The 8th annual Otter Rock n’ Roll Youth Surf Contest and Beach Cleanup Challenge was a huge success! The Surfrider Foundation’s Newport Chapter hosted 47 competitors and over 200 spectators. The event, in celebration of International Surfing Day, drew competitors from all over Oregon and a few as far away as Washington and Oklahoma! Observed globally, International Surfing Day celebrates the sport of surfing and helps raise awareness about issues facing our oceans, waves, and beaches.
The 18 and under event kicked off Saturday morning at Otter Rock/Devil’s Punchbowl State Park, running 20 fifteen-minute heats in divisions from “Best Beginner,” which comes with surfing lessons and all the gear for surfing provided by non-profit Warm Current, to the hot shot 16-18 year-olds. The weather provided for plenty of sunshine and the sheltered conditions of Otter Rock kept the competition out of the wind with small, but clean swell. Conditions were favorable for the contest, with a SW swell bringing some larger, steeper set waves, that provided some really long rides for some of the more seasoned competitors. The “Parent with Child” division was the most popular with 10 parent/child teams battling it out over 6 heats throughout the day. The beach cleanup challenge, a popular way for the non-surfer and surfers alike to participate, awarded prizes for most artistic display of marine debris, biggest single item, and most micro-plastic collected. The challenge raises awareness on marine debris issues while rewarding and reinforcing stewardship ethic. “We want the kids to have a good time surfing, and in a fun way also learn that it’s up to us to protect what we all love – our oceans, waves and beaches,” said Leo Newberg, chair for the Newport chapter.
Contest Results: (1st,2nd,3rd respectively)
Child w/ parent: Abigail George, Reef Gamache, Avery Snavely
• Best Move Award – Taylor Tice – Round 1
12/under Girls: Lauren Cordier, Marley Snavely, Layla Schroeder
12/under Boys: Robby Gentzkow, Kai Huggin, Taylor Tice
13-15 Girls: Savannah Russo, Kelly Pompermayer, Hannah George
13-15 Boys: Kai Huggin, Benjamin Clark, Trevor Tice
16-18 Boys: Ronan Krutzikowsky, Adrien Fraser
Best Beginner: Jonah Fuller, Orrin Raia, Hazel Raia
The Newport Chapter is extremely grateful to our local sponsors who make this fun, family event so special for our community – Cleanline Surf Shop, Russo Surfboards, Murdey Surfboards, Figaro’s Pizza and Cobblestone Pizza, Ocean Pulse, Ossie’s Surf Shop, Pura Vida Surf Shop, Warm Current, Eon Graphic Design, Newport Rental, Bike Newport, Cascade Coast Solar, Dutch Brothers, Moment Surf Shop, Safari Town Surf, Lincoln City Surf Shop, Rainbow Sandals, Pro-lite, Xcel, Sanuk, Reef and Catch Surf.
HUGE THANKS to all the volunteers that made this event such an incredibly beautiful success. It took a village!