South Jersey Surfers Watch As Sam Hammer Claims Third Grudge Match Belt
(Lucky For Them, The Phillies Won) By Jon Coen
TURF: 8th
Annual Smith Optics Garden State Grudge Match Presented By Dakine; Casino Pier,
Seaside Heights, NJ; October 19th, 2009
ENERGY: Event
Director Rob Cloupe nailed it — but then again, when doesn’t he? This year
was a tough call, coming on the heels of not one but two nor’easters. The wind
forecast changed every hour, while models had the swell dropping off by Monday.
Cloupe put the Grudge’s fate in the hands of Casino Pier, and it worked out.
The morning featured overhead nuggets that were fatter than most goofyfooters
would have liked, with a long left and a punchier right bowl. By the late
rounds, there were five-foot peaks with straight offshore winds and draining
pipes. It wouldn’t be a proper Grudge Match without some tube time.
FIRST TIME AT FIGHT CLUB: Boots. The water temps in the Mid-Atlantic dropped
off quicker than Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Jonathan Broxton’s popularity
this October. The morning wind chill was around 40, so whereas in Grudge
Matches past there were a few fellas skinnin’ it, this year required some
rubber. The peanut gallery featured more flannels than an early ‘90s Pearl Jam
concert, and “Jersey” Mike Gleason grew a full beard by the day’s end.
SLIDE: The
gathered competitors dined on Jersey Shore delicacies and washed everything
down with big glasses of shred wine. The scores at this year’s Grudge Match
were among the highest ever; in Round Two, Jamie Moran posted a 9.5 for a
backside barrel so amazing that Andrew Gesler was claiming his homie’s shack on
the shoulder. But Moran still lost to Gesler, who nabbed his own spitting
double barrel for a perfect 10.
The restless youth made a
bigger impact than ever in ‘09, with Rob and Chris Kelly both making the
quarterfinals and Zack Humphreys sailing into the semis. In other key heats,
Clay Pollioni upset Matt Keenan again, as he did in 2006; Gleason upended ever dangerous
past champions Frankie Walsh and Dean Randazzo; and John Barrie lodged the
highest Round One heat score against Ian Bloch.
In addition to those old ESA
rivalries and family quarrels, the Grudge Match has helped to foster a North
Jersey/South Jersey rivalry, one that gets more potent by simply adding
alcohol. The boys from the south are constantly gunning for Sam Hammer, who won
in 2005 and 2008. Among the most vocal is Andrew Gesler, who’s been quieted
early over the last few years, finishing so low in ‘08 that he was forced to
requalify (see ESM’s coverage of the
2009 Grudge Match Qualifier at http://www.easternsurf.com/fightclub_072709/index.html).
Of course, the wily
thrills-or-spills Gesler is one of the most dangerous surfers in the state. But
in reality, there’s always been an undertone at the Pier that Gesler doesn’t
have the tactics or patience to win five heats in a day — a quiet
sentiment that he’ll take off on closeouts, go for impossible airs, and lose
mental battles within his own head. But Gesler proved everyone wrong and
crushed a path to the final, leaving the bones of Moran, Rob Kelly, and Mike
Gleason in his trail. It was most appropriate that he and Sam would cross
swords in the final duel.
Hammer opened up by taking a
backside high road out of his first barrel for a 9.0, before threading a second
needle and finishing with a backside roundhouse that could be seen from his
hometown of Lavallette to Island Beach State Park for a 9.5. Who would have
thought that Gesler’s early 7.0 for a solid first-section haymaker/ smooth wrap/
inside run would leave him as mayor of Combo-town?
With about nine minutes
remaining, a dreamy peak popped up. Gesler went left, disappearing behind an
impossible curtain, while Hammer went right, tagging a clean turn and a short
barrel for an 8. It was a throwaway wave for Hammer and wouldn’t have changed
anything, except that Gesler miraculously emerged from the left and gouged the
oncoming section for a 9.8. It was a historic wave in the annals of New Jersey
surfing, but wouldn’t change the outcome. With the Atlantic falling asleep for
the final minutes of the heat, Sam won 18.5 to 16.8.
Gesler was a bit
contemplative for a few minutes following the awards, almost appearing as if he
might snap. But while Hammer was giving a post-event interview, Gesler
playfully tackled him, reminding everyone present that he’s got plenty of time
left to win the Grudge when Sam approaches his own twilight years… though there’s
no sign of that happening anytime soon.
THE PAIN: Andrew
Gesler — a 9.8 wasn’t enough to win the Grudge final? Seriously?
THE MAN: Sam
Hammer — role model, calculated competitor, first back-to-back Grudge
Match champ ever, master tube rider, slayer of sections, gracious victor, and
now an unmatched three-time belt winner.
YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT FIGHT CLUB: “Today made me proud to be from New Jersey.” –Smith
Optics regional rep and Grudge Match Event Director Rob Cloupe, reflecting on
his roots
“I had a ‘10’ written on the
score sheet while he was still in that second barrel. It was one of those
filthy ones where you just know he’s making it.” –Judge Kevin Morris, dissecting Andrew
Gesler’s double barrel for a 10
“I put a lot of pressure on
him early, but at one point I actually heard him say he was just getting
started.” –2009 Grudge Match champion Sam Hammer, relieved he held on to beat
Gesler
“Wow. He’s really a magnet
out there, huh?” –Zack Humphreys watching Hammer in the final,
after Sam schooled him with Casino Pier know-how in the semis
FINAL RESULTS OF THE 8TH ANNUAL GARDEN STATE GRUDGE
MATCH PRESENTED BY DAKINE
1. Sam Hammer, $3500
2. Andrew Gesler
3. Mike Gleason, Zack
Humphreys
HIGHEST HEAT TOTALS BY ROUND Round One: John Barrie, $250
Round Two: Andrew Gesler,
$250
Quarterfinals: Zack
Humphreys, $250
Semifinals: Sam Hammer, $250
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
