A Fluid Situation | The Beachside Resident

By: Athena Sasso

Article Category: C.B. Surf Museum Leave a Comment

On a beautiful weekend in June, CBSM put on the 8th Annual Waterman’s Challenge surf contest. Holiday Inn was the best break on the beach, according to various scouts, and that made the 84 contestants very happy.

Contest director Matt Bellina ran a great event, and many volunteers pitched in to make the event run smoothly. From the first horn to the last trophy — with a Luau in the middle — it was a weekend to remember.

Some came to the Waterman’s Challenge to surf with old friends who on any other good day in the water would be at their own local breaks. That would be reason enough. But at this contest, there’s always the draw of something new. Three years ago, it was the Real Retro. Two years ago, it was the first Stand Up Paddle surf contest on the East Coast. Last year, it was the Chris Harazda Memorial Paipo Expression Session. This year, the Rodeo, Body Board, tug-of-war, and sand castle contest. (In case you’ve never seen one-’a them there Rodeo things, it’s a 30-minute heat: 10 minutes on a 9’ or longer longboard, 10 minutes on a fish, and 10 minutes on a shortboard.)

Young, old, pros and newbies on every type of floater short of a bathtub launched into the fun waves, surfing on feet and bellies, propelling with leaning bodies and paddles. From the beach, it looked like a symphony orchestra — you know, the part where they’re tuning up?

There was enough surfing, paddling, hula dancing, sandcastle building, tugging, Hookie Lauing, music from the Aquanuts and Sam Miller, and barbeque to fill up a weekend. As I looked over the final registration list, I couldn’t figure out why Director Matt hadn’t alphabetized the entrants. Finally it hit me: it was alphabetical by first names. Well, that’s the kind of contest the Waterman’s Challenge is — familiar from the first wave.

Next up on the Cocoa Beach Surf Museum calendar is the Third Annual Balsa Bill and Island Attitude Paddle Challenge on August 8, with divisions for all ages and skill levels. Meanwhile, see two special exhibits running at the museum: “50 Years of Ron Jon Surf Shop” and “The Art of Surf Culture.”

Find out how to be a part of preserving surf history at a volunteer meeting. First Wednesdays, 7 p.m., at the museum in the Ron Jon Watersports Building. (No meeting in July.) For more information, call (321) 258-8271 or go to: www.cocoabeachsurfmuseum.org