BASSETT WINS USA SURFING TITLE
Kate Bassett : photo Art Baltrotsky
Kate Bassett of Berlin, Maryland was named the 2007 USA Womens Longboard
Surfing Champion, while Art Baltrotsky also of Berlin, Maryland took second
place in the Senior Longboard division during the Surfing America USA
Surfing Championships in Huntington Beach, California, October 23-27, 2007.
As representatives of East Coast surfers, Bassett and Baltrotsky out-surfed
competitors from the West Coast, Gulf Coast and Hawaii in some of the best
contestable surf ever seen at the Huntington Beach Pier. The strong offshore
Santa Ana winds that fueled the devastating California wildfires also
perfectly groomed one of the best swells that California had all year.
Just prior to the
Womens Longboard final, the wind switched to a more common onshore flow and
combined with an outgoing tide to make some very challenging conditions. The
competitors searched for rideable waves while they continually battled
strong currents pulling them into the pier. Towards the end of the 25 minute
final, Bassett was in third place as she was swept through the pier.
Bassett then managed to paddle back out through the pier, battling large
surf and strong current to return to the competition area. With less than 20
seconds remaining in the final, Bassett paddled into the largest set wave of
the heat and immediately moved into first place, capturing the 2007 USA
Womens Longboard Surfing title.
During the Senior Longboard final, Baltrotsky also found his highest scoring wave at the very end of the heat. Baltrotsky caught one of the best waves of the final and shot the pier (riding through the pier) for second place in the Senior Longboard division. Finalists in the Senior Longboard division were split equally from all for regions of the country; East Coast, West Coast, Gulf coast and Hawaii.
In order to compete in the USA Surfing Championships, surfers must first compete in a year-long series of local events and finish at the top of their age division in their year-end points standings. Then these top place competitors are invited to compete in regional surfing championships. Top place finishers in the regional championships earn invitations to compete in the Eastern Surfing Championships and then on to the USA Surfing Championships.
The next local
event for the Delmarva District of the Eastern Surfing Association is the
9th annual K-Coast / Reef Open on November 10 in Ocean City, Maryland at
35th Street. Surfers will be competing for thousands of dollars in prizes
and a trip to Barbados. All proceeds from the K-Coast / Reef Open will
benefit the Ocean City Career Firefighters and Paramedics Association.
www.DelmarvaESA.org
www.surfingamerica.org