Sports

Silver Surfer Seen Living Up to Name at Katy's End of Summer Surf Contest [PHOTOS]

The more than 200 people who showed up to watch surfers 16 and under catch glassy waves in Imperial Beach last month were treated to a visit from a troupe of mustachioed fairies, the Silver Surfer and other characters.

Cameron Bartz, the teenager in the superhero costume, performed the extraordinary act of taking first place in the 14-16 boys category to beat out three-time champion Josh Johnson at Katy's Endless Summer Grom Surf Contest. 

"I was having trouble with the mask because every time I'd duck dive, water would go inside of it," he said.

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Some wore Halloween costumes and some did not to the contest held on Oct. 26 where more than 60 groms, or young surfers, competed in six categories. 

Now in its fourth year, the number of contestants in the 4th Annual Katy's Endless Summer Grom Surf Classic had to be capped weeks in advance. 

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"There's not so much performance anxiety when it's free, you're surfing with friends, even though its totally competitive, just having a free contest takes away that 'game on' thing," Fallon said. 

The giveaways have also earned a reputation, Fallon said. Prizes were donated by Surf Hut, TNT Surf, Natural Selection, Oakley, Ripcurl and other well known names in surf manufacturing and apparel.

The youngest surfer was two years old, said Katy Fallon, the owner of Katy's Cafe who is regularly in local waters and has watched many surfers grow up.

"Some of the best stuff was in the seven and under category. Six year olds rode those waves with style going down the line," Fallon said.

Adults typically seen in local waters who young surfers may look up to volunteered to participate including Kevin Ferris, Dave Parra, Sean Fowler and Matt Field as well as Greg Broadfoot and Mark West who helped judge the contest. 

"It's about watching groms grow from little children to adults; it's all for the love of surfing honest to gosh," said Fallon, whose family has surfed local waves for decades.

For Noah Bender and Lucas Johnson, surfers who took part in Katy's contest every year but at 17 are no longer groms, a small rite of passage ceremony was held before trophies handmade by Greg Broadfoot and sunglasses, hats and other prizes were handed out.

"Andrew Pate from Oakley was dynamic in the most grandiose way through his partnership with Reef; he orchestrated bringing in Vans and Hurley," Fallon said.

There were also donations from Nixon and Rip Curl; Sundance Stage Lines donated hot chocolate and donuts and Surf Hut donated board wax and wetsuits. 

Gabe Caswell won a TNT biscuit surfboard and Brett Bender of Natural Selections Surfboards will make a custom surfboard for one lucky young surfer.

A coffee table book made up of pictures from the most recent competition will be on display at Katy's Cafe in the future, Fallon said.

Coach Stan Searfus brought more than 20 members of the Coronado Middle School Surf Team to compete.

About 12 surfers on the newly formed Imperial Beach Surf Team were at their very first competition the same day Katy's surf contest was held and were unable to take part, said coach Matthew Lord. 

7 and Under

1st Place - Emiliano Mendez 

2nd Place - Keala Bradley

3rd Place - Trevor Rector

4th Place - Ezra Dedicatoria

5th Place - Carson Manjarel

6th Place - Cooper Olson

Bodyboard

1. Hunter

2. Luke Wilson

3. Kobuk

4. Sam Roughon

8-9

1. Connor Little

2. T.C. Spalding

3. Evan Rios

4. Keanna Fowler

5. Fletcher Field

6. Alexis Hammond

7. Sean Fowler

Girls Final

1. Gabi Robledo

2. Sydney Zoerher

3. Tatum Billing

4. Mikayla Hoffower

5. Dakotah

6. Skye Spalding

14-16 Boys

1. Cameron Bartz

2. Josh Johnson

3. Trevor Spera

4. Santiago G. 

11-13 Boys

1. Cole Quinlan

2. Peter Stewart

3. Jack Outlaw


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