Stoke-o-Rama a Success | San Clemente Times

Kei Kobayashi was the Stoke-o-Rama Boys 14U winner Saturday at T Street. Photo by Jack McDaniel

Noah Hohenester boosts a big air on his way winning the Boys 12U division at Stoke-o-Rama. Photo by Jack McDaniel

First ever contest run by the Gudauskas brothers raised both stoke and funds for a good cause

By Andrea Swayne

When Gudauskas brothers, Patrick, Dane and Tanner, set out to plan the first ever Stoke-o-Rama Surf Contest as part of the annual SC Open (surf and skate contests) they had no idea the event would bring so much good will and honest-to-goodness stoke to local groms, their families and to the organizers themselves.

?We were all pretty blown away at how many kids came down and stayed all day and how many families were there too,? said Tanner Gudauskas.

?I was so taken by the positive attitudes of the kids?win or lose. It seemed like everyone really got the spirit of Stoke-o-Rama and it was one of the best contests I?ve ever been to in terms of the positive energy in the contest area.?

Tanner went on to say that he and his brothers all feel very fortunate to have been a part of this event and hope to do it again.

The stoked groms on the beach?both competing and the audience?echoed the brothers? sentiments. And why wouldn?t they? With pros the likes of the G bros, Kelly Slater and Damien Hobgood putting on an inspired expression session and providing guest commentary, the event was like Wonderland in their eyes.

Tanner also reported being amazed at the level of skill he saw among the groms.

?The level of surfing was unbelievable?absolutely insane. I remember watching one heat in particular when Cole Houshmand and Gunner Day were just flying through the air. The kids? skill progression reinforces San Clemente?s reputation as being an epicenter for progressive surfing,? Tanner said.

?Seeing the 8 and Unders getting pushed into waves and then tearing it up was awesome too. The future of local surfing looks bright and the young local talent is increasing at a fast pace.?

The event raised $10,000 from sponsors, plus beach donations, to benefit the Friends of San Clemente Beaches Parks and Recreation Foundation.

RESULTS

BOYS 8U:

1. Brayden Burch

2. Dax McPhillips

3. Dane Matson

4. Bryce Pinkerton

5. Zeke Rose

6. Cameron Harrell

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BOYS 10U:

1. Kade Matson

2. Kai McPhillips

3. Jett Schilling

4. Hagen Johnson

5. Max Beach

6. Taj Lindblad

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BOYS 12U:

1. Noah Hohenester

2. Crosby Colapinto

3. Ryan Martin

4. Shane Hardy

5. Gunner Day

6. Curren Dand

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GIRLS 14U:

1. Malia Osterkamp

2. Alexxa Elseewi

3. Tera Richardson

4. Keili McEvilly

5. Issy Pajaro

6. Kirra Pinkerton

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BOYS 14U:

1. Kei Kobayashi

2. Connor Dand

3. Koltan Sullivan

4. Drew Hemnes

5. Nick Melanson

6. Jaren Harrell

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TIMMY DOWELL SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD:

Dane Glaze

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STOKE-O-RAMA AWARD:

Hallie Hemnes and Hunter Ulrich

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MIDGET SMITH MOST INSPIRATIONAL AWARD:

Zeke Rose

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Source: http://www.sanclementetimes.com/2012/09/19/stoke-o-rama-a-success/

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