2010 Scion Jenks Boardwalk Pro Gives Local, Regional, And International Bodyboarders Plenty To Love Words by Steve “Action” Jackson; Photos by Chris Zeh
TURF: 2010
Scion Jenk’s Boardwalk Pro Presented By Body Glove USBA National Bodyboard Tour;
Jenkinson’s, Pt. Pleasant, NJ; September 1st-7th, 2010.
ENERGY: For the
sixth consecutive year, the Scion Jenks Pro scored solid four- to six-foot
swell from Hurricane Earl, with offshore winds and a strong turnout. The clean,
hollow swell had competitors amping and spectators stoked on all of the action
going down in the water.
FIRST TIME AT FIGHT CLUB: The young
Hawaiians made their presence known this year: Trevor Kam, JB Hillen, Shawbaz
Soaia, Sammy Morretino, and Matt Holtzman, among others. 2010 USBA National
Amateur Champions Kam and Hillen declared their intentions to compete
professionally in 2011, so watch out pro bodyboarding world!
SLIDE: Big-name
competitors like six-time World Champion Guilherme Tamega (Brazil), two-time
World Champion Jeff Hubbard (Hawaii), Spencer Skipper (Hawaii), Babby Quinones
(Puerto Rico), Jeremy Wright (California), and two-time USBA Women’s Champion
Roberta Bitzer (Brazil) did battle with East Coast standouts like New York’s
Chuck Guarino, New Jersey’s Chris Schlegel and Jason Bitzer, North Carolina’s Ryan
Rhodes, and Florida’s Dan Worley. With solid swell from Earl, big aerial
maneuvers (air-reverses, flips, inverts), deep barrel rides, and powerful combinations
dominated the course of competition.
Hubbard won his third consecutive Jenks Pro title, while Rhodes aced the
Drop-Knee Pro division, Bitzer emerged victorious in Women’s Pro, Morretino won
Open Amateur, and Holtzman dazzled in the 13-17 Amateur division. “I was
touched by how stoked everyone was for me,” Rhodes said. “I hate to be that guy
who wins and everyone just starts mumbling under the breath, ‘Ahhh, not
this douche bag!’ So the win felt great, but the high-fives and hugs after felt
even better.”
THE PAIN: Six-time World
Champion Guilherme Tamega and amateur Shawbaz Soaia (HI) both came up just
short in their bids for 2010 USBA National titles. Tamega needed to finish in 2nd-place
or better in Men’s Pro to win his first U.S. championship title, and fell one
spot short, finishing in 3rd-place. Meanwhile, Shawbaz needed to finish in 2nd
or better in the 13-17 Amateur division to clinch his first national title, and
he could only muster up a 4th-place finish.
THE MAN: In winning his third Jenks Pro
title, Jeff Hubbard became a seven-time U.S. National Champion. And in a
literal battle of the ages, 35-year-old East Coast star Rhodes fended off
13-year-old Hawaiian phenom Sammy Morretino to win the Drop-Knee Pro. “It’s crazy to be busting your ass to beat someone who hasn't even been
alive as long as you have been riding,” Rhodes said. “But then again, it’s an
assurance that the future is secure.” The very young Morretino put on an
extremely impressive show, making the semifinals of the Men’s Pro, finishing 2nd
in Drop-Knee, and winning the Open Amateur division. Also, in the 13-17 Amateur
Division, 2007 UBSA National Amateur Champion Dillon Druz of New Jersey returned
to competition after a two-year hiatus due to having neck surgery and finished
in 3rd-place.
YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT FIGHT CLUB: “The Scion
Jenks Pro could be my favorite event of the year. We have other events such as
Pipe and Sandy Beach that have great surf, but there is nothing better than
being in New Jersey in September and scoring a combo hurricane/ windswell at
Jenks. It’s what I live for, and too
much fun is had here — even the Hawaiians go home claiming it! I was
tired and surfed out after the event — I haven’t even wanted to surf
since I got back to Hawaii.” –USBA Tour Manager/ Jenks Pro Event Organizer
Jason Bitzer on another successful New Jersey stop
“I rode up to the Jenks Pro with three Vah Beach kids that had never
been to New Jersey before. By the time we left, they wanted to move there —
we talked for four hours straight about our trip on the way home, just glowing
from all the fun!” –Drop-Knee Pro champion Ryan Rhodes on the
allure of the Garden State
“Hurricane Earl produced this year — we
even started the week with Danielle’s leftovers, so we had super fun waves
every day. The Jenks sandbar was well groomed, and we had a great pulse on the
final day, so it actually got bigger. I was thrilled to win in great waves
against great competitors; that's the best feeling, as everyone was giving it
their all in the final and ripping. Winning the contest and the tour in that
kind of pressure, must-win situation was my most special USBA tour victory by
far.” –Three-time Jenks Pro winner/ seven-time U.S. National champion/
bodyboarding legend Jeff Hubbard
FINAL RESULTS OF THE 2010 SCION JENKS BOARDWALK PRO PRESENTED BY BODY GLOVE USBA NATIONAL BODYBOARD TOUR:
MENS PRO 1. Jeff Hubbard (Hawaii)
2. JB Hillen (Hawaii)
3. Guilherme Tamega (Brazil)
4. Matt Holtzman (Hawaii)
DROP-KNEE PRO 1. Ryan Rhodes (North Carolina)
2. Sammy Morretino (Hawaii)
3. Dan Worley (Florida)
4. Jeff Hubbard (Hawaii)
WOMENS PRO 1. Roberta Bitzer (Brazil)
2. Andrea Carvalho Dias (Brazil)
OPEN AMATEUR 1. Sammy Morretino (Hawaii)
2. Matt Holtzman (Hawaii)
3. Mike Ziner (Hawaii)
4. Shawbaz Soaia (Hawaii)
13-17 AMATEUR 1. Matt Holtzman (HI)
2. Mike Long (NJ)
3. Dillon Druz (NJ)
4. Shawbaz Soaia (HI)
: ADVERTISMENT :
: ADVERTISMENT :
IN LOVING MEMORY Flagler Beach, FL’s, Haley Watson Honors Her Mother At May Day Memorial Surf Classic
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
