Annual Clean Water Classic Wraps Up
MONDAY, 26 MAY 2008
The 7th annual Clean Water Classic surf contest just wrapped up in Westport, Washington. The event, organized and put on by volunteers from the Pacific Northwest chapters of Surfrider Foundation, is a major fundraising event for the local chapters of Surfrider Foundation. Volunteers from southern Oregon all the way to British Columbia host the event which attracted over 1000 spectators and nearly 150 contestants. The Classic is the only Pro/Am contest held in the region.
"Our chapters and activists work hard to put this event on every year, and it represents one of the biggest fundraising opportunities and membership drives," says Charlie Plybon, Oregon Field Coordinator for Surfrider Foundation. "These funds help support a variety of campaigns and programs that focus on water quality, beach access, ocean health, and shoreline preservation. All of the proceeds are split evenly amongst participating chapters to provide crucial funding to Surfrider initiatives at the local chapter level."
On Saturday, May 17, the first heats started at 7am at the jetty in Westhaven State Park, Washington. The event concluded at 3pm on Sunday, May 18. Over the course of Saturday and Sunday, 50 heats were run with most being 15-minute heats. Six competitors per heat was the norm on Saturday, with the semi-finals and finals on Sunday drawing between two and four competitors per heat. The weather was spectacular this year providing clear skies, sunshine, and solid overhead waves for contestants to tout their skills for the judges.
On Saturday night, sponsors combined forces to provide an extraordinary surf theme party which attracted over 450 people. Each Surfrider chapter in the region presented displays and tables educating partygoers on their unique local issues, campaigns, and programs. The party turnout packed the Westport Convention Center, and featured a special presentation by the Classic title sponsor, Global Surf Industries.
The presentation honored local shop owner and Pacific Northwest surf pioneer Al Perlee. Known to many as "the dean of Northwest surfing", Perlee maintains The Surf Shop in Westport and was honored with a signed surfboard by Classic organizers. Also headlining the event was special guest Bob McTavish, one of the catalysts for the shortboard revolution. At 64 years, Bob was pulling into barreling overhead surf on Friday afternoon, impressing the younger crowd on the beach. The evening finished off with some great tunes and a lively show by the Panda Conspiracy.
The event would not have been such a huge success without the amazing support of all the sponsors. These include: Global Surf Industries, Kona Brewing, Rebel Surfboards, Barefoot Wines, The Islander Resort, Quiksilver, Pacific NW Judges, Sol Sunguard, Urban Surf, Lost Mountain Surf Company, Coastal Surf Boutique, Xcel, Perfect Wave, Serenity Spa, Bullman Beach Inn, Agua Verde Cafe, Second Ascent, DVS, North by Northwest Surf, Burley Girls, Zumiez, Fish Tale Organic Ales, Far North Surf and Sport, Whale Tails, Justin Myers Photography, Philippe Bishop Photography, and others. Thanks to all the sponsors and chapters for making this event such a huge success!
2008 Clean Water Classic division winners:
Best Wave – Peter Hamilton
High Score Shortboard – Peter Hamilton
High Score Longboard – Kapono Nahina
Pro/Am
1st Noah Cohen
2nd Kirk Tice
3rd CC Unger
Master’s Shortboard
1st Perry Abedor
2nd Matt Loughran
3rd Nolan West
Women’s Shortboard
1st Leah Oke
2nd Annie Atkinson
3rd Anne Beasley
Men’s Longboard
1st Kapono Nahina
2nd JP Canlis
3rd Andrew Cordeiro
Master’s Longboard
1st Kevin Todd
2nd Anthony Redpath
3rd Ben Cockcroft
Women’s Longboard
1st Monica Todd
2nd Leah Oke
3rd Annie Atkinson
Juniors
1st Kye Peladeau
2nd Ryan Gardner
3rd Chad Hoh
Stand-up Paddle
1st JP Canlis
2nd Kevin Todd
3rd Peter Miller
Keiki (child) with Parent
Isabella Martinez-Ybor
Noah Martin
Scarlett Redpath
Nicole Simpson
Visit CleanWaterClassic.com for more details.
The Surfrider Foundation (Surfrider.org) is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 50,000 members and 63 chapters across the United States and Puerto Rico, with international affiliates in Australia, Europe, Japan, and Brazil.
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