Quiksilver Surf Shop Challenge 2007

results

Quiksilver Surf Shop Challenge presented by Surfer Magazine
Northeast Regional Championships

By Jon Coen

            Spring is a funny concept in the northeast. As March gives way to April, surfers delude themselves into thinking this season of rejuvenation is underway to mentally deal with Old Man Winter’s last grasp. We play this psychological game for weeks, always imagining that freedom from our 5-millimeter constrictions is a few days away.
            This year, as always, springtime has been as real as Sasquatch, or in this case, the Jersey Devil. The Quiksilver Surf Shop Challenge Northeast Regional Event, at Casino Pier, Seaside Heights, on April 12th, was an icy-gray affair. But while the temps felt much like winter, so did the swell. A powerful maelstrom crossed into the Atlantic on Wednesday night, and with disorganized southeast swell pushing well overhead, eight shops from Virginia Beach to Long Island were ready to square off.
            The first round was more a paddle battle than surf contest. Surfers ran the risky gauntlet under the Pier to get outside. The wind had turned light offshore, but conditions were hardly groomed.
            Lavallette’s Sam Hammer, surfing for Brave New World used local knowledge to slash at shapeless masses Coen and even came through a quick tube for a 9. Those who managed to pick off a set wave faced walled-out sections or steep drops to nowhere. Some surfers even gambled for smaller inside reforms, but were judged accordingly. Scotty Drages, of 7th St. Surf Shop, had a few moments of brilliance, with vertical backside slashes.
            Conditions improved drastically for the second round, Sam Holaday, of Spellbinders managed to sneak behind the curtain between a steep drop and turn. 7th Street’s Aaron Jamison tattooed a deep gouge in the pocket white set waves began peeling off the Pier. Noah Snyder, of three time defending Northeast champ WRV, was the first surfer to connect a wave to the inside, getting off a series of frontside hits and keeping momentum to the beach. He then bolstered his scores with an 8.5-worthy slash and freefall floater.
            “At home, the weather and water have been warming up really quickly. Spring has definitely kicked in,” said Noah Snyder, of the Outer Banks, some 500 miles south of New Jersey, “I pretty much underpacked for the trip up here and underestimated the elements.”
The finals pitted 7th Street, Spellbinders, Brave New World, and WRV, but came down to a slugfest between WRV and Brave. WRV jumped out to a decisive lead as Noah Snyder navigated a long barrel and Ian Parnell combined a tube to lipper for a 9, Brendan Petticrew laid down a pair of 7’s, and Jeff Myers found the rhythm in his backside attack. However, Snyder’s failure to claim his 8.5 kept things interesting.
Parnell’s tube ride on his first wave of the final, thrust him into the winner’s circle for the DC Wave Pillager award, which put a $250 check into his frozen hands as the highest scoring shop employee.
            Spellbinders got some support from Brian Zinsky, who went big all day, but settled for fourth. Kevin Richards’ efforts put 7th St into the third slot. Brave New World was well behind until Sam Hammer was tapped in. Hammer sat patiently out the back. He turned the judging curve on end, when he disappeared into a classic Seaside cave, emerged several seconds later and hacked an oncoming lip to claim his double-whammy perfect 10. But even a second barrel and wrap around couldn’t carry the Brave boys.
            “That first one just peaked right in front of me,” said the local, “I was in the right spot, took off behind the peak, and it just spit me out on the other end.”
            Team WRV will again head to Quiksilver’s National championship in the fall. While the Jersey crew watches the next storm set up and waits for springtime.

DC Wave Pillager Ian Parnell Photo Ann Coen

FINAL SCORES

1st Place: WRV – 58.73
Team: Brendan Petticrew, Ian Parnell, Noah Snyder, Jeff Myers

2nd Place: Brave New World – 54.75
Team: Sam Hammer, Keith Moonan, Tom Petriken, Jason Mitchell Scott

3rd Place: 7th Street – 45.66
Team: Kevin Richards, Aaron Jamison, Brian Liess, Brian Williams

4th Place: Spellbinders – 31.08
Team: Chris D’Antuono, Bryan Zinski, Drew McCoy, Sam Holaday

DC Wave Pillager: Ian Parnell, WRV