Blog/Story by Valerie Rose | Photocred: VR Photography
Grey skies couldn’t darken this years MayDay Memorial Surf Classic held in Flagler Beach. The annual contest is dedicated to Dollie Sue Watson, who passed away from heart disease in 2006.
Now in her 8th year, contest director, Haley Watson continues her philanthropic event raising money for heart disease alongside this years’ major sponsor, Halifax Health of Daytona.
The event hit the ground running at 8am sharp with support from the local surf community and contest pillars, Travis Ajay; master emcee and Pam Hill; heat coordinator.
Early Saturday found highly contestable waves with occasional sets rolling in up to rib high with good form. Unfortunately the forecast did not continue those early favorable conditions.
The pro’s were given the option of choosing when to compete, as local conditions dictated. They chose mid morning heats during the out-going tide just before windy sideshore conditions locked in. The mens two semis ran first, followed by the womens pro final, capped off by the mens pro final.
Heats were stacked and intense as surfers jockeyed for the best peak position, which happened to be bouncing back and forth between a short left next to the pier and a connecting walled up right in front of the mini-mart.
Spectating from the beach, even I had a hard time deciding which peak I would’ve sat on if I’d been competing. Both looked quite inviting. The other ten divisions ran flawlessly on either side of the pros with the contest wrapping up with the fun minnow and surf-mom heats, respectively.
Congratulations to all of this years competitors and especially Miss Haley Watson for her continued success benefiting heart health and the local community.
All proceeds from this years contest are being donated to the Cardiology Center at Halifax Health in Daytona Beach.
Results for the 8th Annual MayDay Memorial 2018 at Flagler Beach Pier are as follows:
Finn’s Beachside Pub Men’s Pro
1 Jimmy Blumenfeld
2 Dylan Martin
3 Jesse Heilman
4 Tommy Grooms
Women’s Pro
1 Maddie Malizia
2 Hannah Blevins
3 Morgan Morris
4 Sara McFarlane
Groms
1 Cash Nipper
2 Jake Loftis
3 Everett Nipper
4 Aurora Purdy
5 Charlotte Carroll
Boys
1 Evan Tyson
2 Dylan Toriello
3 Jake Loftis
4 John John Skripko
5 Wesley Eisenhour
6 Chase Peoren
Girls
1 Amber Olson
2 Morgan Morris
3 Emily Colluccio
4 Maddie Franz
5 Olivia Beaven
6 KelseyMcCormick
7 Isabella TG
Mens
1 Gavin Garrett
2 Blaize Carroll
3 Elijah Haire
4 Jonathan Malizia
5 John John Skripko
6 Garrett Gomez
Womens
1 Hannah Blevins
2 Lisa Tanner-Sweeters
3 Candice Griffin
4 Emily Skripko
5 Toni Almeida
6 Isabella TG
Masters
1 Tommy Grooms
2 Nic Stephens
3 Donnie Hopper
Gentlemen
1 Jimmy Blumenfeld
2 Stephon Nipple
3 Bob Lindsley
4 Lance Carroll
5 Travis Ajay
Living Legends
1 Bob Lindsley
2 Jay Smith
3 Kirk Oswell
4 Gus Rodriguez
5 Lynn Bird Harrington
6 Charley Hajek
Women’s Longboard
1 Maddie Franz
2 Maddie Malizia
3 Hannah Blevins
4 Olivia Beaven
5 Emily Skripko
6 Kalani Stewart
Men’s Longboard
1 Ryan Conklin
2 Dylan Prestwood
3 Steve Tyson
4 Skye Blumenfeld
5 Evan Tyson
6 Bob Lindsley
Minnows
Cash Nipper
Everett Nipper
Ricardo Garcia
Adrian Garcia
Jet Scollan
Charlotte Carroll
Surf Moms
Amy Glenn
Jenn Blumenfeld
Carrie Purdy
Patti King
Elana Carroll
Tina Eddy
Colleen Conklin
Heather Beaven
Carol Walker
Sea Spirit Hot Wave Award
Ryan Conklin
