2014 Chubascos Championships

Handboarding has arrived

In the growing dawn light of 6am Saturday, August 9^that the traditional 9^th Street HB break, members of the Huntington Beach High School Chubascos Bodysurfing Club showed up to set up the canopies, tables, chairs, heat sheet board (and the Chicken), banners, PA, and flags that hosted the 7^th Annual Huntington Beach Bodysurfing & Handboarding Championship. Many other volunteers participated to make this year’s contest the largest, funniest, and greatest ever. We hope you enjoy this results program. We thank the many donors and sponsors who provided their support with the outstanding Lucite statues to all finalists, the Brian Vasquez/Disney Imaginers Grand Champion trophy, the Viper Fins from Fred Simpson to each age group winner, the Oakley sunglasses and other gifts that were won in our first raffle run by the Aussie Surf Rescue competitors, Snow & Lively, 360 slices of pizza that disappeared in 10 minutes, donuts by Carol from Supreme Donuts, contest tee shirts in ‘rescue green’, and the good cheer of the many families and supporters who enjoyed a great day at the beach. Special recognition is deserved by Vicki Bassham of Bamboo Ben’s for the last minute sponsorships and fund raising that she personally undertook; she truly was a storm/Chubasco of activity that made the contest a success.

2014 may be the last year the Chubascos contest can be completed in one day. In 2008 the first contest was held with 24 team members competing for laurel leaves and a chance the practice for the following week’s Oceanside championships. This year 162 entrants were overwhelmingly from Huntington Beach (56) but also from Australia, Brazil, Northern CA, and the East Coast competing in 45 heats, including an additional 9 heats of handboarding. Competitors such as Tim “Aquaman” Cunningham were in as many as 6 or 7 heats. Heats were limited to 10 minutes with the following heat starting in the water immediately at the conclusion of the prior one. Timekeeper Roger Tilley kept the heats running strictly on time, ending at the same time as last year (4pm) when there were 10 less heats. The judging panel led by Nick Wassiliew and former Grand Champ Mark Thon did an outstanding job, with the help of many volunteer judges such as Dave Hazard from Gillis, Bruce Robbins from Del Mar, and Tish Denevan from Santa Cruz.

Much of the contest’s growth can be attributed to an emphasis on local youth participation. The Huntington Beach Lifeguards, led by Pete Eich and Matt Henry (2012 Grand Champion), have promoted the contest at their Jr Guard program and youth response has increased each year. Allowing beach entries on the day of the contest has allowed many last minute entrants (41 this year). As a free contest, everyone is welcome with no age or ability restrictions. We hope that everyone who participated or came to cheer on family or friends will consider themselves part of the Chubascos family. As stated on facebook, being a Chubasco is for anyone who comes to Huntington Beach and catches the ‘aloha’ spirit. Members of other teams are treated as Chubascos members regardless of which team they chose to compete for.

Mahalo

FINALS