Or at least that is what it felt like to me. The temperatures start to drop as the days grow shorter, fans cheer on their favorite football teams and I know that fall has dawned upon us. I can almost smell the familiar scent of neoprene, and can’t help but reminisce on what an unforgettable summer I had.
It all started with the 6th annual Reef Sweetwater Pro/Am. I was more than than stoked to be accompanied by one of my best friends, Ijan. With less than 48 until our departure, the air conditioner compressor blew up in my 2002 Nissan pick up. Determined not to let that get us down, we packed our bags, threw on our bikinis at 7am, and started on the 8 hour journey to North Carolina. A Virginia Beach native herself, it wasn’t until our arrival that Ijan realized we weren’t going to “Riceville”, but instead to Wrightville Beach.
Ijan and I.
Our days at the contest were filled with surfing, corn dogs, tanning, burritos and hanging out with friends, both old and new. It seemed like a popular tend to for North Carolina men to have mustaches… Just ask our new friends Tom, Tom, Tom, George and Scott! We spent our down time relaxing in our suite and the Red Roof Inn and watching The Golden Girls. Our hotel was conveniently located just 6 highway lanes across the street from one of the most classy and renown eating establishments of all time; Hooters. How could we NOT go?!
Hooters of North Carolina.
The waves remained contestable for the long weekend, and I managed to make it to the final undefeated in the previous rounds. The water was beautiful for the final and the waves super fun. My friend Emily, also from Florida, found good waves allowing her to link multiple maneuvers to the inside. Emily took the win, myself in 2nd.
Emily (left), myself, and fellow women’s finalist.
A few short days later, it was off to California for the US Open of Surfing. I hopped in a shared shuttle van in LA and headed south to Newport Beach. Our family friends, the Croteau’s, had just relocated to there, and were kind enough to open up their home and let me stay during my visit, along with groms Sketo Burns and Nate Moe Behl. We rode our bikes to 54th street jetty almost everyday and enjoyed surfing out in the playful waves and chilly water. It took a while to get used to my wetsuit and how different the waves were, but I was feeling confident. It was later in the week that I competed in the Nike 6.0 Pro Jr.
Stacked heats.
The waves were inconsistent, rolling trough the Huntington Beach Pier line-up without even breaking, and the quarter final heats were stacked. The other three girls in the heat decided to sit next to the pier, paddle battling for every single wave and risking interferences. I chose to sit wide by myself and wait for the sets. I caught a few good waves, linking together turns and riding it in without falling. It was a ton of fun, but unfortunately not quite enough to best some of the top female surfers that I was up against. I spent the rest of the day watching some of the best surfers in the world compete in the less than ideal conditions. None the less, they were killing it. I even ran in the king (and fellow Floridian) himself. I am grateful for valuable experience that this contest gives me every year, and am I very much looking forward to next year.
The King himself- Kelly Slater
The headquarters for one of my sponsors, …Lost Enterprises, is located in The Golden State. I met up with my team manager, Rich Wilson, and got a tour of the whole office, which is complete with an indoor skate park and basketball court. We went to lunch at Wahoo’s and talked business. A few nights later …Lost hosted their US Open party and bikini contest. Unfortunately the cops shut down the bikini contest before it had a chance to start, claiming they felt as though it would cause “too much mayhem.” After all, mayhem is what we’re all about, right?! The night went on with the killer band, and I got to spend time with my crazy ass Aussie friends and teammates Davo and Woody. Reola introduced me to some of his first and original team riders which was pretty cool. The party went on well into the night and a few short hours later I was on a plane and headed back home.
Australian pro surfer James Woods and I
With my next out of state contest almost a month away, it was back to work at The WingHouse for me. On my days off I took full advantage of the summer time swells we got and racked up hours and my favorite, shark infested surf spot at home- New Smyrna inlet.
photo: Bill Moore
photo: Kem McNair
photo: Bill Moore
photo: Bill Moore
Aside from a few ESA’s, I was enjoying having a break from the contest scene. That’s until my friend and WingHouse regular, Travis Ajay, stumbled into my work on a Friday night and invited me to the Arnette All Day Antics contest he was holding the following day. Knowing I would be 19 next April and that this could be my last chance to surf in a grom contest, I served him some hot wings, and agreed to be there.
I arrived at Sunglow pier early Saturday morning… same couldn’t be said for the surf. With the incoming tide and potential for little waves, the contest was underway. There was only a straight final for the girls, and I figured I’d be at the beach all day waiting for it anyway. So with nothing to loose, I went ahead and signed up for the Jr. Men division. I barely squeaked by in the first heat of Jr’s with 3rd place. The surf was tiny and all these little boys were surfing circles around me. It was time for the Girl’s final. I paddled out with my other five friends and we had a blast just goofing around and cheering each other on. That’s what I feel like surfing is all about; having fun with your friends. My good friend from Ormond Beach, Hannah Reynolds, caught some really good waves and definitely gave me a run for my money. I made it to the final for Jr. men and knew that these groms were not about to go easy on me. I found some little nuggets next the pier and tried to get in as many turns as possible each wave. I came in from the heat and my Dad, Pam, Ijan, and Duce greeted me with high-fives and hugs. I felt like I had done well. It was time for awards, and I was stoked to have taken the win in Girls. Then it was what we were all waiting for- Jr. Men’s. They called us up and announced sixth through third. Then they asked Sam Duggan and I to step up front. “2nd place……… Sam Duggan, and winning Jr Men’s- Haley Watson!” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I was overwhelmed with excitment as Magou dumped an entire cooler of ice water (and ice chunks) over my head in celebration.
ESM Feature; photo: Ducer
Greg Arnette, myself, Travis Ajay, and BeanDip
I texted my other half, Gillian, saying, “Get your sh*t, we’re going to Virginia.” It was time for longest running contest on the east coast- the 48th annual East Coast Surfing Championships. I had a new air compressor installed in my truck ($314 dollars later), some printed out map-quest directions, and we were off. I’ve only been to Virginia Beach once before, but I knew ECSC is one of the funnest contests of all time. We were only there for 15 minutes before I had already got a parking ticket and Gillian missed her heat because they police said her bikini bottoms were too small! That night faired better as we hung out with the …Lost crew, and met up with some friends that were in town for the contest from Cali. The waves stayed fun as there was a tropical storm brewing off of the Carolina coasts.
Talk of foreign super models being imported from all over the world filled the air, as they were holding the Miss Reef World Pageant that Saturday and it was something no one wanted to miss. The mid-atlantic Reef rep. Brad Beach, approached Gill and I in regards to trying out for the pageant. We headed over to the casting with our fingers crossed. The next day, Reef called my cell phone to inform me that I had made the cut. I couldn’t believe I would be competing for the title of Miss Reef World! The pageant started at 1pm, so after my women’s pro semi-final, I brushed out my hair the best I could and hurried over to the Marriott where we were all to meet. Nine other girls lined the long table, every one of them tall and gorgeous. Then here I was, 5’2, salty, and half way dry. I was one of the only few that spoke English We went through dress rehearsal, received our outfits and headed to hair and make up. 12:45 pm we went downstairs where a stretch black limo was waiting for us, complete with a police escort. The best part of it was that it was the same cop that yelled at Gillian for her bikini, and here we all were in tiny swimwear and there was nothing he could do about it! There was a giant, screaming crowd waiting for us as we arrived, with people for as far as I could see. That’s when I started getting nervous. The pageant went by faster than I could have ever imagined, and when it was my turn on stage and they announced I was in the Women’s Pro final, they crowd went wild cheering for me. I didn’t win, but it was an experience of a life time!
Miss Reef World pageant.
I was #9. #10 might be a little confused?
Working the crowd, and having fun.
We had the time of our lives at the after party, which was held at Waterman’s. Gillian and I danced the night away with our friends and VIP wristbands. The final day of “the circus” was Sunday. I surfed my amateur women’s final smart and smooth, and managed to take the win. I was warmed up and ready for the pro final. Right off the bat, Quincy Davis gave me an interference by going left. I kept my composure and continued to catch waves and surf well, knowing my second score would be cut in half no matter what. I ended up with 4th place, and after looking at the scores and number learned I would have had 2nd if I didn’t have a interference. It sucked. I got my check for a measly $200, showered off, and hit the road.
Off the bottom.
My good friend and barrel master, Jamie Dewitt Battinger and I, coming in from our Pro Women’s semi-final.
“NORTH CAROLINA, COME ON AND RAISE UP!” It was time to get back on the road and head to the grand finale of the east coast summer tour- ESA Easterns. After being named a junior women’s title contender this year by both Transworld SURF and ESM, I felt like I had no option but to deliver. I made the 11 hour hike up to the Outter Banks all by myself with some cold drinks and some good mixed c.d.’s. The waves were enormous the first few days, so big that they had to wait 2 extra days to start the adult competition. I got plenty of free surf time in at Frisco pier, and some time up in Rodanthe with the Ergo boys. I knew Easterns is never a cake walk, and that everyone is always on top of their game. I won my first heat in round of 24, my quarter final heat, and placed 2nd in the semi final. Finals were held on Saturday when the waves were very small. 3 out of the 4 girls in the final were from The Sunshine State. All the girls caught good waves, and with the electric scoring cut off at 5 minutes, it was anybody’s win. I came in and Frieda gave me a hug and said I had done well. They announced the results at the awards ceremony. Kayla Durden placed 4th, I grabbed a very close 3rd to Savannah Bradley’s 2nd, and Keenan Lineback finished with top honors. It wasn’t exactly how I wished I would have done, but I’ve learned you just can’t win all the time, it’s against the odds.
Baddest nice girl or nicest bad girl? Getting love from ESM. photo: Chris Wilson.
Small surf for the finals.
Jr. Women’s finalist; Myself, Savannah, and Kayla.
Summer is not completely over yet. The water is still skin-able and the days aren’t cold enough to wear pants. Coming up is the Jupiter Fall Classic and the Tommy Tant Memorial. I wanted to give special thanks to my sponsors- …Lost, Surf Station, X-trak, Spy, Magma, NVR Swimwear, Zamba Surfboards and Xcel, as well as my family and all of my friends for making this summer truly one of a kind. See y’all in the water!
-Haley
