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October 2006 Issue
Blue Edge News
The Donnie Solomon 10th Annual Pro-Am Surf Contest
By Sean Hayes
Contest photos by Jason Wilcott
As a crisp offshore belted out of the Ventura River Canyon and a clean set peeled down the point, a scream was heard…“Oh look at that one!” said Keoni Cuccia “Donnie would be on it…I’m out there!”, and so it began, the 10th Annual Donnie Solomon Memorial.
Every year a group of friends and dedicated surfers gather in memory of fallen brother Donnie Solomon. Donnie Solomon was a well known professional surfer and native of Ventura who died while surfing Waimea Bay in December 1995 shortly after riding the wave of his life. Solomon was a strong supporter of the Red Cross and visited their facilities throughout the world while he traveled and competed in the WQS (World Qualifying Series). He encouraged other surfers and youth to receive safety training in first aid and CPR as well as lifeguard training. It was Donnie’s helpful attitude and way of giving back in conjunction with the Red Cross that makes the memorial so special and creates the inspiration he left behind.
The 10th Annual Donnie Solomon Memorial Benefit and Pro Am went down September 15, 16, and 17 at “C-Street” in Ventura. The event was held at one of Donnie’s favorite surfing locales, “The Pipe”, or the Northern corner of Ventura’s California Street. The benefit is a creation of Mary Lou Drummy’s WSA expertise and son Chris Drummy’s professional prowess and marketing skills with Fox Riders Co. Those characteristics mixed with a little bit of South swell and Northwest windswell would provide plenty of love being spread for the late great “Don-O” as we called him back in the day.
The attendees included 805 locals Dan Malloy, Henry Mills, Keoni Cuccia, Dane Reynolds, Jeremy Ryan, Nick Rosza, Adam Virs, Sean Hayes, Chad Compton, Dennis Rizzo, Nick Argyropoulos, Kellen Ellison, Spencer Regan and Dave Hopkins. Southern California pros such as Ted Navarro, Jesse Evans, Bron Hussenstam, Brandon Ragenovich, and Sean Burrell all came up to represent in Donnie’s name. And represent they did by shining in the smallish wedges and point-style lines throughout the day.
Of all the players, it was Dan Malloy who made a big impression in his first heat by sporting “the Red Jersey” and matching red trunks, which he then added to a 5’8” “Fun Hog Twinnie” shaped by Fletcher Chouinard and lit the Pipe on fire. Other surfers to follow and brighten up the scene were Ventura’s Keoni Cuccia and Carpinteria’s “Hank” Mills. All surfers were making it happen and as the event progressed, the crowd saw some amazing surfing and lots of love in the annual paddle out for Don-O. Where nearly 50 surfers gathered and spoke of Donnie’s life and heroic antics. And although everyone was awaiting the after party to celebrate in Don-O’s name soon to follow, it was the Pro-Am final that had to go down first.
The last heat of the day would see Dan Malloy, Shaun Burrell, Ted Navarro, and Keoni Cuccia doing what Donnie loved most…put on the heat in competition. Teddy Navarro dropped a 7.25 within a minute and backed that up with another high scoring ride, and was looking like the man to beat. However, Malloy and Cuccia are true homeboys to Donnie’s favorite spot and soon began to deliver their answers, as did Shaun Burrell with a deadly backhand attack on the inside corner. Scores went down for all four riders, until Dan Malloy dropped a hammer with an 8.5. The clocked ticked away and the others scrambled to beat Dan, but it was Dan’s day, and he was still on fire in the red trunks.
The award ceremony went down soon with the sun and the boys were very grateful to compete in Donnie’s name. So much so in fact, that Dan ($1500) and Keoni ($500) donated their near $2,000 in cumulative prize money back to the Red Cross. Very cool and very inspiring.
The benefit concert and art show would move the good vibe along that evening in downtown Ventura at Table 13. It would raise even more spirits and Red Cross funds in Donnie’s name. Headlining the show was evolving acoustic legend Todd Hannigan, and “Hirocho” master Xocoyotzin (CHOKE-O-YOTE-ZIN). Friends of Donnie; Kent Doonan, John Swift, and Central Coaster Shane Stoneman all jammed for the cause, while artists Sean Tully, Chris Charney, and Davey Miller presented some amazing work that created a very smooth ambient feel to the night. As the night went on, so did the love of the memory of Donnie Solomon and all in attendance felt his presence.
Special thanks to those who helped make the 10th Annual Donnie Solomon Memorial a reality…you know who you are!!
Adam Virs' My Spot – Presented by Fox – September 14th, 2006
By Chris Drummy
Photos by Jason Wilcott
After a tough round two heat against Mick Fanning at the Boost Mobile WCT, California freak Dane Reynolds immediately picked up his cell phone for an important call…
“Virs, I coming up to surf the My Spot.”
The third installment of Fox’s “My Spot” event for aerial specialist and Ventura local Adam Virs is now in the Fox event bank account. The showdown took place Thursday September 14th at Virs’ spot of choice, “The Pipe”, or the Northern corner of Ventura’s California Street. With a decent Southern Hemisphere pulse and a touch of Northwest wind swell, the combination of the two delivered a fun mix of waist to chest high wedges that sent some surfers racing down the line into big scores and some falling short with no face to play with.
Those attending the event and handpicked by Virs himself provided plenty of competition and trash talking to make “My Spot” what it is. The list of attendees was a sick talent pool ready to give Virs a run for his $2000 and KMC Wheels that included Dane Reynolds, Jeremy Ryan, Nick Rosza, Cory Arrambide, Tarik Khoshogi, Kai Ellison, and “The Grom” Spencer Regan. Fox riders Che Stang, Jesse Evans, Keoni Cuccia, Sean Hayes, Torrey Meister, along with amateurs Mike McCabe, and Kellen Ellison were in full effect, not to mention Virs’ local heroes Dave Hopkins, and Guy Quezada. Needless to say…it was on.
The great thing about the My Spot is what it does to a hot group of guys like this…pushes ‘em to GO BIG! Not only is there cash on the line for the finalists, but also from sponsors like Ventura Surf Shop, Sector 9, and Utopia Optics for Biggest Air, Best Maneuver, Hottest Girlfriend, Top Am, Highest Heat Total, and Highest Wave Score. Starting off the specialty category was Jeremy Ryan’s intro high wave score of an 8.33, where he delivered four deadly backhand gouges that were smooth as silk. Soon to follow were Henry Mills demolishing a medium sized right hander to apply for the Most Radical Maneuver category and then Keoni Cuccia forcing a tie of an 8.33 to match Ryan. However, as situations changed and My Spot entrants fought to get to Virs, it was the Ventura Surf Shop Expression Session that had all eyes on the water.
As soon as the “Exprezz O Sezh O” began as announcer Ryan Simmons labeled it, there were twenty shredders including Virs himself trying to nab $300 bucks for the taking. From the beach, most spectators had their eye on free surf phenom Dane Reynolds and his BIG attempts, while young Torrey Meister was dropping countless front side Air 360’s, and even Chad Compton took off with a section clearing Superman.
Then, in true Virs Fashion, “Out of Nowhere” came a wedgy left hander right to him and then “BOOM” a HUGE backside air 360 is stuck by the My Spot kid to get the nod from spectators and judges AND himself with the “Double-Bird Claim”.
The competition kept spectators and the knocked out entrants around all day to witness the man-on-man “Semi-semi’s” with Cory Arrambide taking out Keoni Cuccia and the “The Grom” Spencer Regan dropping a “Hail Mary” score to overtake Yves Bright at the horn. Cory then took out Spencer in the Semi’s destroying a few rights on his backhand, then unleashing a few frontside air 360’s for good measure and a “combo” situation for the Grom.
The final would see Virs paired up with Arrambide and the trash talking ensued. Within seconds of the horn Cory nabbed a tight little right delivering an 8.5 which would leave Virs in question of the score and put him in a tough spot for the rest of the heat. Adam soon dropped a high 6 point ride, with Arrambide on the wave behind dropping an 8.0. Virs fought back looking for the 9.1 he needed and came close with an 8.9 and 30 seconds to go. As fate would have it, the grom got the cash, the KMC rims, a nice headlock from Virs and the title for the Adam Virs My Spot.
1st Place: Cory Arrambide $2000 + KMC Rims
2nd Place: Adam Virs $1000
3rd Place: Spencer Regan $600
=5th Place: Keoni Cuccia $300
Yves Bright $300
Ventura Surf Shop Expression Session: Adam Virs $300
Sector 9 Top Placing Amateur: Cory Arrambide $250
Utopia Optics Best Air: Cory Arrambide $250
Most Radical Maneuver: Henry “Hank” Mills $250
Highest Heat Total: Cory Arrambide $250
Highest Wave Score: Cory Arrambide $250
Hottest Girlfriend: Kellen Ellison $250
Big thanks to all the sponsors:
Reyes Mexican Food
KMC Wheels
Ventura Surf Shop
Sector 9
Utopia Optics
Rock Star Energy Drink
Roberts Surfboards
Pro Light
Posted October 2006 Blue Edge Magazine. All rights reserved.
