The Buddy Pelletier Memorial Longboard Classic Keeps
The Stoke Flowing
By Lisa Pelletier-Harman
TURF: 10th
Annual Buddy Pelletier Memorial Longboard Classic; Oceanana Resort, Atlantic
Beach, NC; July 25th-26th, 2009
ENERGY: Smiling
down from above, Buddy ensured we had some nice Carolina swell and a soft
breeze, so all the surfers were ready to get wet, show off, and have a bit of
fun. I enjoy all types of surfing contests, but I have to admit, I’m starting
to really see the Classic through new eyes. It’s like Woodstock, but instead of
sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll, everyone is here for the surf, sand, and the
Southern vibe. Laid back and low key on the beach, charging and ripping out in
the water — sounds a lot like someone I once knew. I finally put my
finger on it. It’s Buddy. The Buddy
Pelletier Memorial Longboard Classic makes it seems like he never left.
FIRST TIME AT FIGHT
CLUB: Ten years ago, Mike Holleman wanted to put together a
surf contest to honor the memory of his best friend Buddy Pelletier. Mike’s
goals were simple: hold an event that evoked the memories of surfing’s early
days, and gather the community to spread the stoke and also raise awareness of
the Surfing Foundation Buddy started shortly before he passed away from cancer
at 44. Judging by the record attendance of entrants, as well as the huge crowd
of spectators along “Tent City,” it looks like Mike has found a winning
formula. ESM readers have followed
the evolution of the Classic from a one-day local contest to its present
incarnation as a weekend-long event that’s more a festival and celebration of
surfing’s metamorphosis into a multi-generational sport than your standard cutthroat
surf contest. We at the Buddy Pelletier Foundation are thrilled that Mike’s
vision has been embraced throughout the East Coast surfing community and
beyond. And hearing from other venerable sources that now consider this the
premier East Coast longboard contest only reassures us that we’re keeping Buddy’s
dream intact and spreading his ideals to the next generation.
SLIDE: The
finalists were greeted on Sunday by a sweet swell, a cool breeze, and very
appreciative fans. The crowd watched in awe as the caliber of surfing made the
heats too close to call. The Team award was up for grabs; “Buddy’s Buds” had a
lock on it for many years, but the Virginia crew had wrestled it from them once
before and were nipping at the heels of the Buds once again. Buds Team Captain Bill
Roach decided the only way to put any leftover speculation to rest was to win.
For the first time in the Classic’s history, the winning team consisted of five
division winners. The awards ceremony brought loud hoots of support from the
Virginia teams, representing in full.
Another crowd pleaser was
the 1st-place trophies, each and every one a handmade work of art. This year,
though, Mike wanted something unique to mark the Classic’s first decade. The
trophies had been hidden from prying eyes all weekend, and by the time the
awards were ready to be doled out, the crowd eagerly awaited the unveiling. A true
labor of love, the trophies passed through four hands before they were
completed: Carl Heverly Boards shaped the foam, Surfboardskinz.com designed the
artwork, Sign Central did the lettering for each division, and Chris Jones
Surfboards glassed them in. A limited run of only 13 were made for the event
before the design was retired. To many, the award is more than a trophy —
it’s a badge of honor.
THE PAIN: I’ve
talked to people throughout the years who told some amazing stories: the fellow
who, after one weekend at the Classic, packed up his kids and moved to the
coast so his children would benefit from being around such a great crew of
surfers; or the old salt who hadn’t competed in years, but after one visit was
hooked on the Classic for life. The story that most stood out in my mind was of a
woman who drove three hours to arrive at last year’s Classic, took her board
out into the lineup, communed with the water one last time, got back in her car,
and returned home, where she passed away. As the 10th Annual Buddy
Pelletier Memorial Longboard Classic was winding down, I thought back to that
woman, trying to look through her eyes to see tired but happy faces all around,
surrounded by a community of soul surfers to the core. And I realized why she
might have come here for her last communion with the ocean. To a special breed
of person, the ocean feeds a need that nothing else can fill. It’s a good place
to be at any point in your life, and it should never be taken for granted.
THE MAN: Buddy
may be gone, but his spirit was alive and well as I took in all the smiling
faces at “Tent City.” Bobby Webb made Red Bull smoothies for the crowd in front
of his Action Surfboards RV (Action Surfboards also donated a Buddy Pelletier longboard
for the Foundation’s raffle). Emerald Isle Surf Shop sponsored the kids’ clean-up
contest once again, with a tremendous scurry of activity under their tent. In
two afternoons, the kids created their own Mount Trashmore, weighing in at around
400 pounds. The winners of the clean-up contest and the mini-groms always get
the loudest crowd reaction, and deservedly so. It’s an ideal that’s been
nurtured and fostered through the years at the Classic. Community and sportsmanship,
in and out of the water, leads the way for the next generation. I was struck by
hats I saw the Pawleys Island crew sporting this year. Embroidered in Buddy’s
signature teal color, the hat boasted the slogan “Big Buddy, Little Buddy,
Everybody’s a Buddy.” I think that sums it up pretty well.
YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT
FIGHT CLUB: “Buddy was all class. He touched so many people. I
remember when we went to France for the Lacanau Pro, and the French people were
beside themselves — some guy with a French name ripping the contest up.
Instant local. Even got himself a beret.” –Natural Art Surfboards
founder/owner and East Coast pioneer Pete Dooley
“Buddy was a true Southern
gentleman, an extremely talented and stylish surfer, and truly one of the
world’s real nice guys. It’s always sad to lose the good ones, but I hope he’s
enjoying his well-deserved rewards now!” –Acclaimed sports photographer
Markus Boesch
“I met, surfed with, and
even surfed against Buddy in several Florida Pros and at Grog’s Seaside Pro. He
truly was a unique and charming guy, and a classic East Coaster who had
mastered all manner of surfboards: incredible longboarder, ripped on a fish, twin-fin,
whatever. He touched many lives.” –Competitive surfing legend/ 1978 IPS World
Champion/ former ASP President Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew
For more information about
the Buddy Pelletier Surfing Foundation, visit www.buddy.pelletier.com
FINAL
RESULTS OF THE 10TH ANNUAL BUDDY PELLETIER MEMORIAL LONGBOARD CLASSIC
MINI-GROMS
1. Braden Munden (Morehead City, NC)
2. Morgan Weaver (Georgetown, SC)
3. Ann Wallis Mancuso (Morehead City, NC)
4. Bear Brozard (Hubert, NC)
MENEHUNE
1. Luke Gordon (Pawleys Island, SC)
2. Grady Kenner (Virginia Beach, VA)
3. Ruffin Mancuso (Morehead City, NC)
4. Thomas Horner (Kinston, NC)
GIRLS
1. Emory McClary (Georgetown, SC)
2. Katie Gordon (Pawleys Island, SC)
3. Marguerite McClary (Georgetown, SC)
4. Taylor Sledge (Morehead City, NC)
BOYS
1. Weston Williams (Holden Beach, NC)
2. Eli Blake (Wilson, NC)
3. Wood Mancuso (Morehead City, NC)
4. Max Parsons (Morehead City, NC)
JUNIOR WOMEN
1. Kate Easton (Virginia Beach, VA)
2. Leldon McLary (Georgetown, SC)
3. Chandler Von Cannon (Kure Beach, NC)
4. Morganne McIntyre (Morehead City, NC)
JUNIOR MEN
1. Bradley Rose (Carolina Beach, NC)
2. Ryan Carter (Morehead City, NC)
3. Cody O’Neal (Newport, NC)
4. Brennan Plotner (Wilmington, NC)
MEN
1. Ty Roach (Morehead City, NC)
2. Drake Courie (Wilmington, NC)
3. Joe Elliot (Virginia Beach, VA)
4. Sean Knight (Virginia Beach, VA)
WOMEN
1. Mindy Fitzpatrick (Morehead City, NC)
2. Carrie Emory (Newport, NC)
3. Beth Schub (Emerald Isle, NC)
4. Morgan Knight (Virginia Beach, VA)
MASTERS
1. Chris Crockett (Jacksonville, NC)
2. Julian Kingon (Jacksonville, NC)
3. Mike Melchiorre (Virginia Beach, VA)
4. Brad Styron (Oldsmar, FL)
SENIOR MEN
1. Ryan Merritt (Virginia Beach, VA)
2. Jason Clemmons (Pawleys Island, SC)
3. Sam O’Neal (Newport, NC)
4. Buck Rains (Morehead City, NC)
GRAND MASTERS
1. Bob Weaver (Georgetown, SC)
2. Reese Patterson (Kill Devil Hills, NC)
3. Ricky Carroll (Satellite Beach, FL)
4. John McCann (Morehead City, NC)
LEGENDS
1. Bill Roach (Morehead City, NC)
2. John Barnes (Virginia Beach, VA)
3. Keith Thompson (Pawleys Island, SC)
4. Kennie Heverly (Emerald Isle, NC)
PRO
1. Ty Roach (Morehead City, NC)
2. Drake Courie (Wilmington, NC)
3. David Taylor (Morehead City, NC)
4. Bill Roach (Morehead City, NC)
TEAM
1. Buddy’s Buds, 113
2. Virginia Longboard Federation-NMT, 93
3. Virginia Longboard Federation-VR, 72
4. Atlantic Beach Surf Shop, 55
5. Virginia Longboard Federation-RCC, 29
6. Ocean Funk, 15
TOP JUDGE
Bill Shelton
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Paul Pagliughi
SPONSORS
BB&T – Bean Cooper
Gainey – Host of Open Pro
Action Surf Shop
Atlantic Beach Surf Shop
Heverly Shapes
Playa Graphics
Emerald Isle Surf Shop
South Swell Surf Shop
Knucklehead Kustoms
Chris Jones Boards
Garner Graphics
Ablivesurf.com
Ioanni’s Grill
CONTRIBUTORS
Sound Bank
The Cabinet Shop
Amos Mosquitos
Bushwackers Restaurant
Auto Brite
Concepts Jewelry
Fish Bouffant
Expressions
Marsh’s Surf Shop
Oceanana Pier and Resort
Juanita’s House of Flowers
Eastern Offset Printing
Minges Bottling Group
ESA-Central North Carolina
District
Chris Birch Boards
R&D – Ricky
Carroll Boards
Sub Tropics
Tow/US
Island Furniture
Musashi Grill
Beach Bums
Ruddy Duck Restaurant
: ADVERTISMENT :
: ADVERTISMENT :
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By Matt Pruett and Nick McGregor;
Photos by Matt Lusk
