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MARYLAND EASTERN SURFING ASSOCIATION RAISES $900 FOR ALLEN CASSELL FAMILY FUND: 9th Annual MALIBU'S CLASSIC RETURNS IN CLASSIC STYLE

After failing to run in 2002 due to a lack of contestable surf, the 9th Annual Malibu's Summer Classic Surf Contest came back with a bang on Saturday, July 12 as over 100 contestants surfed for top honors in the waters off 8th Street in Ocean City, Maryland.

Saturday saw a return of the surf as well when a strengthening Bermuda high pushed consistent 2'-3' waves into the packed beaches of Ocean City. The swell lasted throughout the day and the winds stayed light until late afternoon allowing competitors to show their skills in the fun summer conditions.

The event was sponsored by Malibu's Surf Shop and run by the Eastern Surfing Association. Event sponsors included Billabong Wetsuits, Volcom clothing, Spy Optics, Von Zipper Eyewear and O'Neill clothing. Malibu's Surf Shop provided unique Hawaiian themed trophies and local icon Brad "B-Rad" Hoffman kept the crowd amped all day long over the public address system.

Highlighting the day's activities were the standout performances of some of the youngest surfers in the event. In the Menehune division, for surfers 11 years and younger, newcomers Avery Seig, Chris Dashiell, Austin and Roland Gerachis, Spencer Ashton and Owen Strassner battled a field of ten surfers with Ashton eventually coming out on top.

The Boys division, for ages 12 to 14, also saw a fierce battle, as perennial favorite Jake Buchler was absent. After an interference call pushed another favorite, Taylor Ballard into sixth, Waldon Remington claimed first place. Unique to the event was a Tag-Team competition fundraiser, which raised $900 for the Allen Cassell Family Fund. The competition pitted teams of surfers against one another on "vintage" 1970's surfboards provided by Malibu's Surf shop. Although the unfamiliar vintage equipment proved difficult for some surfers, amazing performances were seen from a team representing Virginia Beach and the eventual winners, team Hot Buttered made up of Drex Harrington, Robbie Mears, Craig Garfield and Adam Antes.

Complete results follow:

Menehune
1. Spencer Ashton
2. Chris Dashiell
3. Austin Gerachis
4. Ben Vaxmonsky
5. Brad Flora
6. Anthony Montague

Boys
1. Waldon Remington
2. Logan Helmuth
3. Roy Harrell
4. Vince Boulanger
5. Paul Kramer
6. Taylor Ballard

Junior Men
1. Mike Dedrick
2. Wyatt Harrison
3. Dean Jackson
4. Ian Tilghman
5. Mike Lawson
6. Toby Gilbert

Men
1. Clifton Rogers
2. Ted Smith
3. Robbie Mears
4. Fletcher Birch
5. Kevin Daisey
6. Gatey Dawkins

Masters
1. Drex Harrington
2. Chris Makibbin
3. Craig Garfield

Senior Men
1. Art Baltrotsky
2. Chris Vaxmonsky
3. Wally Abrams
4. Ray Wimbrow

Grandmasters
1. Chris Tilghman
2. Josh Merritt
3. Dave Dalkiewicz
4. Scott Webb
5. Bruce Kreuger

Legends
1. Jeff Phillips
2. Charlie Birch
3. Bill Helmuth

Girls
1. Emily Dashiell
2. Ellie Tilghman

Jr. Women
1. Hannah Preziosi
2. Kelly Ann Oklesson

Women
1. Carlyn Hiller
Sr. Women
1. Bonnie Preziosi

Menehune Bodyboard
1. Taylor Ballard
2. Paul Kramer
3. Logan Helmuth
4. Waldon Remington
5. Austin Gerachis
6. Matt Meinhardt

Junior Bodyboard
1. Joe Ferrara

Men's Bodyboard
1. Nick Lhotsky

Menehune Longboard
1. Taylor Ballard
2. Logan Helmuth
3. Waldon Remington
4. Paul Kramer
5. Brady Dashiell
6. Toby Gilbert

Junior Longboard
1. Wyatt Harrison
2. Ian Tilghman
3. Dean Jackson
4. Mike Lawson
5. J.T. Hazard
6. P.J. Farrell

Men's Longboard
1. Casey Cruciano
2. Ted Smith
3. Chris Makibbin
4. Avery Harrison
5. John Apple

Master's Longboard
1. Chris Vaxmonsky
2. Art Baltrotsky
3. Craig Garfield

Senior Longboard
1. Chris Tilghman
2. Jeff Jester
3. Drew Alvare
4. Wally Abrams

Legends Longboard
1. Josh Merritt
2. Bill Helmuth
3. Scott Webb
4. Charlie Birch
5. George Smith

Women's Longboard
1. Hannah Preziosi
2. Ellie Tilghman
3. Emily Dashiell
4. Hillari Ashton
5. Brooke Falck
6. Chelsea Remines

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

tag team start.psd - OCEAN CITY, MD.--July 12, 2003-- Competitors line up for the start of the tag-team event which raised $900 for the Allen Cassell Family during the 9th Annual Malibu's Summer Classic Surf Contest at 8th St. in Ocean City, Maryland. photo by ART BALTROTSKY.

Ben Vaxmonsky.psd - OCEAN CITY, MD.--July 12, 2003-- Ben Vaxmonsky, 5-years-old, of Ocean Pines, enters the water to start his menehune final during the 9th Annual Malibu's Summer Classic Surf Contest at 8th St. in Ocean City, Maryland. photo by ART BALTROTSKY.

Chris Tilghman.psd - OCEAN CITY, MD.--July 12, 2003-- Chris Tilghman cuts back and avoids running into another competitor during the Senior longboard final of the 9th Annual Malibu's Summer Classic Surf Contest at 8th St. in Ocean City, Maryland. photo by ART BALTROTSKY.

Mike Dedrick.psd - OCEAN CITY, MD.--July 12, 2003-- Mike Dedrick slashes into first place of the Juniors division at the 9th Annual Malibu's Summer Classic Surf Contest at 8th St. in Ocean City, Maryland. photo by ART BALTROTSKY.

winning team.psd - OCEAN CITY, MD.--July 12, 2003-- Team Hot Buttered dominated the vintage board tag-team event at the 9th Annual Malibu's Summer Classic Surf Contest at 8th St. in Ocean City, Maryland. Team members are, from left, Adam Antes , Robbie Mears, Craig Garfield and Drex Harrington. photo by ART BALTROTSKY.

Wyatt Harrison.psd - OCEAN CITY, MD.--July 12, 2003-- Wyatt Harison throws some spray during the 9th Annual Malibu's Summer Classic Surf Contest at 8th St. in Ocean City, Maryland. photo by ART BALTROTSKY.

Ian Tilghman.psd - OCEAN CITY, MD.--July 12, 2003-- Ian Tilghman continues to carve his wave while other competitors paddle for another one during the 9th Annual Malibu's Summer Classic Surf Contest at 8th St. in Ocean City, Maryland. photo by ART BALTROTSKY.

Kevin Daisey.psd - OCEAN CITY, MD.--July 12, 2003-- Kevin Daisey tears apart one of the cleaner early morning sets at the 9th Annual Malibu's Summer Classic Surf Contest at 8th St. in Ocean City, Maryland. photo by ART BALTROTSKY.

Robbie Mears.psd - OCEAN CITY, MD.--July 12, 2003-- Robbie Mears pushes through a roundhouse cutback during the 9th Annual Malibu's Summer Classic Surf Contest at 8th St. in Ocean City, Maryland. photo by ART BALTROTSKY.

Ian Hanley.psd - OCEAN CITY, MD.--July 12, 2003-- 5-year-old Ian Hanley rides a tiny breaker during a menehune heat of the 9th Annual Malibu's Summer Classic Surf Contest at 8th St. in Ocean City, Maryland. photo by ART BALTROTSKY.

waxing 70s board.psd - OCEAN CITY, MD.--July 12, 2003-- Waxing a 1970's G&S surfboard are (from left) J.T. Hazard, Logan Helmuth and Taylor Ballard to compete in the vintage board tag-team event at the 9th Annual Malibu's Summer Classic Surf Contest at 8th St. in Ocean City, Maryland.

The Eastern Surfing Association (ESA), a non-profit, IRS tax-exempt corporation, is the largest amateur surfing organization in the world. It is dedicated to the sport of amateur surfing, to the operation of a program of amateur competition for surfers of all ages and abilities, and to the establishment and preservation of free access to a clean shoreline and ocean environment. The association’s activities are organized in a total of twenty-eight districts, which extend along nearly 2,000 miles of coastline, stretching from Maine through the Gulf Coast of Florida and Alabama and also around the Great Lakes.

For more information about the Eastern Surfing Association contact:

Art Baltrotsky
Maryland ESA District Director
Tumbling Monkeys
314 N. Main Street
Berlin, MD 21811
410-641-3329
art@tumblingmonkeys.com