15th Annual Waterman's Challenge Luau
- June 9, 2014
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- By Story/Photos By Guru Girl Angela
If you missed out on the 15
th Annual Waterman’s Challenge Luau, then let me reminisce and take you back to Saturday evening with me.
Upon stepping out of the vehicle, you could immediately hear the smooth sounds of Bill McMillan on his guitar coming from the distance. The sound of The Aquanuts draws you in as you walk up to the looming Cocoa Beach Country Club Pavilion, where laughter and voices pour out. Every table is filled with people, colorful decorations are strewn about, and children are running through the grass playing tag. The 15
th Annual Waterman’s Challenge Luau has a great turnout and will definitely be a memorable one.
After a little bit of mingling and wine drinking with live music in the background, there is a glorious ceremony to publicly award the Surfrider Foundation Suncoast County Chapter not only first, but also second place in the Waterman’s Challenge. Palm Beach County Chapter willingly takes third place this year and will be back with a vengeance next year!
Afterwards, Brevard Hawaiian Dancers, also known as Halau Ilima O Pololika, captures everyone’s complete attention and is able to teleport our minds across the world to a surfer’s paradise through the art of Polynesian and Hula Dancing performed by students and instructors. Some of the dances teach you about how stories are told through the beautifully flowing movements of the Hawaiian hula dancers and HIP-notizing Tahitian dance moves. Mother nature decides to make an appearance at the Luau when a gusty storm rolls over the pavilion in the middle of the show. The lightning strikes in the background add an eerie beauty to the performances as the dancers continue on straight through to the end. A couple no-see-ums bite at your legs and the rain continues fall, but there’s a huge smile on your face as you spot one of your surf buddies walking over to say goodbye.
The Luau as well as the Waterman’s Challenge itself is important to the community because the events help The Cocoa Beach Surf Museum to continue their mission to preserve surf history. Without the recognition of history, there is no motivation for progress. Surfing has never had as much attention as it does today, and it’s places like the Museum and events such as the Waterman’s Challenge and Luau that help to fuel the surfing lifestyle that we crave so much.
Thanks Angela..
For More info about the Museum:
www.cocoabeachsurfmuseum.org/
