The 37th Annual Hugh Shaw Memorial Longboard Classic Brings Small Waves, Big Smiles
This past Saturday, the 37th annual Hugh Shaw Memorial Longboard Classic took place at the St. Augustine Beach Pier. The contest is a yearly gathering of Flagler College alumni and the surf community as a whole to honor the life of Hugh Shaw.
Shaw, the class of 1983, had his life cut short by a tragic accident at the age of just 23. In the fall of ’83, the Hugh Shaw Memorial Longboard Classic was founded. Spearheaded by Shaw’s sister, Beth Shaw Masters, she worked side by side with Flaglerites and Flagler’s Alumni Relations Office to create this event.
The contest raises funds for the Hugh Shaw Scholarship, available to a junior or senior majoring in Philosophy or Religion with an emphasis on minors in Youth Ministry or one of the social sciences.
A Fun-Filled Fundraiser
While this event celebrates the life of Shaw and his love of longboarding, it is also a way for Flagler College alumni to gather and share their love of the sport. This year’s competition was met with clear blue skies and semi-clean waves in the shin to knee high range. Though the waves weren’t huge, the conditions were near ideal for longboarding.
Surfers gathered on the southside of the St. Augustine Beach Pier near 16th Street to enjoy the small scale surf that was on tap. Alumni of all ages traded waves, showcasing slides and noserides. A standout from the event, Alec Zappone, scrapped for waves during the semifinal which a less experienced surfer would have written off as “unrideable”. Longboarders have a way of making the best of lackluster conditions, just as this event makes the best of what started out with tragic beginnings.
Zappone, O’Rourke, Camp Claim Top 3 Spots
Following the event, contestants gathered at alumni and locally owned restaurant, the Beacon Listening Room. Bringing the party from the beach to the boulevard, here is where the event’s winners were crowned. Alec Zappone took his second win for the event, followed by second place winner Kyan O’Rourke. The final winning spot was taken by Will Camp, who put on an exhibition in control and power in his semifinal performance.
