44th Annual Texas State Champs
Luck Into Fun Gulf Of Mexico Waves By Kris Hopkins; Photos by G. Scott
TURF: 44th
Annual TGSA Texas State Surfing Championships Presented By South Padre Island
Visitors Bureau; Second Pavilion, South Padre Island, TX; June 12th, 2010.
ENERGY: After a
highly inconsistent start to the Texas Gulf Surfing Association’s season, the
TGSA concluded its competitive year with incredible weather and surf at the
44th Annual Texas State Surfing Championships. Throughout the 2009-2010 season,
event schedules were consistently tested by flat conditions and blistering cold
fronts filing through during the winter months, resulting in multiple event
postponements. But after months of unfavorable weather and swell patterns, the
TGSA was able to knock out their remaining three events in six weeks, and the
competitors found themselves lucking into three- to five-foot surf under sunny
skies and in cooler than average water temps in this season finale.
FIRST TIME
AT FIGHT CLUB: Like other
amateur organizations, the TGSA holds their most prestigious event at the best
venue possible, which in Texas means South Padre Island. Situated near the
southernmost point of the Texas coast, SPI has deep water right offshore and is
open to all directions of swell energy in the Gulf of Mexico, making this
stretch of beach the most consistent on the Texas coast. TGSA members are
spread out over 500 miles of coastline from the Houston/Galveston and Corpus
Christi regions, and everyone congregates each year for this season-ending event
that typically provides very competitive conditions.
SLIDE: Early-morning glare was wreaking havoc on the judging panel when the Texas State
Champs got underway, making it difficult to see jersey colors, but as the day
went on, conditions improved all around. Surfers started out the morning on the
inside, where it was waist- to chest-high, hollow, and punchy. As the tide
began to change, the outside began offering chest to head-high sets, with very
light winds and swell pouring through. The long paddle definitely made a
difference in a lot of heats, consuming valuable time getting back out and
waiting through lulls.
The Men’s division always provides some of the best action and stiff
competition, and was certainly one of the standouts of this event. The final
included Lone Star hotshots Morgan Faulkner, Justin Jalufka, Gabe Prusmack, and
Wes Beck, with longtime standout Faulkner winning the division and backing
it up with a victory in Open Longboard as well. From airs and barrels in his Men’s
heats, to long noserides and carving turns in Open Longboard, Morgan’s
performance was great.
Other winners for the day included Brett Hopkins in Senior Men’s and
Legends; Bronson Hilliard in Masters; Frank Floyd in Senior Longboard; Cody
Canzoneri in Junior Longboard, Junior Men’s, and Open Shortboard; Jarrad
Williams in the Airshow; and Lauren Kenny in Women’s Longboard. The gathered groms,
mini-groms, micro-groms, and boys were also in fine form, providing a great
showing for all on the beach.
In Team competition, Wind & Wave from Corpus Christi put on a solid
performance, with their team racking up individual wins and numerous finals
appearances. And in the overall rankings, it was Underground Surf Depot from
Galveston claiming the title and being rewarded for their consistency
throughout the entire 2009-2010 season.
THE PAIN: With his
sights set on a state and overall points championship, Jarrad Williams bowed
out of his first round heat in Open Longboard during the early-morning glare,
preventing judges from seeing all of his waves and scoring potential.
Definitely not how you want to end the year, but Jarrad still secured the overall
points lead and took home some chrome with a win in the Airshow division.
THE MAN: With over 30
years of competitive surfing experience under his belt, Brett Hopkins announced
his retirement from fulltime competition in the TGSA and went out with a bang.
Hopkins surfed in five divisions: Masters, Senior Men’s, Legends, Senior
Longboard, and the highly competitive Open Shortboard. Of the five, he made
four finals and advanced to the semifinals in the Open Shortboard. At the end
of the day, Hopkins went home with two state titles in Senior Men’s and Legends,
and capitalized with three overall championships for the year in Masters, Senior
Men’s and Legends, taking home seven trophies in all. Hopkins is one of the
greatest surfers to ever come out of Texas, and he proved it once again.
Not to be overshadowed, 18-year-old Cody Canzoneri put on an exceptional
performance with victories in Junior Men’s, Junior Longboard, and Open Shortboard.
Canzoneri beat some of the best in the state for his titles, and clearly
dominated his finals with big outside carves, reverses, and progressive surfing.
YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT FIGHT CLUB: “The
44th Annual Texas State Champs were a complete blast! The TGSA tribe was out in
full force, and we had a very full day of extremely fun conditions with calm
wind, chest- to head-high waves, ramps on the inside, and big walls on the
outside. Our Open Shortboard money round was insane, with up-and-comer Cody
Canzoneri taking home the cash. Smiles abounded all day, with beautiful, clear
75-degree water and air temps in the high 80s. Ahh, the Texas tropics —
it just gets better every year!” –Julie Doyle, TGSA South District President
and tireless supporter of Texas surfing
FINAL
RESULTS OF THE 44TH
ANNUAL TEXAS STATE SURFING CHAMPIONSHIPS PRESENTED BY SOUTH PADRE ISLAND
VISITORS BUREAU:
OPEN SHORTBOARD 1.
Cody Canzoneri, $500
2.
Morgan Faulkner
3.
Justin Jalufka
4.
Chris Stolley
5.
Chris Hoelscher
5.
Gabe Prusmack
7.
Brett Hopkins
7.
John Novicky
9.
Bronson Hilliard
9.
Kris Hopkins
9.
Wes Beck
AIRSHOW 1.
Jarrad Williams
2.
Wesley Beck
3.
Morgan Faulkner
4.
Gabe Prusmack
MICRO-GROMS 1.
Serena Nava
2.
Aransas Blaha
3.
Reef Ellison
4.
Baxter Wright
5.
Cole Hilliard
5.
Madison Smith
SENIOR LONGBOARD 1.
Frank Floyd
2.
Brett Hopkins
3.
John Jones
4.
Jay Williams
5.
Joseph Delagarza
5.
Paul Balcom
TEAM 1. Wind & Wave A
2. Dockside Red
3. Underground C
4. Board House Dune Chickens
5. Wind & Wave B
6. Board House Sand Fleas
7. Dockside White
8. Underground A
9. Benjamin’s Surf A
10. Underground B
11. Board House Three
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
