellis Kalaidjian
3. Corran Moore
MENS 19-40 LONGBOARD
1. Timmy Donegan
2. Miguel Roman
3. Frank Murphy
MENS 40+ LONGBOARD
1. Chuck Barend
2. Dan Scott
3. Ron Belanger
MENS 50+ LONGBOARD
1. Tom Casey
2. Bill Gomes
3. Pete Razza
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
