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Eastside Surfblog past entriesRead 12/02/08 entryTo comment on this entry, please click here. Useful links from previous entries Favorite surf forecast site: www.magicseaweed.com
Click here to e-mail the Surfblogger.
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12/11/08
I recently attended the annual ESA awards banquet and came away with several wows. First, it’s pretty amazing to have such a high level of surfing talent here considering we don’t even come close to qualifying as a place that has good surf. I’ve often wondered if we would all be better surfers if we lived someplace where there was consistently good surf every day. Or would the best just get better and the rest of us stay mediocre at a higher level of mediocrity? See, these are the kinds of things I think about - a tortured soul. Either way it would probably be more crowded and instead of complaining about extended flat spells, I’d be grumping about the crowds - but with a wax rash and tired arms.
Another wow was thinking about how long the guys who are my age have dominated the local scene. Both Glen Tanner and Rick Anson have been at the top of their game for close to 30 years and don’t seem to be showing any signs of letting up. Glen and Rick have won so many contests that local ESA director, Nancy Hussey, doesn’t need to give them trophies any more. They probably both have a pile from floor to ceiling by now. Another interesting thing about their achievements is that there has been pretty much the same crew of competitors nipping at their heels the whole time. So it’s not that Rick and Glenn have just hung in there and sit on top due to attrition, it’s a testament to the group of guys in this age bracket who have been surfing right there against them all these years and who have the ability to win the heat on any given day. And the talent pool goes all the way down to the youngest groms on the beach. I’m not going to start mentioning names because I’ll leave someone out and that wouldn’t be fair. The pool is that deep, both male and female. It’s a fact, our ESA best can beat the best from anywhere. It all comes down to waves, strategy and luck.
And speaking of strategy, how cool is it that Kai Dilling is the coach for the ESA All Star Team? To have our local guy be THE guy for all of the ESA is pretty impressive. And it couldn’t happen to a more deserving guy. It’s especially gratifying for me, since I feel like I raised Kai and Klaus from gromhood. Not sure who raised Jani, but I’m sure they’re not done yet.
A final note on the ESA is that under the current leadership it has become an extremely family friendly organization and the commitment of the older surfers towards bringing up the next generation of surfers is really cool to see. Surfing is the ultimate family sport here in SC where the waves are fairly gentle and there’s no giant rocks, cliffs or other nasty surprises. The local ESA chapter has embraced this and the next logical step is surfing competitively as a family. Terri Tanner needed a wheelbarrow to take home all the schwag the family won. If the older crew stays committed to this and the kids keep progressing, no telling how high one of them will go. Kelly Slater is from Florida, right?
Eastside Surfblog past entriesRead 12/02/08 entryTo comment on this entry, please click here. Useful links from previous entries Favorite surf forecast site: www.magicseaweed.com
Click here to e-mail the Surfblogger.
|
12/11/08
I recently attended the annual ESA awards banquet and came away with several wows. First, it’s pretty amazing to have such a high level of surfing talent here considering we don’t even come close to qualifying as a place that has good surf. I’ve often wondered if we would all be better surfers if we lived someplace where there was consistently good surf every day. Or would the best just get better and the rest of us stay mediocre at a higher level of mediocrity? See, these are the kinds of things I think about - a tortured soul. Either way it would probably be more crowded and instead of complaining about extended flat spells, I’d be grumping about the crowds - but with a wax rash and tired arms.
Another wow was thinking about how long the guys who are my age have dominated the local scene. Both Glen Tanner and Rick Anson have been at the top of their game for close to 30 years and don’t seem to be showing any signs of letting up. Glen and Rick have won so many contests that local ESA director, Nancy Hussey, doesn’t need to give them trophies any more. They probably both have a pile from floor to ceiling by now. Another interesting thing about their achievements is that there has been pretty much the same crew of competitors nipping at their heels the whole time. So it’s not that Rick and Glenn have just hung in there and sit on top due to attrition, it’s a testament to the group of guys in this age bracket who have been surfing right there against them all these years and who have the ability to win the heat on any given day. And the talent pool goes all the way down to the youngest groms on the beach. I’m not going to start mentioning names because I’ll leave someone out and that wouldn’t be fair. The pool is that deep, both male and female. It’s a fact, our ESA best can beat the best from anywhere. It all comes down to waves, strategy and luck.
And speaking of strategy, how cool is it that Kai Dilling is the coach for the ESA All Star Team? To have our local guy be THE guy for all of the ESA is pretty impressive. And it couldn’t happen to a more deserving guy. It’s especially gratifying for me, since I feel like I raised Kai and Klaus from gromhood. Not sure who raised Jani, but I’m sure they’re not done yet.
A final note on the ESA is that under the current leadership it has become an extremely family friendly organization and the commitment of the older surfers towards bringing up the next generation of surfers is really cool to see. Surfing is the ultimate family sport here in SC where the waves are fairly gentle and there’s no giant rocks, cliffs or other nasty surprises. The local ESA chapter has embraced this and the next logical step is surfing competitively as a family. Terri Tanner needed a wheelbarrow to take home all the schwag the family won. If the older crew stays committed to this and the kids keep progressing, no telling how high one of them will go. Kelly Slater is from Florida, right?
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