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7th Annual Sisters of the Sea Surf Classic
By Randall "The Bruce" Bruce
The tandem action had the crowd stokedThis years Sisters of the Sea Surf Classic marked its 7th consecutive year since its inception in 1998. The contest was held on Saturday, September 3, 2005 in Jacksonville, Florida at Access 6 in Hanna Park. The conditions werent ideal, ranging from knee to waist high and choppy, but the weather was beautiful and the girls were stoked and ripping. Young (and I mean really young) and old alike came out to compete and support womens surfing in North Florida.
The 150 contestants battled it out in the shifty surf all day until the culmination of the final heats around 5:00pm. Some mentionable surfers included USA team member Amy Nicholl (New Smyrna Beach, FL) and former World Tour member Lisa Wakley (Navarre, FL) who both won their respective divisions.
A grom walks away with a new board she won in the raffleAs an added bonus for surfers and spectators, two unique divisions were also included: Co-ed Tandem and Twisted Sister divisions. Leading the Tandem charge was Kayla Durden & Mitch Kaufmann of Atlantic Beach, FL. Mitch is probably the most influential advocate of surfing in North Florida and has progressed the sport and its culture exponentially in this area. The Twisted Sister division was made up of a bunch of dudes in bikinis, lipstick and grass hula skirts that had the uncanny ability to throw buckets while still looking beautiful. On the beach there was also a frenzy of activity around the SG tent, which was commandeered by the beautiful Sharon Evans (St. Augustine, FL) and Paola Fadio(Argentina). These lovely ladies set-up shop with SG to hold raffle drawings throughout the day with all proceeds benefiting Bosom Buddies and Hurricane Katrina victims. The raffle prizing ranged from contest tees to custom boards by local shapers. All in all more than $1,000 was raised on the beach with another unspecified amount that was raised during the events after-party at the Twisted Sister restaurant.
Thanks to all you groms who hit me with Ping-Pong balls in the face. Overall, the event was a success not due to the conditions of the waves but because it brought together a whole community of surfers in a positive, fun and competitive environment. A big thanks to all the volunteers who helped make the event run so smoothly, especially Sabrah Witkamp and Jason Motes for their witty yet insightful commentary. Also, a big mahalo, pura vida, shout out (or whatever you want to call it) to Valerie Zevens (event director) for stepping it up and running a contest that embodies the true surfing spirit.
P.S. Dont go to The Ritz four nights in a row . . .just dont. 
Results From the 2005 Sisters of the Sea Surf Classic:
Whitewater Riders 10 & Under
1 Emily Ruppert Indialantic, FL
2 Shelby Williams Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
3 Samantha Gresham St. Augustine, FL
4 Hannah Claunch Cocoa Beach, FL
5 Malia Brytus Melbourne Beach, FL
6 Bailey Arrendale Jax Beach, FL
Whitewater Riders 11 13
1 Megan Mark Deland, FL
2 Allison Shemenksi Neptune Beach, FL
3 Kelly Oliver Tallahassee, FL
4 Dawson Pickett Atlantic Beach, FL
5 Alexis Howick St. Augustine, FL
Whitewater Riders 14 19
1 Jessie Jones Palmetto, FL
2 Alexandra Tison Jax Beach, FL
3 Krista Weber Jacksonville, FL
4 Annie DeGuzman Jacksonville, FL
5 Jocelyn Cole Orange Park, FL
6 Kaitlyn Shemenski Neptune Beach, FL
Whitewater Riders 20 & Over
1 Dawn Denoncourt St. Augustine, FL
2 Theresa Urban Jacksonville, FL
3 Laura Denoncourt Sarasota, FL
4 Ginger Mark Deland, FL
5 Carri Paquette Deland, FL
6 Maryanne Austin South Ponte Vedra, FL
Teenie Wahines (12 & Under) Shortboard
1 Kayla Durden Jax Beach, FL
2 Jasset Umbel Melbourne Beach, FL
3 Brie Sciales Wilmington, NC
4 Lauren Badenhoop Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
5 Alanna ORourke St. Augustine Beach, FL
6 Cassidy Almy-Ramos Jax Beach, FL
Gidgets (13 16) Shortboard
1 Amy Nicholl New Smyrna Beach, FL
2 Kayla Beckman Atlantic Beach, FL
3 Jessie Carnes Atlantic Beach, FL
4 Danielle Clow Edgewater, FL
5 Erika Badida St. Augustine, FL
6 Niki Spadaro Jacksonville, FL
Leilanis (17 25) Shortboard
1 Pualani Taylor St. Augustine Beach, FL
2 Ali Roberts Atlantic Beach, FL
3 Tiffany Layton Atlantic Beach, FL
4 Lauren Mos Ponte Vedra, FL
5 Ashley Francis Satellite Beach, FL
6 Sarah Taylor Edgewater, FL
Divas (26 35) Shortboard
1 Kerry Tustin St. Augustine, FL
2 Nicole DeVenoge Neptuen Beach, FL
3 Monica Dyer Cocoa Beach, FL
4 Lauren Makarov Ponte Vedra, FL
Sage Sisters (36 & Over) Shortboard
1 Valerie Rose St. Augustine, FL
2 Donna Musso - Stuart, FL
3 Tina Tyrone Gulf Breeze, FL
4 Melody DeCarlo Satellite Beach, FL
5 Samantha Seyda Jax Beach, FL
6 Ellen Taylor St. Augustine, FL
Leilanis (19 & Under) Longboard
1 Lauren Hill St. Augustine, FL
2 Ashley Francis Satellite Beach, FL
3 Kayla Beckman Atlantic Beach, FL
4 Jessie Carnes Atlantic Beach, FL
5 Susan Duggan Merritt Island, FL
6 Hadley Ferguson Fernandina Beach, FL
Divas (20 35) Longboard
1 Liz Colacino Folly Beach, SC
2 Charlotte Lombard Atlantic Beach, FL
3 Nicole DeVenoge Neptuen Beach, FL
4 Jennifer Willis Panama City, FL
5 Paula Williams Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Sage Sisters (36 & Over) Longboard
1 Lisa Wakley Navarre, FL
2 Melody DeCarlo Satellite Beach, FL
3 Tina Tyrone Gulf Breeze, FL
4 Linda ORourke St. Augustine, FL
5 Beth Masters St. Augustine, FL
6 Holly Noble Brunswick, GA
Tandem
1 Kayla Durden & Mitch Kaufmann Atlantic Beach, FL
2 Ericka Satterwhite & Jason Motes Atlantic Beach, FL
3 Kayla Beckman & Matt Dailey Atlantic Beach, FL
4 Malia Brytus & Paul Brytus Melbourne Beach, FL
5 Jessie Carnes & Joe Pulido Atlantic Beach, FL
6 Carla Stair & Taylor Stair Jacksonville, FL
7 Hanna Claunch & Ed Claunch Cocoa Beach, FL
Twisted Sisters
1 Joe Pulido Jax Beach, FL
2 Matt Dailey Atlantic Beach, FL
3 Weston Merkel Jax Beach, FL
4 Jason Motes Atlantic Beach, FL
5 Mitch Kaufmann Jax Beach, FL
6 Javier Fabrega Jax Beach, FL
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