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14/10/2006:// On Sunday, October 8, the south San Diego County surfing community put on a show in clean 2-3' surf on the south side of the Imperial Beach Pier. While the small waves of WiLDCOAST's Third Annual Dempsey Holder Ocean Festival didn't make for as dramatic a showing as the 2005 event, the conditions were perfect for many of the event's younger contestants.
More than 100 competitors surfed it out throughout the day in nine different divisions. The first heats of the day began at 7 am as the competitors and judges fueled up on the hot chocolate and coffee provided by Imperial Beach Coffee and Books. A few heats later the I.B. lifeguards opened up a second surfing area and the double-heat action was on. Stand-out surfers in the early heats included I.B.'s Sean Malabanan, Keith McClosky and Jeff McGuire as well as Taylor Mitchell, Nicole Pratt and Christian Bond of Coronado.
The Menehune boys competitive final was pure adrenalin as the groms, boards in hand, left their pre-event trash-talking on the sand. I.B.'s Israel Dedina picked off one of the best waves of the heat as he airdropped into a steep left on the outside, made the first section and pulled a solid cheater five before kicking out next to the pier. Not to be outdone, Coronado's Jack Aldridge whipped his board around on a feathering righthander, took off under the lip and set himself up for the inside double-up. While most groms of his age would have straightened out, Jack dug in his rail and blasted a solid whack off the breaking lip, ultimately winning the heat and the envy of the groms.
Cliff Nies, who finished fourth in the junior boy's division, noted that, like himself, many of the contest's surfers were from Coronado, including five out of the six in his final heat.
"We love to surf Imperial Beach because the waves in Coronado aren't nearly as good...but in the winter, a lot of my friends aren't allowed to surf down here because of the pollution. Their parents don't let them. We get the same water pollution in Coronado but not quite as extreme." When asked how important he thought WiLDCOAST's Clean Water Now! Campaign is to the south San Diego County surfing community, Cliff said that to him, it is of personal importance. "I've gotten sick so many times after surfing. I just want to be able to go surfing without being worried about how I'll feel afterwards."
More than anything, this year's Dempsey showed the need to resolve the issue of beach closures and water contamination affecting the south San Diego County beach community. Ironically, just days before the event, Governor Shwarzenegger vetoed an assembly bill (AB 966) that would have prioritized clean water solutions for California's border area beaches, specifically Imperial Beach and Coronado.
Despite the general lack of support from elected officials, "Clean Water Now!" has become a rallying cry in south San Diego County. The night before the Dempsey, WiLDCOAST hosted an environmental awards reception at the Tijuana Estuary in Imperial Beach, within stone's throw of the famed Tijuana Sloughs. Among attendees were some of southern California's most legendary surfers, including Woody Eckstrom, Richard Abrams, Mike Richardson, "Black Mac" and the Elwell brothers. Oscar Romo of the Tijuana River Estuary and San Diego County Supervisor Greg Cox received awards for their work promoting water quality solutions and Richard Abrams received the "Spirit of Dempsey" award for his lifelong dedication to the ocean.
Thanks to the solid support of local and surf industry businesses, the Dempsey was a resounding success. Major sponsors included Billabong, TNT, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, Spirit Realty and Pacific Realty. All contestants received an event t-shirt and a goody-bag with surf and skate equipment. Cow-A-Bunga, a local Imperial Beach creamery, even made a special "Clean Water" ice cream free for competitors. Local shapers Tim Townsley and Jay Novak of TNT surfboards gave new boards to the winners of the Menehune girls and the Junior Boys divisions. Additional prizes, raffle items, and support were provided by Surf Hut, Rizzio, Ocean Minded, Sector 9, Gravity Skateboards, Surf Diva, San Diego-Tijuana Border Inititive, OP, Hobie, Karl Strauss, Imperial Beach Coffee and Books, City of Coronado, City of IB and Cow-A-Bunga Creamery.
Results:
Junior Boys
1. Christian Bond
2. Joe Cowen
3. Elliot Jung
Menehune Girls
1. Natalia Palmatier
2. Kiana Malabanan
3. Cassandra Crover
Retro Board
1. Granite Calimpong
2. Jeff Mc Guire
3. Taylor Mitchell
Longboard
1. Taylor Mitchell
2. Sean Malabanan
3. Ken Quisenberry
Bodyboard
1. Gilberto Pulido
2. Gary Wegener
3. Richie Leon
Junior Girls
1. Helen Sylvia
2. Ashley Hedrick
Menehune Boys
1. Jack Alldredge
2. Israel Dedina
3. Daniel Dedina
Open Men's
1. Keith Mc Closkey
2. Jeff Mc Guire
3. Arbol Vizquera
Open Women's
1. Nicole Pratt
2. Janet Miguel
3. Courtney Browne
Thanks to everyone for coming out and showing your support!
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