Report by Gordon Rock

A less than stellar wave forecast kept a bunch of people away who were driving from some distance, but we had a decent turnout, nonetheless. After a short delay, waiting for the tide to fall, thigh-occ, waist, peelers with an offshore wind, in 70 degree water with 75 degree air temps, we were off like a prom dress!!! The beach was touristy, but every grownup had respect for the contest zone. I saw nothing but smiles from the entrants, which is an organizer's best reward!!! A few of us that regularly compete against each other, got, shall I say "friendly", when competing for waves, WHEEEEEEE!!!! Ya' win some, Ya' lose some. No craft were damaged in the jockeying. Our lone beginer/intermediate held his own just fine whilst sufing with the veterans, and walked away with a $500 gift certificate towards a new custom Tsunami Airski! Several people entered multiple categories, so BTB heats were not unusual. One person surfed in, 9 count-em 9, heats!!! With the increasing skill level, it has been said that there are no easy heats anymore. My first HP heat had to go to 7 waves to find a winner, and the Waveski final was a tie, only to be broken by a decision to award 1st place to the person with the single highest scoring wave. It's been said that small waves bring out the best surfers, and I have to agree. I saw a lot of people take a little wave and tear it up! Afterwards, several of us had a post event wing ding at Paula's and my house for some grilled seafood, corn on the cob, and beers. We talked trash, surfin, and can't wait till next time! Thanks to Tsunami Waveskis for their generous support, My wife Paula for her organizational skills and taking time in between her heats to tabulate, our fantastic ESA judges, Joey Hall for all of his hard work and patience, Russ for whipping us up new flags, and absolutely.... All of the competitors!!! I received thanks from everone for throwing the event, which I really appreciate, but it's the entrants that make the contest, and comeraderie is what brings people back every time.

Results..Master's HP1-Russ Buskirk 2- Nigel Law 3-Paul Scrutton Women's Hp1-Lindsay Usher 2-Kris Whitmore 3- Paula Rock Men's IC1- No seat Pete 2 Joey Hall 3 Antnee Bell Women's IC1-Kris Whitmore 2- Lindsay Usher 3-Paula Rock Master's IC1 Kris Whitmore 2-Russ Buskirk, 3-Pete Titus Men's Hp 1 Antnee Bell 2-Gordon Rock 3-Russ Buskirk Waveski1-Gordon Rock 2-Antnee Bell 3- Russ Buskirk Surf What You Brung1-Russ Buskirk 2-Gordon Rock 3-Lindsay Usher

Tsunami Smash Goes International ?

East Coast Kayak Surfing circuit got off to a bum start at the OBX event last weekend.

For the first time in 1o years the competition did not run due to flat conditions. "It's just one of those things" said ESKA dude Joey Hall. Hey, what you gonna do ? Have a raffle, drink some bear, and organize a game of beach soccer maybe.

However.... in an exciting turn of events, the Tsunami Smash in Surf City on the 17th May has been turned into a World Cup qualifiyer event. But, at such short notice it's highly unlikely to attract any foriegn competitors and has a few surfers a little upset.

"Is this a ploy? "asked a disgruntled Malcolm Piercey of Team Mega in the U>K.

"I think it is totally unreasonable to expect anyone from this side of the pond to be able to organise getting to the event with only one weeks notice."

But then, is there much likely hood of anyone on the east side of the pond coming to an event on the west side ?. No, not really, but it is an interesting point. Many disciplined surfers follow a strict training schedule and plan out their events accordingly.

'Dropping in ' an event can and will cause upsetance.

Standby for more on this one.