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March 22, 2011 New Smyrna Beach, Florida Tadpoles will come ashore in New Smyrna Beach Webster’s Dictionary defines “tadpoles” as:
In the context of surfing, our youngest surfers have been given the nickname of Tadpoles. While lacking the external gills, they are also in the process of their metamorphosis into adult surfers. Unlike in nature, they are watched closely in the water by their parents, who push them into the waves at a tender age before they have learned to catch them on their own.
The Tadpole surfing will be one of the featured events at the Kona Pro Surf Contest, which will take place on Saturday, April 2, at the Inlet in New Smyrna Beach. The Kona Pro is a four-day event, which begins on Thursday, March 31, and will showcase the finest Pro surfers on the East Coast, as part of the prestigious Western Atlantic Surf Series. The WASS is the only Pro surfing tour on the East Coast and crowns an annual champion in both Men’s and Women’s divisions. “WASS is thrilled to begin our 2011 season with the Kona Pro in New Smyrna Beach,” said Executive Director Mike Bloom. “We are also excited to have the Smyrna Surfari Club as a partner for this inaugural event. The Surfari Club has been an integral part of pro surfing in New Smyrna for decades, going all the way back to the legendary Aloe-Up Cup, in 1988.” While the action in the Men’s division could begin as early as Thursday, the 31st, if conditions permit, the Tadpole contest will be run in it’s entirety on Saturday, the 2nd ,for the convenience of the youngsters and their families. “The Tadpole is designed to be a fun-only, family-oriented event,” said Surfari Co-Chairman Alicya Simmons. “We will have entry registration on-site at the beach, a little bit south of the main Kona Pro competition zone. Entry fee for the Tadpoles is $20, and each competitor will receive a commemorative event T-shirt. Families that would like to confirm their entry in advance can download an entry form from our website: < www.smyrnasurfariclub.com >” “Our goal is to produce the most family-friendly event we can,” continued Surfari Head Judge Tom Wright. “We will get the competition started as soon as possible, and have the kids surf one time, before they start shivering.” In addition to a prize medallion that every competitor will receive, the surfers with the top scores from all the heats will receive one of the coveted, hand-made trophies that the Surfari events are known for.
The Tadpole event has been made possible this year by the generous sponsorship of Attorney Richard Troutman, P.A., of Winter Park, Florida. “I am a surfer myself,” said Mr. Troutman, “and nothing gives me more satisfaction than seeing the youngest surfers enjoying the sport in a safe and wholesome format. My firm is very pleased to be a partner with the Surfari Club to make this event possible.” 2010 was another successful year for the Smyrna Surfari Club, which now makes 31 years and counting. The Club was able to award $6,000 worth of scholarships to three deserving senior high school students. The club also helped support other community events such as the “Before the Fall” contest at Bethune Beach and provided funds for mission work in Nicaragua. Surfari fund-raisers included two annual contests, the Seaside Fiesta and Halloween Spooktacular. The Club also held four beach clean ups in 2010, and added a new clean-up area this year, covering an entire mile directly south of the Inlet jetty, where the Kona Pro will be held. In addition to the Tadpole contest, the Smyrna Surfari Club is the sponsor of the Women’s Pro Division at the Kona Pro, which will spotlight the top women surfers in the area, like Amy Nicholl and Lindsey Baldwin. Click below for a PDF copy of the 2011 SURFARI TADPOLE SURF CONTEST REGISTRATION FORM PRESS RELEASE: From October 20, 2010 Surfing in Costume on Halloween.
“We have seen some hilarious and creative costumes over the years”, said Spooktacular Head Judge, Tom Wright, “Everything from inflatable surfing cows to Uncle Sam, as well as many surfing ghosts and goblins.” The photo shown at the end of this article is of the contestants at the original costume event in 1997. “It’s become a real tradition for the local kids each year”, continued Wright, “And something that all the Surfari Club members look forward to, as the highlight of the year’s work they put into producing our contests.” Since it’s inception in 1979 the Smyrna Surfari Club has produced two surf contests a year, for the purpose of raising funds for college scholarships that they annually award to graduating Seniors at New Smyrna Beach High School. “Since that time the Club has awarded more than $100,000 to graduating New Smyrna surfers”, said Co-Chairman Jeff Crawford. “The proceeds from the contests consist of the donations of our sponsors, as well as the entry fees that we collect”.
A hundred or more contestants are expected to participate in the daylong event. The entry fee is $25, and $10 for any additional divisions the surfer wishes to compete in. Contestants in any age group or division can enter the Costume surfing event for no additional charge. Entry forms can be obtained at area surf shops and then brought to the contest site on Saturday morning. As many entries as possible will be accepted on a “first-come, first-served” basis, beginning at 8AM.
Surfer, Artist, Instructor and Club Member Jimmy Lane was recently featured in the Daytona News Journal's "Currents." Click here to see the article.
In 2009, to honor of our 30th anniversary, LandShark Spring Surfari Pro
April 6, 2009
New Smyrna Beach, Florida
“Gorkin” dominates home break at Landshark Pro”.
 Aaron
Cormican, 29, of New Smyrna Beach, won the 2009 Landshark Spring Surfari Pro
at his home break on the south side of Florida’s Ponce DeLeon Inlet on
Saturday, April 4. Cormican (aka Gorkin) was in dominant form and ran
away from the other three finalists with a two-wave heat total of 17.16 to
seize the $6000 first place prize. All three of his Final opponents were
“combo-ed” in the parlance of the sport, meaning that they each needed two
better scores to catch Cormican. In second place was Bryan Hewitson, of
Melbourne Beach, FL, who pocketed $3000. Third was Asher Nolan, of Atlantic
Beach,FL, who received $1500 and fourth was young New Smyrnan, Eric
Geiselman, who took home $1000.
The prize purse for the event was $20,000, distributed
amongst the top 32 finishers. The purse was provided by Title Sponsor,
Landshark Lager, a division of Jimmy Buffet’s “Margaritaville” brand. The
atmosphere of the five-day event was very much in the “Margaritaville” vein
of beachfront fun, with the County of Volusia allowing Landshark to dispense
their samples to VIPs and spectators in their beer garden on the sand.
The event was promoted and run by the Smyrna Surfari
Club, a non-profit, community service surfing club, who were celebrating
their 30th anniversary. A total of 88 pro surfers competed and
there were also four different “Specialty Events”. On Saturday and Sunday
there were two heats of the “Lost Air Show”, sponsored by Lost Clothing.
Travis Beckmann, Vero Beach,FL, won $250 for his aerial move in Saturday’s
installment, and Nils Schweizer, NSB, received $250 for his air on Sunday.
Also on Sunday, DNA Energy Drink sponsored the
invitational “Legends of the Inlet”, which was a nostalgic, and sometimes
emotional, reunion of twelve longtime Inlet surfers that was won by Mike
Luke, of NSB. For the ladies there was the “Divas of the Inlet” event, also
on Sunday, which was won by USA World Team member, Amy Nicholl.
Conditions for the contest were two – four feet with good
quality for the first four days, convincing organizers to run the Pro
division to a conclusion on Saturday afternoon. In fact, Friday’s waves were
so good that organizers were reluctant to conclude the competition with the
end of the Round of 64. Local surf shop sponsor, Inlet Charley’s, organized
an impromptu “Expression Session” to take advantage of the clean, offshore
conditions. Local surfers Jeremy Johnston and young Noah Schweizer, 13, each
won $100 for “Best Maneuver” and “Best Wave”.
For more info. please go to:
Press Release - March 17, 2009 Surfari Pro Contest Committee New Smyrna Beach, Florida For Immediate Release: Special Divisions at Landshark Pro Contest organizers announced today that there will be three Specialty Divisions added to the Landshark Spring Surfari Pro, April 1-5 at the New Smyrna Inlet. The event celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Smyrna Surfari Club, a local, non-profit service club. They will be the “Air Show” sponsored by Lost Clothing; The “Legends of the Inlet” sponsored by DNA Energy Drink, and the “Divas of the Inlet”, for the Women surfers. “Air Show” will consist of two heats of eight “Air” specialists who will display their high-flying repertoire on the last two days of the event. Organizers will invite 16 contest entrants to take part in the “Winner-take-all” format for an extra prize of $250, for each show. Several local NSB surfers are well known for their aerial antics, including Aaron Cormican, the innovator of the “Gorkin Flip”, and Eric Geiselman, winner of the Surfer Magazine Video Award for “Best Maneuver”. “Legends of the Inlet” will consist of 12 invited, longtime local surfers, who are still active at the Inlet on a daily basis. “We wanted to shine the spotlight on some of the great local surfers who made NSB Pro surfing what it is today”, said Matt Clancy, Surfari Club Co-Chairman. “This will give surf fans the opportunity to see them in action again, and the current generation of young rippers a chance to honor their predecessors”. A panel of local organizers has selected a list of invitees that will be announced the week of the event. One who has already accepted his invitation is Charley Baldwin, of New Smyrna Beach, a member of the East Coast Legends Hall of Fame, and the promoter of the first-ever Pro Surfing event held in NSB. “Divas of the Inlet” will shine the spotlight on Women’s surfing, with several East Coast, National and World Champions expected. “We have extended invitations to Lisa Andersen, formerly of Ormond Beach, and Frieda Zamba-Shaw, four-time World Champion from Flagler Beach”, said Doug Feindt, Sufari Co-Chairman. “We hope their busy schedules will allow them to attend. Women’s surfing is one of the most important demographics in the sport, and we hope a rebounding economy will allow us to fund a major Women’s Pro division in 2010. In the meantime, we wanted to be sure that the Ladies had a chance to take part this year”. Like the “Legends”, a blue-ribbon panel has selected 12 invited competitors. The difference in the “Divas” division is that women surfers of all ages have been invited, including local NSB standout Amy Nicholl, who is currently a member of the USA National Team. For further information see these websites: www.inletcharleys.com www.smyrnasufariclub.com or just click here for details
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Thanks to our 2010
Gretel’s Grove
In Memory of: “Momma June Lyons” Hal Spence, Attorney Wright and Casey , Attorneys at Law
Causeway Medical Bud Wright Family
“Drag N’ Fly Yacht Club” Touch of Italy: Ristorante & Pizzeria Stuart’s Car Care Center, Inc.
Team Annie
In Memory of: Donny Barker Mike & Vicky Van Doren Crawford Irrigation Design
Buddy Davenport State Farm Insurance
Louise Martin Family
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YOUR BUSINESS CAN HELP SPONSOR THIS SMYRNA SURFARI CLUB SERVICE PROVIDING UP TO DATE NEWS OF REGIONAL SURFING EVENTS AND PERSONALITIES For information, please contact the club at info@smyrnasurfariclub.org |
At
the surf contests produced by the Smyrna Surfari Club, the Tadpole event has
become one of the most anticipated divisions. All the competitors are ten years
of age or under, and must be accompanied in the water by a parent or adult, who
push them into the waves. The rides that the kids get, and the happiness on
their faces, never fails to bring cheers and applause to the spectators and
parents alike. “The Tadpole Division is the part of our contest that the Surfari
members look forward to the most,” said Jeff Crawford, Club Co-Chairman. “The
enthusiasm that these youngsters show is priceless.”
While
the surfers of Volusia County have many tournaments in which they can compete,
the Surfari Club has continued to thrive by keeping their events family-oriented
and “for fun only”. “It’s all about a fun day at the beach”, said Surfari
T-shirt Chairman, Robert Dobbelaar. “For instance, every contestant and sponsor
will receive a contest t-shirt that was designed by a local High School student,
Mallory Kuykendall. The Club awards a $100 prize each year to the student who
produces the most creative design. The event t-shirts will be on sale to the
public at the contest.
