— Photo by Susan Cozad.
About 180 surfers of all ages hit the surf this weekend for the 15th Annual Newport Harbor High School Newport Surf Classic
The weekend-long community event turned out bigger than organizers were expecting, with hundreds of spectators, first time surfers and experienced, local veterans attending. It was hosted by the NHHS Surf Team, in conjunction with Volcom and Surfside.
“The Newport Surf Classic has been the local stage for some of Newport’s best surfers,” said Matt Burns, Newport Harbor High School Surf Coach. “We are really proud of this neighborhood tradition and love getting kids excited about surfing.”
The event surpassed their fundraising goal and raised more than $10,000.
One highlight of the event was first time female surfer, first grader Tess Walshe, who had to be pushed into the waves, but ended up making it to the podium in fourth place in the elementary division, according to Allison Olmstead of Townsend Olstead Media Company, who is handling the PR for the event.
There were a also number of former Newport Harbor High Surf Team members who came back to support their former team and compete, she added.
Michael Bonds was another highlight, she said, “he proved that he is just as comfortable in the water as he is on the football field.”
Bonds made the finals in both the High School and Longboarding divisions.
Winners, by division and listed starting with first place:
Graduated: Josh Hoyer, Jared Cassidy, Colin Moran, and Daniel Shea.
High School: Tyler Gunter, Michael Bonds, Parker Cohn, Preston Dexter, Dave Flinn, and Justin Croteau.
Junior High: Tyler Gunter, Dylan Hord, Parker Cohn, and Cole Housmen.
Elementary: Jake Orloff, Ty Burgess, Hadin Norwood, and Tess Walshe.
Girls: Meah Collins, Tehya Corona, Becca Standt, and Katie Dill.
Longboarding: Erik Valley, Michael Bonds, Dane Flinn, and Chris Lomenzo.
Bodyboarding: Chris Stewart, Micky Hocks, Joey Gregory, and Dylan Cotton.
Masters: Ivan Lizards, Nicolai Glazer, Eddie Fioreo, Matt Anderson, Todd Miller, and Ken Keirstead.
For more information, visit nhhssurf.com.
