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2010 National Championships of Surf Kayaking – Final Results

admin — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 04:25:17 +0000

The ESKA 2010 National Championships of Surf Kayaking and Battle 4 Hatteras ran smoothly, with fantastic waves, nice weather and good friends surfing with one another. Some people won and some lost, but everyone had a good attitude about it. Below you will find a journal of the weekend’s events as well as the competition results. We look forward to seeing everyone this time next year, same location, for the 2011 World Championships of Surf Kayaking.

Dawn at the Outer Banks

The rising sun peeks over sand dunes, sea oats and through a gap between beachfront homes.

2010 National Championships of Surf Kayaking: Event Scene on Finals Day

Urko Otxoa flies off the lip in the Short Boat Quarter Finals

Joey Hall drops in during Short Boat Quarter Finals

Garazi Iturralde drops under a heavy lip during Womens Short Boat Finals

Spencer Cooke drops in during Short Boat Semi Finals

England's Mark Woolward hops out after an intense Semi-Final in Short Boat

Xabi Olano drives off the lip in the Short Boat Finals

Anthony Bell and Edu Exteberria come in after a very heated Short Boat Finals

Thanks to our very committed judges. Top notch job!

Andy Gates & Joey Hall set up trophies for the award ceremony.

Pretty Maids all in a row. As you may notice in all the award ceremony photos, the ESKA has taken strides to be an environmentally conscious organization by recycling old trophies. They're more fun than new ones anyway...

SPECIAL AWARDS

Best Wave of the event award went to Garazi Iturralde from Basque Country.

Worst Crash award went to Buck Johnson who broke his big toe by accidentally kicking a rock on the beach. No photo available. He limped up to the award stand to receive his trophy.

BATTLE 4 HATTERAS AWARDS – Click HERE to learn about this event.

Battle 4 Hatteras - 4th Place Team "Low Tech"; Ted Morris (wave ski), Andy Gates (long boat), Tom May (short boat)

Battle 4 Hatteras - 3rd Place Team "Whack Wing"; Buck Johnson (long boat), Mark Woolward (short boat), Charles Salters (wave ski)

Joey Hall shows off the Murky Water fins that were given as prizes for the 2nd and 1st placing teams in the Battle 4 Hatteras event. Huge thanks to Ed and Mariola from Murky Water Paddling Supply - What a valuable prize for surfers!

Battle 4 Hatteras - 2nd Place Team, "RSX;" Russ Buskirk (long boat), Matt Radis (short boat), Steve Riordan (wave ski)

Battle 4 Hatteras - 1st Place Team, "The Death Eaters;" Gordon Rock (wave ski), Anthony Bell (short boat), Spencer Cooke (long boat), these guys will be the keepers of the lighthouse until the next B4H event!

2010 NATIONALS AWARDS

Grand Masters Long Boat - 1st Buck Johnson (US National Champion), 2nd John Tarbell, 3rd Matty Kinsella, 4th Kris Whitmore

Matty Kinsella has been surf kayaking (also competing) for almost 30 years. He admitted that his relic, Perception Sabre just doesn't hold its own anymore with all the new boat designs. Very nice fella to meet.

Masters Long Boat - 1st Charles Salters (US National Champion), 2nd Buck Johnson, 3rd John Tarbell

Womens Long Boat - 1st Lindsay Usher (US National Champion), 2nd Kris Whitmore

Wave Ski - 1st Steve Riordan, 2nd Gordon Rock, 3rd Mark Pastic, 4th Ted Morris - Thanks to Island Wave Ski for giving three $200 gift certificates for our winners.

Ted Morris is from Canada and he's serious about it.

Grand Masters Short Boat - 1st Tom May (US National Champion), 2nd Ted Morris, 3rd Russ Buskirk, 4th Kevin Hughes

Womens Short Boat - 1st Garazi Iturralde, 2nd Ainhoa Tolosa, 3rd (US National Champion) Kris Whitmore

Masters Short Boat - 1st (US National Champion) Matt Radis, 2nd Mark Woolward, 3rd Charles Salters, 4th Tom May

Mens Long Boat - 1st (US National Champion) Anthony Bell, 2nd Spencer Cooke, 3rd John Tarbell, 4th Charles Salters

Mens Short Boat - 1st Edu Exteberria, 2nd Urko Otxoa, 3rd Xabi Olano, 4th (US National Champion) Anthony Bell

Julen Arriz was the only Junior paddler in attendance at the event, though he competed in the Men's events and advanced to Semi-Finals. Expect some very competitive surfing from this 17-year-old in the near future! He's already very talented and he surfs with Edu and Urko regularly - a recipe for great surfing.

The Basque Team: An incredible bunch of athletes, nice folks and great sports.

Thanks to everyone for coming. It turned out that our Nationals was an International event instead, with competitors from the East and West Coasts of the US, Canada, Spain and England. Thanks to our excellent judges, event sponsors, volunteers, families and friends. Please support us again and come see us next year when we host the World Championships at the Outer Banks. We’ll leave you with a video that tells a bit more about the 2011 World Championships of Surf Kayaking.

World Surf Kayak Championships, FINAL Report: Santa Cruz Portugal July-Aug, 2009

admin — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:45:39 +0000

Here are the final standings for the US East Surf Kayak Team at the 2009 World Surf Kayak Championships in Santa Cruz, Portugal.

US East Placed 8th out of the 12 full teams competing at this year’s event.

US East Team Captain Anthony Bell proudly displays our 8th Place Trophy. Yes, they gave trophies, not only up to 8th place, but all the way through 12th. Everyone was a winner.

US East had three individual World Medalist this year whom we are very proud of.
Lindsay Usher placed 3rd in Women’s Long Boat
Russ Buskirk placed 3rd in Grand Masters Short Boat
Tom May placed 4th in Grand Masters Short Boat

CONGRATS GUYS!

US East 2009 World Medalists (left to right) Russ Buskirk 3rd Place Grand Masters Short Boat, Lindsay Usher 3rd Place Womens Long Boat, Tom May 4th Place Grand Masters Short Boat

Team England took top honors placing 1st in the team event at this World Championships. Here they receive their trophy below a moonlit eve just before everyone jumped into the pool.

The Basque enthusiastically receiving their 2nd Place Trophie.

The US East has put a bid in for the 2011 World Championships. Other countries placing bids included Australia. The location of the 2011 event is to be announced within the next couple months as the WSKA (World Surf Kayaking Organization) is currently busy making the decision. Visit here at a later date to find out where the next event will be held.

Thank you to all the friends, family and sponsors of our team and team members for following the ESKA site to monitor our progress during the World Championships. Portugal was unquestionably an excellent experience for us all.

The US East Surf Kayak Team may very well see you in the lineup when the next swell hits our beaches.

World Surf Kayak Championships Report: Santa Cruz Portugal July 31 – August 1

admin — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 18:06:09 +0000

USA East reports our final results from the 2009 World Surf Kayak Championship in Santa Cruz, Portugal. We will be taking home three medals.

Finals were held on a wet morning, Saturday, August 1st. - Photo: Effort.tv

Russ Buskirk of Folly Beach SC took 3rd place, bronze medal, in Grand Masters (50 and over) short boat (hp). A very devoted surf kayaker, Russ has been paddling and surfing very well this year and proudly earned this position.

Russ Buskirk with game face before his Grand Masters HP Finals heat. Russ placed 3rd. His secret is the mustache. - Photo: Effort.tv

Lindsay Usher from the Outer Banks NC has placed 3rd taking the bronze medal for the US East in the Women’s Long Boat (ic) Class. A bit of a bummer for her personally considering that she dominated her competition leading all the way up to finals. Nonetheless, the team and country are very proud of her.

Tom May of New Smyrna Beach FL placed 4th in Grand Masters (50 and over) short boat (hp). Tom “May” get an aluminum medal or perhaps wood, we’re not sure. Actually we don’t know if they give medals for 4th. Regardless, Tom surfed very well throughout the contest and gave the US East Team access to his invaluable surf wisdom. 40 years of surfing pays off.

Tom May and Lindsay Usher from the US East before their final heats. They placed 4th and 3rd in their respective classes, Grand Masters HP and Women's Long Boat (ic). - Photo: Effort.tv

Full event results may be seen at http://kayaksurf.net/news.html

To summarize this event, boundaries were broken, the ante was upped, the sport was perhaps even “pushed forward.” Come back soon for more news from the ESKA and the US East Surf Kayak Team.

Enjoy some more photos from the Finals by Effort.tv

World Surf Kayak Championships Report: Santa Cruz Portugal July 30

admin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:49:25 +0000

US East Team Members in uniform peer out over the break at Santa Rita. - photo Effort.tv

The US East Surf Kayak Team 2009 - (Left to Right) Joey Hall, Tom May, Charles Salters, Matt Lewis, Lindsay Usher, Paul Scrutton, Anthony Bell, Russ Buskirk, Spencer Cooke, Andy Gates - photo Effort.tv

We have some news today from the US East Surf Kayak Team, reporting from the 2009 World Surf Kayak Championships in Santa Cruz Portugal. First, the conditions today were very big and heavy. This means there were more blown decks, some broken boats, and several swims. Comes with the territory.

Our final team standing was 8th place, a bit lower than any of us would have liked, but we gave it all our efforts. Our team has enjoyed surfing here and experienced an incredible level of competition.

Here is a status of individual competition standings: 3 in finals, 1 more pending

Women’s IC (long boat)
Lindsay Usher has placed 1st in the semifinal heat and advanced to the finals. She will compete against three other women in tomorrow’s championship heat.

Grand Masters (50 and over) HP (short boat)
Tom May and Russ Buskirk have both advanced to the finals and will compete in the championship heat.

Men’s IC (long boat)
Anthony Bell has placed 2nd in one of the quarterfinal rounds advancing to the next round.
Joey Hall and Charles Salters were eliminated in today’s competition.

Men’s HP (short boat)
Anthony Bell, Joey Hall and Russ Buskirk were all three eliminated from the quarterfinal round today.

South competition site in the AM, before quarterfinal elimination heats. - photo Effort.tv

Meditation before competition. - photo Effort.tv

Anthony Bell offers a nervous smile before long boat (IC) quarter-finals. - photo Effort.tv

World Surf Kayak Championships Report: Santa Cruz Portugal July 27-29

admin — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:11:05 +0000

US East Coast Team has made the top 8 in the Preliminary round and has advanced to the Semi-Finals of Team Competition. Several of our team members are still in the running for individual world titles as well.

Margot & Tom May hanging with Anthony Bell, our brave captain. - Photo by Effort.tv

World competitors all in a row. - Photo by Effort.tv

Here’s how things stand currently… “the situation…”

HP Mens Individual Preliminary Round
Joey Hall – 1st Place advance to next round
Tom May – 3rd Place eliminated
Spencer Cooke – 3rd Place eliminated
Anthony Bell – 1st Place advance to next round
Russ Buskirk – 2nd Place advance to next round

Masters (40 and over) HP Prelim
Paul Scrutton – 2nd Place advance to next round

Masters (40 and over) IC Prelim
Charles Salters – 1st place (? pretty sure but could have been 2nd, don’t think so though) he did advance to next round

Womens HP Quarter Finals
Lindsay Usher – 3rd Place eliminated

Womens IC Quarter Finals
Lindsay Usher – 1st Place advance to semi-final

Team placement is to be announced. By the numbers it doesn’t look like it is possible for us to make the top 4 for the finals so we will likely fall somewhere between 5-8th place. Not certain on this but seems likely. Nonetheless we were pleased to advance to the next round and thank all of the other countries, especially our hospitable hosts here in Portugal, for the amazing and friendly competition.

Russ Buskirk styles it in the Men's HP Division on a nice wave. - Photo by Effort.tv

This fly-by was really high compared to the first one. - photo Effort.tv

That is a large flag. The Portuguese may have "borrowed" this from their Capital building. - Photo by Effort.tv

Surf Wizard, Tom May, shows that wave who's boss in the Grand Master's HP Division. - Photo by Effort.tv

This morning, game faces on, Anthony Bell and Russ Buskirk prepare for Team Competition in HP. - Photo by Effort.tv

Surf mellowed out a bit for this morning's competition, plus the high tide took somesize off of it. Anthony cuts back to the lovely pocket. - Photo by Effort.tv

Our IC Master, Paul Scrutton, either put on too much sunscreen, got a horrible case of poison ivy and has applied calmine lotion, or he got deloused. Either way he's okay now. A little itchy perhaps, but he'll survive. - Photo by Effort.tv

Carlisle Landell from the West Coast of Delaware prepares for his team heat. - Photo by Effort.tv

Teams meet at the Green judge's tower to get some news from the WSKA officals. - Photo by Effort.tv

Youngster, David Speller, from Jersey and the Channel Islands makes the most of a high-tide righty.

Our competitors heading out for the HP Individual Preliminary Round. - Photo by Effort.tv

WSKA, maybe you've heard of them? Their new album is out next month. - Photo by Effort.tv

Jim Grossman from the West Coast US Team also works at Home Depot (notice back brace). Jim, can we get a pound of 16 penny nails and a couple 2x4's when you get a second? - Photo by Effort.tv

Come back soon for more results and coverage of the 2009 Surf Kayak World Championships and news from the US East Coast Team.

World Surf Kayak Championships Report: Santa Cruz Portugal July 26

admin — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 23:31:49 +0000

US East posted some impressive scores today in the IC Class and advanced most of our paddlers to the next round. Surf today was small, dumpy and choppy for the most part, around waist to chest high. Today’s results for our team:

Charles Salters – 1st Place IC – advance to next round
Spencer Cooke – 3rd Place IC – eliminated
Andy Gates – 4th Place IC – eliminated
Anthony Bell – 1st Place IC – advance to next round
Joey Hall – 1st Place IC – advance to next round
Lindsay Usher – 1st Place IC – advance to next round
Matt Lewis – 3rd Place Mens HP Qualifier – eliminated
Tom May – - 1st Place Mens HP Qualifier – advance to next round

Tomorrow morning HP individual preliminary rounds begin, 35 heats strong of Men, Women and Juniors. Additionally the surf is forecast to pick up to 8 feet, potentially huge. We’ll see what mother ocean tosses our way.

Charles Salters hikes down the beach to warm up for heat #1 this AM. - Photo Effort.tv

The wind didn’t chop up the conditions until late morning so half of our team got to surf decent waves. The other half, not so much, but we fared pretty well nonetheless.

Team USA East stakes their claim on the beach. - Photo Effort.tv

Our camaraderie and team morale continue to be strong, something that was established by the past US East teams. This is a great group of people and truly talented surfers and paddlers to be involved with.

"Coach" Tom May surfs one in after winning his third heat in a row. - Photo Effort.tv