Legends, stars turn out for Jimmy Reilly Memorial comp
Nat Young, John
Peck & Taylor Jensen : photo Bart Tucker
INTERNATIONAL SURF STARS IN CORONADO FOR JIMMY REILLY CONTEST
Twenty-five years ago a young Coronado man died in a car accident that left his many young friends dealing with an emptiness. They did was what was typical of the time. They paddled their surfboards into the waters off Coronado and held a memorial service and surf contest to remember Jimmy Reilly.
Last week they did it
again in the form of the 25th annual Jimmy Reilly Memorial Longboard Surfing
Classic. In addition to having the longest title, it has become the longest
continually staged surfing contest in greater San Diego County.
More so, it has become a form of reunion and a celebration of the beach
involving hundreds of others who just want to be a part of this unique
event. In truth, they are celebrating their youth and a passing of the torch
in addition to remembering a fallen comrade. This unusual gathering of the
clan has been typical the past two and a half decades. This year Jimmy's
friends came from all points of the compass to participate, as they did that
first year in 1983.
What was different this year was the presence of a handful of international legends from the sport of surfing. They didn't know Jimmy Reilly, but they, each in their own way, have met members of the Coronado surfing community and developed an enormous respect for Coronado's dedication to the sport, their families, and to sharing the adventure of surfing with others.
John Peck : photo Bart Tucker
Among the "rock stars"
of the sport present at last week's contest were Nat Young, John Peck, and
Tim Cousins. The latter is a well-known surfer, shaper, and film maker.
Peck, who went to high school in Coronado, was known as "Mister Pipeline"
when a picture of him appeared on the cover of Surfer Magazine in 1964
making him an instant legend and the hero of every young surfer from coast
to coast.
And Nat Young is a three-time World Champion, the man who spearheaded the
short board revolution of the sixties, the sport's unofficial ambassador,
and easily the most famous surfer alive. "I'm happy to be here," said a
jubilant Nat Young." I first met this group of Coronado families and surfers
at a contest north of L.A. a few years back. This group epitomizes the
camaraderie and fellowship of surfing like no other group I've met anywhere
else in the world.
"Since then I've made
life-long friends with many of them, and it is my great pleasure to be here
on the beach with them today, celebrating their event and helping to pass on
the stoke of surfing to so many young people."
One of the special moments in the day came when Australian Young joined a
group of young boys and girls waiting for their heat to begin at water's
edge. As the nervous kids all sat on the sand in their colored jerseys
waiting for the starting horn, Nat shared stories with them, and talked
about the sport, putting them at ease, and making a new generation of
friends in the process.
His presence alone was inspirational to all in attendance. He moved freely
among the crowd, sharing stories and anecdotes from his long career. He even
took a spin on the microphone as color commentator along with Marty Jenson
and Alec MacKenzie on the play-by-play. Later, Nat, John Peck, and
Coronado's Taylor Jensen gave an exhibition in the water that had everyone
on their feet and cameras flashing.
John Peck entered the Open division of this year's contest, and despite his advanced age, held his own with the hungry pack finishing a close second. His competitive spirit has not diminished over the years in the slightest.
At the awards ceremony
following the contest Coronado stand-out Taylor Jensen, who is currently the
US National champion and ranked number three in the world in the sport of
longboard surfing, pulled one of his personal surfboards from his quiver and
presented it to the youngest competitor in this year's Jimmy Reilly Contest
- eight-year-old Austin Dozier.
The crowd erupted with cheers and a standing ovation as the small boy tried
in vain to hold the large, nine-foot surfboard. But his uncle Tony Faletta
came to the rescue, and together they stood before the crowd of surfers and
families in gratitude for Taylor Jensen's extreme act of kindness.
Jensen had used that
board to win the US Nationals earlier this year. And while young Austin
Dozier won't be able to carry the board by himself for years to come, he
will never forget that gesture of kindness from one of the world's great
athletes and Coronado's special people.
This single selfless act captures the spirit of this contest and of the
Coronado Surfing Association more than anything else. The Coronado Surfing
Association grew from the Jimmy Reilly contests over the years as the family
of surfers began to involve their families and share their adventures in the
water with others.
The contest was held at Shipwreck Beach, along the south end of Coronado. Men, women, children, and old-timers competed in various heats throughout the day in three-to-four-foot surf. At day's end all emerged victorious in one way or another, and the winners and losers stood together in appreciation of why they were there.
Winning the Open Division was Terry Gillard. In second place was John Peck, followed by Mat Erickson, Taylor Mitchell, "The Kid," and Joe McMahon. In the Women's Open Division Nava Young (daughter of Nat Young) took first place followed by an aggressive and agile Peachy Alldrege, the veteran Mel Rogers, Cheryl "the Shreddar" Woodhouse, Carolyn "the Boss" Mitchell, and Jane Mold.
The Girls Open found
Mallory Mitchell in first place, closely followed by best friend Avery
Woodhouse, sisters Ellie and Trudie Nixon, and a two-way tie for fifth place
between Michaela Branscomb, and Natalie Palmatier. The Boys division was won
for a second time by Sven Karlsson. In second place was Tyler Smith,
followed by Jack Alldredge, John McCaul, Reis Stanley, and Israel Dedina.
The crowd favorite is the Masters Division, in which men 45 or older pull it
all together to put on a show of fancy footwork on the big boards. In this
division you'll see more maneuvers and old poses than anywhere else. At
day's end it was 55-year-old John Gillem who emerged from a tough pack to
claim first place. Gillem is also founder of the Jimmy Reilly Contest and
the Coronado Surfing Association, and past winner of the contest and Longest
Nose Ride trophy multiple years running.
Close behind Gillem was Pat Mower (their rivalry has become legendary over the decades in Southern California contests), Joey Adams, Tommy Harris, Lorton Mitchell, and Alec MacKenzie. The Longest Nose Ride trophy went to Terry Gillard. And the Best Wipe-Out award went, for the fourth straight year, to Shreddar Woodhouse. The committee is considering naming the award after her as it seems no one can rip this title from her grasp.
Proceeds from the 25th Annual Jimmy Reilly Classic will be dispersed among the Coronado High School and Middle School Surf Clubs, to a scholarship for graduating CHS seniors, and to Wildcoast. The Coronado Surfing Association is a not-for-profit organization that meets monthly. For more information visit their Website at coronadosurfingassociation.org
www.coronadosurfingassociation.org