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Surfing for a higher cause at Frand contest
by John Tawa
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Joe Hobi smacks the lip on his way to first place in the open shortboard division at the Adam Frand Memorial Surf Contest at Marine Street. Photo by Monica Fleck |
The Second Annual Adam Frand Memorial Surf Contest took place two Saturdays ago Beach at Marine St., but it was more a tribute to Adam Frand than a serious sporting competition.
Frand was an outstanding student and promising athlete at Mira Costa High School before an undetected heart defect took his life in August 1998, the summer before his senior year.
"When somebody dies, people always say nice things to make him look good," said Charlie Ninegar, Frand's best friend. "But honestly, with him, they were all true. He was a great athlete, a great guy and the smartest person I knew."
To honor Frand's memory, Ninegar decided to create the surf contest at Frand's favorite beach, where he and his buddies spent countless hours bodyboarding and just hanging out.
More than 80 competitors paid a minimal entry fee and spent the entire day surfing and bodyboarding, just as Frand might have done on a hot summer day. The proceeds - more than $2000 -- went to the Adam Frand Memorial Fund, which benefits many local and national charities and grants a scholarship annually to the Costa senior who demonstrates the same potential Frand did.
Contestants received a T-shirt designed by one of Frand's friends. They also shared in fabulous prizes raffled and given away by sponsors, including Body Glove, Ezekial clothing, OAM surf products, Globe shoes, Auctiv clothing, Spyder Surfboards, MCD apparel, Sector 9 skateboards, Dragon Optics, Smith sunglasses, the Realm surfwear, ET surfboards and Mira Costa's NOW community service club.
Shortboard, longboard and bodyboard events were staged by divisions. The top performers:
Shortboard - Juniors: 1. Shane Galas; 2. Austin Liggett; 3. Charlie Beck; 4. Chris Mohagen; 5. Brandon Bowden; 6. Anthony Palozolo.
High School: 1. Cameron Chacker; 2. Jamie Meistrell; 3. Shane Galas; Tommy Banas; 5. Randy Rhodes; 6. Alonzo Vargas.
Open: 1. Joe Hobi; Matt Singley; 3. Blake Spinak; 4. Ed Santos; 5. Tracy Meistrell; 6. Jex McCartney.
Bodyboard - Open: 1. Chris Monioz; 2. Chris Izzo; 3. Josh Smith; 4. Jeff Vincent; 5. Eric Healy; 6. Robby Surisa.
Drop Knee: 1. Chris Izzo; 2. Chris Monioz; 3. Mike Carr; 4. Eric Healy; 5. Steve Tafoya; 6. Josh Smith
Longboard - Juniors: 1. Tommy Ostendorf; 2. Shane Galas; 3. Eric Krudatus; 4. Steve Buchan; 5. Adam Braun; 6. Matt Palmer.
Masters: 1. Tommy Ostendorf; 2. Todd Barbosa; 3. Lars Gustafson; 4. David Gray; 5. Dane McConaughy; 6. Eric Darling.
Women: 1. Nicole Militello; 2. Kendra Cook; 3. Nicki Hunt. ER