The 7th annual Clean Water Classic surf contest just wrapped up this past weekend in Westport, Washington.  The event, organized and put on by volunteers from the Pacific Northwest chapters of Surfrider Foundation, is a major fundraising event for the local chapters of Surfrider Foundation.  Volunteers from southern Oregon all the way to British Columbia host the event which attracted over 1000 spectators and nearly 150 contestants.  The Classic is the only Pro/Am contest held in the region. “Our chapters and activists work hard to put this event on every year, and it represents one of the biggest fundraising opportunities and membership drives”, says Charlie Plybon, Oregon Field Coordinator for Surfrider Foundation. “These funds help support a variety of campaigns and programs that focus on water quality, beach access, ocean health, and shoreline preservation. All of the proceeds are split evenly amongst participating chapters to provide crucial funding to Surfrider initiatives at the local chapter level.”

On Saturday May 17, the first heats started at 7:00 AM at the jetty in Westhaven State Park, Washington. The event concluded at 3 PM on Sunday, May 18. Over the course of Saturday and Sunday, 50 heats were run with most being 15 minute heats. Six competitors per heat was the norm on Saturday, with the semi finals and finals on Sunday drawing between two and four competitors per heat.  The weather was spectacular this year providing clear skies, sunshine and solid overhead waves for contestants to tout their skills for the judges.

On Saturday night, sponsors combined forces to provide an extraordinary surf theme party which attracted over 450 people.  Each Surfrider chapter in the region presented displays and tables educating partygoers on their unique local issues, campaigns and programs. The party turnout packed the Westport Convention Center, and featured a special presentation by the Classic title sponsor, Global Surf Industries.  The presentation honored local shop owner and Pacific Northwest surf pioneer Al Perlee.  Known to many as “the dean of Northwest surfing”, Perlee maintains The Surf Shop in Westport and was honored with a signed surfboard by Classic organizers.  Also headlining the event was special guest Bob McTavish, one of the catalysts for the shortboard revolution. At 64 years, Bob was pulling into barreling overhead surf on Friday afternoon, impressing the younger crowd on the beach.  The evening finished off with some great tunes and a lively show by the Panda Conspiracy.

The event would not have been such a huge success without the amazing support of all our sponsors. Sponsors include: Global Surf Industries, Kona Brewing, Rebel Surfboards, Barefoot Wines, The Islander Resort, Quiksilver, Pacific NW Judges,  Sol Sunguard, Urban Surf, Lost Mountain Surf Company,  Coastal Surf Boutique, Xcel, Perfect Wave, Serenity Spa, Bullman Beach Inn, Agua Verde Cafe, Second Ascent,  DVS, North by Northwest Surf, Burley Girls, Zumiez, Fish Tale Organic Ales, Far North Surf and Sport, Whale Tails, Justin Myers Photography, Philippe Bishop Photography and others.  Thanks to all our sponsors and chapters for making this event such a huge success!

2008 Clean Water Classic division winners:

Best Wave –  Peter Hamilton

High Score Shortboard –       Peter Hamilton

High Score Longboard –        Kapono Nahina

Pro/Am –          

1st Noah Cohen

2nd Kirk Tice

3rd CC Unger

Master’s Shortboard –           

1st Perry Abedor

2nd Matt Loughran

3rd Nolan West

Women’s Shortboard -           

1st Leah Oke

2nd Annie Atkinson

3rd Anne Beasley

Men’s Longboard -

1st Kapono Nahina

2nd JP Canlis

3rd Andrew Cordeiro

Master’s Longboard-              

1st Kevin Todd

2nd Anthony Redpath

3rd Ben Cockcroft

Women’s Longboard -            

1st Monica Todd

2nd Leah Oke

3rd Annie Atkinson

Juniors -                                 

1st Kye Peladeau

2nd Ryan Gardner

3rd Chad Hoh

Stand-up Paddle -                     

1st JP Canlis

2nd Kevin Todd

3rd Peter Miller

Keiki (child) with Parent -                    

Isabella Martinez-Ybor

Noah Martin

Scarlett Redpath

Nicole Simpson

The Surfrider Foundation (Surfrider.org) is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches.  Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 50,000 members and 63 chapters across the United States and Puerto Rico, with international affiliates in Australia, Europe, Japan and Brazil. 

Questions? 

Event and logistical questions go to an event organizer at  pnwcleanwaterclassic@gmail.com

Media questions go to Pamela Clark at clark_pamela at yahoo.com

Sponsorship questions go to Adrian Nelson at adrian at slanted-media.com

2008 Results Press Release is here

Photos by Justin Myers