The Cocoa Beach Surf Museum’s Quarterly Newsletter W a v e L e n g t h s W a v e L e n g t h s Volume 1 – Issue 2 Summer 2008 offered this year were a stand -up paddle race and WC.7 By Athena Sasso stand -up paddle surfing. The Cocoa Beach Surf Museum presented the 7th The Real Retro debuted at the 6 th WC, as did r eal Annual Waterman’s Challenge on June 14 and 15, hula dancers, who lulled us with their grace, while and many of the contestants and volunteers who they educated us in the art and history of hula. enjoyed the weekend had been there for all seven Care for some awesome luau fare with your years. The groms have grown taller and the history lesson? We had that covered, too. lege nds more legendary (older), but one thing that hasn’t changed is, the Waterman’s Challenge is We honored local surfing legend Chris Har azda still the loosest and lightes t stoke on the coast. with the 1 st Annual Paipo Expression Session . Joined by his wife, Janet, and his father, Cas, But that doesn’t mean Waterman’s Challenge is Chris’s friends took to the water on Paipo boards the same contest it was when Sean O’Hare and surf mats to remember an avid waterman, founded it. With an open attitude and the goal of son, husband, friend, and dedicated museum preserving surfing history - as well as making volunteer. some of our own – the WC gets better every yea r. We’ll meet again next year to make some more Last year we memories and held the first maybe even a Stand -Up little more local Paddle surfing history. competition on Until then, stay the East Coast real, and try not with four to get any older, contestants. because you’ll This year, want to feel good there were 17! on the waves – Among the and look good in popular events the picture. Left: 1 st Waterman’s Challenge (2002) – 24 th St. South Right: 4 th Waterman’s Challenge (2005) - Minuteman Causeway Top: 7 th Waterman’s Challenge 2008, Holiday Inn Oceanfront From the Peanut Gallery R i d e O n Great job with the newsletter. It feels so refreshing to get back to our roots. I'm Congratulations, everyone! The Cocoa Beach actually reading this in North Carolina. Surf Museum is settling into its digs in the For kicks, I'm going to print a few copies Ron Jon water sports building, directly north and leave them in the Avon Surf Shop. of the big Ron Jon store, with excellent exhibits offered by the curator, Sean O’Hare, and many I'll talk to you soon, dedicated volunteers. Sean and Lani headed Jim (Wamsley) up a soft opening a week or so back, which was loaded with good food, music, and prizes. Avon Surf Shop Mr. and Mrs. Curator, Sean and Layla O’Hare We look forward to an official Grand Opening THE COCOA BEACH SURF MUSEUM in the early fall, so stay tuned for www.cocoabeachsurfmuseum.org developments. Editor◘ Athena Sasso Even before we got situated in our location, Events ◘ Matt Bellina Membership ◘ Marie Hughes we were busy with lectures and events. Merchandising ◘ Dave Miller Speaking of which, did you see the volunteer Paddleboard/Volunteers ◘ John Hughes machine at work at the Waterman’s Challenge Program ◘ Sharon Wolfe Cranston Webmaster ◘ Jeff Cranston in June? The best part was, not only did our faithful, long-time volunteers chip in, but we met and enjoyed working with new volunteers Sean O’Hare ◘ Curator who graciously lent their talents to The Cocoa John Hughes ◘ Assistant Director Bill Tweedie ◘ Marketing Director Beach Surf Museum. We’re thrilled to Tony Sasso ◘ Executive Director welcome new talent and energy to the cause. There are plenty of ways you can be a part of preserving surfing history. Become a Wave Lengths member, attend an event, lecture or contest, or Published quarterly by The Cocoa Beach Surf Museum lend a hand doing what you’re great at. Don’t Where possible, the editor has given credit for photographs worry. We work a little and surf a lot. Please advise when additions or corrections are in order [email protected] See you in the water, Tony Continued from Page 1 Please support the Waterman's Challenge Results Sponsors of the 7 ththth Annual Men's Longboard Pro 1. Michae l Wood; 2. Tommy Evans; 3. David Gotay; 4. Waterman’s Stephen Slater ChallengeChallenge!!!! Women's Longboard Pro 1. Super Restivo; 2. Ami Berg; 3. Melody DeCarlo; 4. Crystal Duff Grand Master's Shortboard (50 and up) ~ RON JON ~ WELLS FARGO ~ 1. Carl B eaulac; 2. Frank Evans; 3. Bob Freeman; 4. Kent ~ HOLIDAY INN ~ Morris ~ STEAZ ~ OCEAN POTION ~ Junior Men's Longboard (18 and Under) 1. Jake Roach; 2. Mike J ohnson; 3. Sam Dugan; 4. Steven XTRAK McLeon GO PRO Men's Master's Longboard (36-49) INDO BOARDS 1. Todd Kennedy; 2. Dave Miller; 3. Jim Wamsley; 4. A1A SURF AND SKATE Keith Sims HAWAIIAN SALT SURFBOARDS ZAP SKIMBOARDS Men's Master's Shortboard (36-49) 1. James Norfolk; 2. Jeff King; 3. Keith Simms; 4. Mike TURBO TUNNEL OCEANSPORTS WORLD Hofstetter CAPE SURF Junior Men's Shortboard SURF GALLERY 1. Sam Duggan; 2. Cody Evans; 3. Lee Roth; 4. Nicholas SURF GUYS Hoff GIRLS4SPORT Junior Women's Longboard DA KINE 1. Michelle Au; 2. Katie Radcliff; 3. Savannah Freels SEX WAX STICKY BUMPS Women's Masters Longboard RAINBOW FIN COMPANY 1. Debbie Walker; 2. Jane Moody; 3. Linda Grover; 4. DA KINE DIEGOS Mari Radcliff ASTRODECK Men's Shortboard BALSA BILL 1. GP Floyd; 2. Coco Fieldhelm; 3. Jared Herndon; 4. PHIX DOCTOR Steven Bradley SOUL Women's Shortboard FUTURE FINS 1. Ami Berg; 2. Carole Berthiname DESTINATION SURF Junior Women's Shortboard COCOA BEACH SURF AND SKATE ANGEL 1. Hannah Clavach; 2. Savannah Freels; 3. Sarah ANARCHY Howard; 4. Leah Taylor MAR CHIQUITA Women's Masters Shortboard GO SURF 1. Sha ron Wolfe -Cranston; 2. Melody DeCarlo; 3. Debbie BILT Walker SKIMWEAR Men's Grand Masters Longboard TOES ON THE NOSE 1. Kent Morris; 2. Bob Freeman; 3. Dan Mahoney; 4. OCEAN MINDED PURE ISLAND Skip Savage NEILSON SURF SHOP Menehunes TIMELINE 1. Blake Knapp; 2. Darren Durkin; 3. Pierson Prince; 4. QUIET FLIGHT Devin Durkin STICKEE SURF SHOP Retro SUNSEED FOOD COOP 1. Miles Jacovictz; 2. Paul Lahee; 3. Nicholas Hoff; 4. GLOBE Jake Roach MD 4/20 FOXY Stand-up Paddle PSISURF.COM 1. Raul Gonzalez; 2. Jonny B Good; 3. Chris Cook; 4. 16STREETS.COM PITO; 5. Dan Dixon; 6. Wyatt Werneth OHARE SURFBOARDS SURFRIDER FOUNDATION Join the Cocoa Beach Surf Museum and help preserve surfing history. Members receive a quarterly newsletter and special invitations to museum events. New memberships include a museum T-shirt. (Check One) STUDENT 25.00 ______ SURFER 30.00 ______ STOKED 50.00 ______ OHANA (FAMILY) 60.00 ______ KAHUNA 100.00 ______ PATRON 500.00 ______ CORPORATE 1,000.00 ______ Photo – Debbie Tweedie Name ______________________________________________________________________ Street ______________________________________________________________________ City/State/Zip________________________________________________________________ Phone ( ) _________________________________________________________________ Email ______________________________________________________________________ T-Shirt size (Circle One): S M L XL XXL Please mail your membership form and check to: The Cocoa Beach Surf Museum P.O. BOX 321453 Cocoa Beach, FL 32932-1453 ________________________________________________________ Museum Members can join Surfrider at a discount! Check One: What Surfrider Chapter are you interested in? Regular ($15.00) _______ (see http://www.surfrider.org/chapters1.asp for a Student ($10.00) _______ list of chapters) Family ($35.00) _______ __________________________________ But initially, I just knew Skip from his ultra smooth The Surf Report surfing. He has a graceful style that makes it all looks so by Roy Harrell easy. That effortless glide into a wave, the ultra cool fade, cross stepping to the nose and the drop knee turn back to the whitewater, he blended it all together in a ballet-like Old surfers never die, they just ride away dance that belies the skill it takes to pull it off seamlessly. When I was a boy growing up in eastern North Today, that timeless traditional longboard style has come Carolina, sometimes my dad would take us up to Norfolk, back into vogue, with fresh faced college kids wearing Virginia. As an ex Army sergeant, he loved to visit the newly made beavertails and riding volan glassed 30-pound General McArthur Museum there. McArthur, of course, logs. But Savage was one of the pioneers of that style and was the legendary World War II general. Even though it continues to surf today as good if not better than ever. was dark and musty smelling with all the old uniforms and Skip pioneered in a lot of ways, one of which was one photos, I always thought it was cool. But there was a of the first complete surf shops to open in this area, the Surf phrase that was spoken by General McArthur during a Shop East in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Opening in late speech later in his life that I never quite understood. It 1966, Skip featured Pat O'Hare Surfboards and Greg Noll was, "Old soldiers never die, they just fade away." Surfboards exclusively. The shop also sponsored one of the Lately, I've given that statement some thought as I area's first and finest surf teams, featuring local rippers like considered what exactly goes into becoming a legend. In Gary Revel and Neil Stevenson. Skip continued to be an the surf culture from time to time we hear about some guy innovator, riding and designing his own personal model that has achieved legendary status.