TS HANNA DELIVERS EPIC SURF for the K-COAST/REEF OPEN CONTEST
 
On Saturday, September 6th, Tropical Storm Hanna roared through town, bringing heavy rains and winds of 30 to 40 knots. That evening however, as the storm passed, the winds shifted offshore and began to groom some of the best waves seen at a local contest in years, just in time for the 2008 K Coast/Reef Open. By the time the lucky competitors showed up at 35th Street, it was going off, with well overhead barrels and light offshore winds.

Somehow, those boys at K Coast always manage to score good waves for their contest. But this year had to be one of the best. They also know how to score great prizes for the competitors. First place finishers in each division won a brand new Firewire Surfboard valued at over $700 for starters, plus the top four received prize bags including Xcel wetsuits, Freestyle watches, Smith sunglasses, Reef clothing, Dakine surf accessories, Skull Candy headphones, and other freebies. Additionally, the grand prize of a $500.00 travel voucher was given to the first place finisher in the Open Shortboard division. However, all 110 competitors went home with great looking contest T shirts and memories of some of the best barrels they've had in years.

With only four divisions, it made for a smooth running contest and four man heats, a rare treat for such events. As usual, the Open Shortboard was the most hotly contested. Lots of great surfing went down as they worked through the elimination rounds, then the quarterfinals, then semi's , until only four were left. Vince Boulanger was going bigger than ever on Sunday, pulling a couple of reverses and lots of vertical snaps to take first place over Travis Knight, who almost matched Vince wave for wave. Down the beach a little, Brad Beach linked together a series of good snaps to take third place over Roy Harrell who came in fourth.

In the Open Girls, the friendly rivalry between Jassett Umble and Rachel Harrell that has gone on for a few years now, completed yet another chapter, with a close finish that saw Rachel Harrell taking first place and winning the Firewire. Jenna Landon put together a couple of nice snaps and took third, edging out Katilyn Curran who finished fourth.
 
Jassett Umble still managed to score one of those Firewires, however. She entered the Open Groms as the only girl and ended up taking first place in a surprise upset. Austin Deppe pulled off some nice fin free snaps taking second place over third place Seth Conboy, and Brad Flora in fourth.

Big, hollow waves aren't necessarily the best conditions for longboarding, but don't tell that to Jake Buchler, who seems to thrive when it gets gnarly. He managed to walk the nose, hang five and do some high performance maneuvering to take first place. Meanwhile, old school Dean Thompson took out his 1962 vintage Greg Noll and got a barrel to take third place over a ripping Colin Herlily who came in third over fourth place finsher and K Coast partner Chris Shanahan.

Another big winner for the day was the Ocean City Firefighters and Paramedics Association, the beneficiary of all proceeds which were raised from the contest. K-Coast Surf Shops in Ocean City, Maryland along with the Eastern Surfing Association created this event ten years ago as an annual fundraiser for the Ocean City Career Firefighters and Paramedics Association. This year's event raised approximately $2,000.

The next event for the Delmarva District of the Eastern Surfing Association is the Sea Witch Surf Fest, October 25, 26, 2008 in Delaware at North Side Indian River Inlet or Tower Road State Park. For more information about the Delmarva District of the Eastern Surfing Association go to www.DelmarvaESA.org or call the toll-free contest info line at 1-888-632-4742.

The Eastern Surfing Association (ESA), founded in 1967, a non-profit, IRS tax-exempt corporation, is the largest surfing organization in the world with more than 11,000 members. It is dedicated to the sport of surfing, to the operation of a program of competition for surfers of all ages and abilities, and to the establishment and preservation of public access to a clean shoreline and ocean environment. The association's activities are organized in a total of twenty-seven districts, which extend along nearly 2,000 miles of coastline, stretching from Maine through the Gulf Coast of Florida and Alabama and also including the Great Lakes and Puerto Rico. The Delmarva District currently has more than 550 active members and is operated by a non-paid, all volunteer staff. Visit the Delmarva ESA on-line at www.DelmarvaESA.org.

RESULTS ARE:
Open Shortboard (all ages)
1. Vince Boulanger
2. Travis Knight
3. Brad Beach
4. Roy Harrell

Open Girls (all ages)
1. Rachell Harrell
2. Jassett Umble
3. Jenna Landon
4. Kaitlyn Curran

Open Grom (14 and under)
1. Jassett Umble
2. Austin Deppe
3. Seth Conboy
4. Brad Flora

Open Longboard (all ages)
1. Jake Buchler
2. Dean Thompson
3. Colin Herlihy
4. Chris Shannahan