Pineapple Surf Contest Is A Hit In The Community After 27 Years
- April 18, 2010
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- By Story/Photos By Sue DeWerff Panzarino
Surfing has been a part of the Melbourne Beach Founders Day Celebration for over a quarter of a century and this years contest expects to top the past . More events and a fun day at the beach in Ocean Avenue , capped off by the evenings live music and entertainment makes for a great all around family event . Always held the first week in May, the first heats will commence at 8am, and continue throughout the day , ending with a cash prize pro-air show contest.
In 1983, Jacky Grayson of Ocean Avenue Surf Shop, backed by the Melbourne Beach Surf Club, first organized this event which has since become a part of the annual town of Melbourne Beach Celebration. Owners of the shop donated wax and leashes as prizes for the contestants, but since entry fees and budgets were small, it was decided that a delicious fresh pineapple serve as the trophy for the winners of each event. Donated then by the IGA Super Market, this tradition has stuck, as has the name, “Pineapple Surf Contest”. First place winners is every division now receive the pineapple in addition to a trophy and prize donated by the local merchants . Generous support in the past few years has come from Catylast and Spectrum Surf Shops as well as several local law firms and surfing industry product sponsors.Trophies for this years event will be hand sculptured metal pineapples , done by local artist Monique Richter, and co manager of Spectrum Surf Shop in Indialantic.
The event, run exclusively volunteers and supported financially by more than 50 local businesses in the community, has drawn contestants from all over the county , state and even abroad.
Under the direction of Curtis Byrd, a local longtime surfer and Melbourne Beach resident, the contest features events ranging from boogieboarding, to menehue (kids 3-10years) events, to the “Fossils” division, the over 50 adult kids who still have the stoke- It is an opportunity for surfing families to meet and enjoy a day at the beach with face painting, super surf goodie bags for the kiddies, and fun in the sun. Judging of the event has been directed by Glenn Kugel, owner of GAK surfboards . Always looking to teach young kids the sport as well as the judging techniques, he is looking for volunteers this year as well. Waves good or not so great, the show has gone on for 26 years and this year shall be no different.
If you would like to enter the contest or volunteer more information can be found on the Melbourne Beach website, www.melbournebeachfl.org or call 321-724-5860. Entry forms can be downloaded from this site or picked up at the Town Hall. The event runs Saturday, May 1, at Ocean Avenue Park in Melbourne Beach