ItÕs Been So Long
(Surfline Surfing Championships: Seal Beach, CA)
By Jake Howard

\After almost two months of waiting the Surfline Surfing Championships finally went off in Seal Beach. While the contest lacked the big surf of the previous two years, it did have a personality all of its own. The last two years capitalized on large northwest swells that swept into Seal BeachÕs window and bowled-up off of the pier. This year the contest was postponed so long that it was finally the first south swell of the year that allowed it to be held. The location was moved down to KrabÕs Jetty where the south swell could be better appreciated. In the end over 150 competitors got to enjoy two days of waist to shoulder high waves in the warm spring air. MC Chad Wells compared it to other classic California spots when he announced, "ItÕs just like Malibu, except thereÕs no point and the waves arenÕt quite as good... LetÕs give it up for Riv-con!" True it was no Malibu, but it was fun all the same.

Just getting the contest to go was a feat in and of itself. Way back on January 21st, when the waiting period began, SurflineÕs Sean Collins and the contestÕs board of directors decided to try and give it a go. On the Friday afternoon before the January contest date the judgeÕs scaffolding was set and sponsor tents began to sprout up all over the beach. At 5:00 pm the Orange County Health Department called the Seal Beach Lifeguards to inform them that the water from the pier through the San Gabriel River was closed due to a high bacteria count. For a long time it did not get any better. After one particularly large storm over 25 shopping carts found their way out the river and onto the beach. Wrong swell directions didnÕt help matters much either.

People began to wonder if the contest was even going to be held. Sean Collins forecast a moderate south swell and like that the mood changed. It just goes to show that one should never doubt the master. Collins calls the surf like Jordan shoots the basketballÑheÕs dead on every time. The south swell that kissed the large sandbars of the San Gabriel River were greeted with open arms. Since people had been waiting so long all the pieces easily fit into place and the first heat was set for 7:00 am on Saturday March 31st.

This time there would be no hang-ups. No rain had fallen for a long time. Spring was in the air and the water. The contestants must have been blessed because there was only one sting ray victim the whole time (the San Gabriel River has been termed "Ray Bay" by locals because of its swollen sting ray population). People surfed their brains out the whole weekend.

There was some really good surfing that went down at the River. Local professional Mike Riley took the crown in the competitive MenÕs Shortboard division. Chad WellÕs ripped his way to the top in the MasterÕs Shortboard. The local creature and Katin faithful Tim Whalen styled in first place in the MenÕs Longboard. Up and coming shredder Chris Warring swept both the Junior and BoyÕs Shortboard. To prove that the contest was a family affair Chas Wickwire won the MasterÕs Longboard while his daughters, Sadie and Kelsie, took third and sixth respectfully in the Menehunes. Drew Paff was the grom that took the Menehunes. The contest was set-up for the kids and they had the most fun of all. Surfing is alive and well in the tiny hamlet of Seal Beach. The contest was only open to residents.