Sports
Great Waves and Surfing at the WILDCOAST Dempsey Pro-Am
Over the weekend of September 28 and 29, more than 150 surfers competed in the 10th Annual WILDCOAST Dempsey Pro-Am in Imperial Beach with a super fun south swell creating ideal conditions for professional and amateur surfers alike.
“This was by far the best and biggest Dempsey yet,” said Zach Plopper of WILDCOAST. “We had a great turnout for the inaugural Pro contest on Saturday with perfect conditions. On Sunday the surf was even better with offshore peaks and then glassy waves throughout the day.”
During the Saturday Pro Contest, Austin Ware took first , earning $1,000 as a reward. Brandon Roberts came in a close second and Jeff Lukasik followed in third. Sean Pearson placed fourth.
“Austin’s precise power surfing really impressed the judges,” said Plopper, a former WQS competitor. “But all the finalists surfed really well and wowed the sizeable crowd.”
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Additional standout surfers included Ricky Whitlock, Kyle Knox, Jay Christensen and Justine McBride.
On Saturday paddles competed in the inaugural MPA Paddle, a 4.5 mile paddleboard and SUP race from the Imperial Beach Pier to the Tijuana River Mouth MPA and back. Robert Phelps was the overall event winner followed closely by Mark Field.
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On Sunday, over a 120 amateur surfers of all ages rode hollow classic south swell waves all day.
“Sunday was really a treat,” said Plopper. “It was classic IB south swell conditions, with hollow lefts coming through both contest heat areas, making for some choice barrels and high scores.”
Thanks to a partnership with United Athletes of the Pacific Ocean (UAPO) many of the surfers competing were from Mexico, making the Dempsey a truly international event.
“It was really great to have so many surfers and their families from Mexico enjoy the contest, “ said Alfredo Ramirez of UAPO. “Carlos Luna of Locales Surf Shop brought local surfers from Rosarito Beach which was very nice.“
Standout performances included Jay Christensen who won the Men’s Open division followed by Jack Alldredge and Danny Berk. Jack and Peter Stewart (who are twins) placed 1st and 2nd in the Menehune Boys and then placed 2nd and 5th in the highly competitive Boys division that was won by local ripper Tanner Ford.
One of the most competitive divisions was the Junior Men’s, with Daniel Dedina, Josh Johnson and Jay Christensen placing first through third respectively.
“It was a tough final heat,” said Dedina. “Josh and Jay are tough competitors and it could have gone either way.”
In the Women’s open division, an international field battled it out with Naara Nunez of Mexico taking first, Anne Freire de Carvalho of Brazil coming in second and Landy Spencer-Daly taking third.
Winners in the grom (boys and girls) divisions were stoked to receive boards custom shaped by Jay Novak and or custom boards from JS Industries.
This year the Dempsey highlighted the need to protect local marine protected areas or MPAs in San Diego County, including the nearby Tijuana River Mouth MPA.
The Dempsey benefit’s the efforts of WILDCOAST to preserve the coast and ocean.
“This was a soulful, grassroots surfing event that brings our community together and is a fitting tribute to Dempsey Holder, the first surfer in Imperial Beach and a big wave surfing pioneer who rode the Tijuana Sloughs starting in the 1930s,” said WILDCOAST Executive Director Serge Dedina.
Generous sponsors of the Dempsey this year included the County of San Diego, Pacific Realty, Isle Surf and SUP, JS Industries, Alan Cunniff Construction, URT, APS Marine Services and Equipment, Cow-A-Bunga, IB Fitness, The Surfer’s Journal, Pawa, UAPO, Katy’s Café, 7 Mile and Surf Hut. Sand Dollar provided custom jewelry to the winners of the girls divisions.
WILDCOAST conserves coastal and marine ecosystems and wildlife. http://www.wildcoast.net.
WILDCOAST DEMPSEY
PRO-AM 2013 RESULTS
Menehune Boys
1st Jack Stewart
2nd Peter Stewart
3rd Casey Ford
4th Emiliano Mendez
5th Ethan Ford
Menehune Girls 1st Tatum Billings
2nd Iliana Lopez
3rd Penny Smith
4th Lily Rose Barraza
5th
Jr Women 1st Hannah Erbe Smith
2nd Kira Stanley
3rd Chrissy Seggerman
4th Paloma Lopez
5th Dani Rose Hill
6th Gabi Robledo
Boys 1st Tanner Ford
2nd Jack Stewart
3rd Cameron Bartz
4th Ethan Schauer
5th Peter Stewart
6th Cole Quinlan
Jr Men 1st Daniel Dedina
2nd Josh Johnson
3rd Jay Christensen
4th Michael Roccoforte
5th Cameron Bartz
6th Loukas Lopez
Women (18+) 1st Naara Nunez
2nd Anne Freire de Carvalho
3rd Landy Spencer-Daly
Bodyboard 1st Kevin Jimenez
2nd Anthony Zambrano
3rd Hunter Brackett
4th Billy Ryan
5th Luke Wilson
6th Hagen Helmers
Longboard 1st Doug Smith
2nd Sven Karelson
3rd Mike Gillard
4th Noah Bender
5th Terry Gillard
6th Ben Outlaw
Kahuna Final 1st Ron Murray
2nd Jeff Knox
Masters (40-49) 1st Allen Hartmen
2nd Ed Custudio
3rd CraigMacias
4th Terry Gillard
5th Matt Lord
6th Mark West
GrandMasters (50-59) 1st Mike Gillard
2nd Dave Lopez
3rd Glenn Gloud
4th Billy Huddleston
5th Robert Glick
Men (18-39) 1st Jay Christensen
2nd Jack Alldredge
3rd Danny Berk
4th Brian Mircheff
5th Vito Roccoforte
6th Sean Franks
Kneeboard 1st Brad Colwell
2nd Sean Coyne
3rd Evan Odom
4th Jeff Wallis
5th Randy Morris
6th Alex Pina
Pro Division 1st Austin Ware
2nd Brandon Roberts
3rd Jeff Lukasik
4th Sean Pearson
