NSSA #7

Local shredders recently made the trip down south to Oceanside for NSSA Open Event #7. Waves started chest high on Saturday and picked up to clean head high sets on Sunday, complimented by new Northwest swells. Local highlights of the contest:

MENS
1. Cory Arrambide-Ventura 12.66
2. Spencer Regan-Ventura 12.50

BOYS
2. Conner Coffin-Santa Barbara 8.83
6. Parker Coffin-Santa Barbara 5.33 tiebreak

WOMENS
1. Sage Erickson-Ventura 10.33
3. Demi Boelsterli-Santa Barbara 7.17

AIRSHOW
1. Cory Arrambide

SBJH Movie Benefit

The Santa Barbara Junior High Surf Club, in association with Heal the Ocean, Surf Aid International, and Surfhistory.com presents the 4th annual Movie Benefit on March 3rd at the Marjorie Luke Theater. The night will feature the film premiere of “Fin,” along with live performances by the Chris Keet Band and the Lance Parker Band. There will also be a fundraising prize drawing and a silent auction. Proceeds from this event will go towards supporting the SB Junior High Surf Club in their continued efforts to train competitively and to educate the students about the ocean. The benefit will also support Heal the Ocean and Surf Aid International. The surf club currently has 19 members, competing in the categories of shortboarding, longboarding, and bodyboarding. Surf Happens cofounder, Angelica Keet is the coach. For more information please contact Marisa Parker at (805) 455-9903 or email her at msparker136@aol.com. Thank you and we hope to see you at the show.

Christian Surfers United States (CSUS) 2006 Contest Series
Photos & Words by Chris Keet, courtesy of Surfhappens.com

On Saturday, February 11, the 2005-2006 CSUS contest series made its way to Hendry’s beach, a.k.a. “The Pit” for some high powered local action. With valuable rating points, trophies, and heaps of prizes on the line, contestants battled it out in the hazy waist high beach break. The locals really had it wired and proved eager to take the win in their hood.

The atmosphere is always so awesome at these events, truly a family affair. It had been ten years since the organization hosted an event in Santa Barbara, and it was made possible this year by sponsor support and the hard work of their staff. Spearheaded by John Lindsley from CSUS national, and local chapter leader Dennis Leon, this event really united generations of Christian Surfers.

The biggest two heroes of my youth, three time world champion Tom Curren, and aerial pioneer, and Pit legend, Davey Smith, were on hand all day watching their kids compete. Also making an appearance was former world amateur champion, world tour warrior, PSAA champ, and current big wave aficionado, Chris Brown. Rising stars, four time national champ and newly turned professional, Killian Garland and WQS charger Bobby Morris also turned up to support the return of the CSUS to local waters.

The CSUS raised an entire generation of surfers, including myself and all of my peers here in Santa Barbara. Speaking on behalf of everyone involved we hope that the local chapter continues to grow and host more events in the future.

WSA Hobie Tour

The seventh competition of the WSA Hobie Championship Tour went down at the Pismo Beach Pier in frigid 52-degree water and nice head high walls hitting the north side of the pier. Ventura’s Catherine Clark surfed her way to first place in both the short board and longboard divisions. Chelsea Zaniboni from Santa Barbara took first place in both the Girls 17 and under Longboard and the Open Women’s Longboard divisions. Newcomer Tyson Parsons of Isla Vista shook up the Open Men’s Division with a win in his first event. Other stand out performances were Jessica Chapman of Goleta who came in second in jr. women’s shortboard, and Lyn Burich of Goleta who placed first in women’s shortboard.

Baby Orca Washes Up on Ventura Shore
By Carli Leavitt

Last month a baby orca, or killer whale, as most of us know them, washed up deceased on shore in Ventura. Only a few days old, it was 8 feet long and weighed nearly 335 pounds. Local researchers are having a field day with this find, trying to get a closer look at one of the most popular and intriguing animals found all over the world. The cause of its death is unknown but after speaking with Whale Watching Captain Don, who has been providing Santa Barbara with Whale Watching tours for 25 years, it sounds like this young pup just couldn’t keep up with the rest of his transient orca pod.

Often referred to as the Lions of the Ocean, orcas are located in all parts of the world, including our very own Santa Barbara Channel. Captain Don sees them on a regular basis, usually following the migration of the gray whale. “The orcas we see in the Channel are transient orcas, meaning they are constantly on the move,” said Captain Don. “They go wherever there is food, unlike the resident orcas in Puget Sound.”

While resident orcas mainly feed on fish, our transient orcas feed on seals, porpoises, sharks, and small whales, such as the gray whale, along with fish, squid, and penguins. According to Captain Don, orcas have no known predators besides possibly the great white shark, and it is highly unlikely that a white shark would attack an orca traveling in a group. Most likely, the death of the baby orca in Ventura was caused by its inability to keep up with the rest of its pod.

If you are interested in catching a glimpse of these miraculous animals, visit www.captdon.com and get up close and personal with the Lions of the Ocean.

ISF Contest #4 California Street, Ventura:
Photos & Words by Chris Keet Courtesy Of Surfhappens.com

The fourth and final competition in the 2005-2006 ISF middle school season came to the cobblestone point at C-Street, Ventura on Saturday, February 4th. From the get go, contestants from the four competing schools feasted on an increasing swell with clean head high waves prevailing throughout the day.

The boys shortboard division featured top athletes from Carpinteria, Crane, and Malibu, with Carpinteria looking to be in contention for the event victory. That is until the Cinderella heat story of Crane’s Tristan Cronshaw came into play. Tristan who had yet to win an event in his three years on the Crane team was surfing too far up the point for the first thirteen minutes of the heat with only a 1.5 wave score under his belt. With seven minutes left in the heat, Cronshaw caught a wedgey right hander that shot down the point. He disappeared into the white water only to emerge with a raised fist. The judges called it a 7.5.

The beach was tense as time winded down. Tristan sat with only one wave in the final minute and a half. Suddenly a mid size wave popped out of nowhere with Cronshaw the only surfer in position. He rode the wave all the way to Monkey’s Corner by Stables and clinched the victory with another 7.5.

The boys longboard division was all Santa Barbara Junior High’s, Shane Millhollin, who dominated the final. Millhollin illustrated natural style and power well beyond his years, as well as a keen sense for wave selection that enabled him to surf virtually unchallenged in the final.

Crane’s Corey Radis took the victory in the girls longboard with only one wave. Radis also finished second in the girls shortboard. Santa Barbara Junior High’s, Summersby Jenkins placed third overall with fourth place going to Camille Phillips from Crane. For more information, log onto isfsurfteams.com.

C-Street Final Team Points:
1. Malibu 150.5 points
2. Carpinteria 135 points
3. Crane 128.5 points
4. Santa Barbara 126 points

Final for the Season:
1. Crane 678.5 points
2. Malibu 639.5 points
3. Santa Barbara 639 points
4. Carpinteria 637 points

Bobby Martinez for Smith Optics

Congrats to Bobby Martinez who has just been named a sponsored athlete for Smith Optics. Since qualifying for the WCT, 23 year old Santa Barbara local Bobby has picked up two sponsors and says, “I can’t wait to go to Australia to get the year started,” in the first WCT event of ‘06.

Mavericks

In a record attendance of 50-60,000 spectators, the Mavericks Surf Contest showcased 24 of the world’s best surfers and epic 30-40 foot waves. Grant “Twiggy” Baker of Durban, South Africa took home the win along with a $30,000 paycheck. Close behind was Tyler Smith of Santa Cruz. Then came Brock Little of Hawaii, Matt Ambrose of Pacifica, Grant Washburn of San Francisco, and finally Evan Slater of San Clemente in sixth place. Baker kicked off the day with a perfect 10 in the first round, and in the finals, the six highest scoring surfers battled it out on longer, cleaner sets. For those who missed the event, the action is still available through a web cast at www.mediazone.com/mavericks.

INSTINCT

It’s official, the legendary surf brand INSTINCT is making a comeback in Spring 2006. Originally established in South Africa in 1979, INSTINCT was one of the most recognized surf brands throughout the 80’s. The brand was synonymous with legends such as Tom Carroll and Barton Lunch. INSTINCT Clothing will keep its historic core principles while moving into the future of the action sports environment. Corporate headquarters will be based in Santa Barbara, visit www.instinctclothing.net for more info.