The event was a big success with about 75 surfers competing. Awards were given the following day at a party at the Beach Break Restaurant in North Eastham.
The yellow five minute flag
Surfer rides a small wave at days end
Marshals Brendan McCray and Mark Argengelli
BB on flag duty
Jackie, Jo and Emma (Scottish lasses)
The Judge Tent (very serious stuff)
Mark calls contest from beach
Mark starts a heat
Sketchy shore break ride
What do you think?
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CAPE COD SURF CHALLENGE RESULTS by: Marc Angelillo | More by this Author The first annual Cape Cod Surf Challenge was held on Saturday 9/25 in waist to just over head high waves for almost the entire day. The event ran from 7am starting with set up to the end of the last heat of the day just after 5 pm. There were just shy of 30 heats in which there were 6 competitors in each heat and about 100 competitors. The outer beach setting had over an additional 100 spectators for the day long event and gathering at the beach. The event, when originally conceived, had a 2 week waiting period to guarantee the right waves, according to the event founder and promoter Brendon McCray, who is from Orleans. He felt the event was a huge success to have brought everyone together. According to all the competitors, the event really went extremely well and had everything from waves, favorable tides, good air and water temperatures, sun, mostly favorable winds and great surfing for the entire day!!! The event could not have "gone off" as well as it did if their was not a seasoned TEAM of professionals and volunteers to help run the intense day long event according to Marc Angelillo another volunteer who organized the competitors, the heats and flow for the competition. Many of the surfers in some of the heavier attended divisions like advanced shortboard, had to surf three times to get through to the finals. They also had to be one of the top three finishers in order to move on to the next round. Each competitor was given 15 minutes to catch a maximum of 10 waves and then their best three waves were averaged to get their scores. There were about 600 individual tabulations calculated to complete and tally the event. A big thank you to Anna Besciak, the event tabulator for her dedication to the event. The event brought together the entire Cape Cod Surf community, with over four generations of competitors. Many of the year-round surfers had endless stories to share as they reflected back years with each other ranging from grammar school, high school, collage and now their professions that allow them to still follow their year-round surfing passion and lifestyle. Some of the well known and seasoned surfers that pioneered the surf scene on Cape Cod and introduced the sport to some of the next generations like, Billy Sullivan and Rick Weeks said it was the best run and one of the most fun surf competitions they have attended since the mid 60's when they both started to compete. Then in a respectful and memorable way many of the surfers talked and felt the presence of one of their own who had died unexpectedly just a few weeks prior to the event. A special recognition and surfboard raffle was organized to remember him and keep him in sprit with the event. A special thank you to the Orleans Recreation Department and Paul Fulcher for their support of this event, to Phil Clark owner of Nauset Sports for donating a surfboard for the raffle, in memory of Christopher Svenningsen, to The Boarding House and Mike Archer for their generous gifts and prizes, to The Pump House, Little Over Head, and Jaspers Surf Shops too. A warm Mahalo to Hawaiian MoonSurfboards, J 7 and Vec Surfboards. A special thank you to all of the local merchants in the immediate area who gave generous gifts and support for this event, last but not least to The Land Ho of Orleans and the awards and party site, The Beach Break Bar and Grill in Eastham. Proceeds and donations from the event were also given to local charities and to the Surf Rider Foundation to help protect our environment. The results for the top six competitors in each of the divisions are as follows: 1st Annual Cape Cod Surf Challenge, 9/25/04 - Results 
Women's Long 1st Mercy Reed 2nd Rachel Finn 3rd Katy Weeks 4th Chrissy Roberts Women's Short 1st Katy Weeks 2nd Mercy Reed 3rd Rachel Finn 4th Nancy Rierden Intermediate 35 (-) 1st Matt Rivers 2nd Dave Szucs 3rd Jeff Cronin 4th Mike Escher 5th Avery Webber 6th Thor Baum Intermediate 36 (+) 1st Tom Leach 2nd Barry Bessete Men's Long 35 (-) 1st Brendan McCray 2nd Jeff Sullivan 3rd Shea Kavanaugh 4th Erin Escher 5th Troy Collins 6th Todd Fleming Men's Long 36 (+) 1st Eric Webber 2nd Marc Angellilo 3rd Barny Burrill 4th Rick Weeks 5th Billy Sullivan Advanced Short 19 (-) 1st Lyle McCutchen 2nd Kye Potter 3rd Casey McDonald 4th Scott Poosak 5th Brett Johnson 6th Kian Oringer Advanced Short 20-29 1st Adam Lauro 2nd Shea Kavanaugh 3rd Josh Clements 4th Dillon Murphy 5th Rob Campbell 6th Lucas Dinwittie Advanced Short 30-39 1st Matt Richards 2nd Shawn Vecchione 3rd James Zavorskas 4th Brendan McCray 5th Eric Webber 6th Mike Archer Advanced Short 40 (+) 1st Barny Burrill 2nd Marc Angellilo 3rd Ray Trautz 4th Billy Sullivan 5th Charlie Bannano Air Show 1st Josh Clements 2nd Shea Kavanaugh |