Howard Futch Park Paradise Beach Florida
Story/Photos By Surf Guru
Though mother nature threatened to be uncooperative, kudos go out to co-directors Mike & Zoe Grant and Robert & Helen Duggan for holding the 4th and final contest for ESA of Central Florida. All week the surf forecast models were predicting flat and un-ride able conditions, but by quickly maneuvering to change the contest location, the directors were able to run a great contest.
The contest was originally scheduled for Ponce Landing in Melbourne Beach, but the current formation of the sandbar at Howard Futch Park at Paradise Beach make it a better break at higher tides, and that is what the directors were banking on, and it paid off. Indeed, with the northwest winds blowing consistently, the wind chop not only made the waves contestable, but actually fun!
Because ESA requires each chapter to submit their final standings by January 31, this was the final contest at the local level. The Southeast Regional, which qualifies surfers for the 2012 Easterns will be held April 19th through the 22nd at New Smyrna. The Easterns Championship will be held September 16 through 22nd at Cape Hatteras.
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More than twenty Herbert Hoover Middle School students attended an initial organizational meeting on February 2nd to form the first middle school surf club in Brevard County.
The purpose of the club is to foster the love of surfing among its members through competition and through other organized events. “We want to get as many surfers together as possible,” said Chris Rockwood, one of the students who spearheaded starting the club, “There isn’t an organization for people our age who want to surf, you just have to go by yourself.”
Club members will also serve as ambassadors to the general community by participating in beach cleanups and other activities which demonstrate good stewardship to the environment and humanity.
Chauncey Robinson, an 8th grader who has been trying to start the club for two years said, “Surfers have a bad rap. People think we use drugs and talk funny, but really we are athletes and good citizens. Most of the surfers I know really care about the environment and giving back. Our club will help people see surfers in a better light.”
As a club, the students will get together on a weekly basis to practice surfing and learn from each other and from parents, teachers and coaches who volunteer their time. They will learn about competitive surfing by having practice heats against each other. The students will plan additional events and fundraisers throughout the remainder of the school year.
“This club will be so good for the kids, because as a beach side school, surfing is such a big part of our local culture.” says Stephanie Yancey, the teacher sponsor for the club, “Surfing is also becoming more recognized as a sport; this gives these kids more opportunities to participate in something they will love for the rest of their lives.”
The club will form a team of riders consisting of 6 boys, 2 girls and 1 long boarder plus a few alternates that will compete in the National Scholastic Surfing Association contests. Though NSSA has a Middle School division nationally, because there are no other middle school teams in the area, Hoover’s surf team will surf against high school teams; Melbourne, Satellite, and Jupiter High Schools. The team will earn points to surf in the Regional NSSA Team Championships to be held in New Smyrna Beach on April 14 and 15. From there, they may qualify to compete in California at the National Team Championships where they will be able to compete against students their own age.
To raise money for contest entry fees, the Hoover Surf Club will be having a car wash at Catalyst Surf Shop Restaurant located at 209 Ocean Avenue in Melbourne Beach on Saturday, February 4th from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. A donation of $5 is suggested. The club will also be looking for business sponsors who, in exchange for a contribution of $100 or more will have their logo placed on a t-shirt the club will wear and sell to raise additional funds. You may also make a donation at www.hooversurfclub.teamsurf.org.
For more information about the Hoover Middle School Surf Club, call Skye Robinson at 321-917-1435 or visit
www.hooversurfclub.teamsurf.org.
