Surfers Square Off to Help Disabled Kids Ride Waves

They came, they saw, they surfed.

The winners of the annual Katin Surf Shop Seal Beach Surf Championship were announced this week. 

Hosted by the Seal Beach Life Guard Association, the event featured about eighty contestants in eight heats on Saturday and Sunday, according to event director Tim Senneff.

Scroll farther down for a full list of the winner.

The event concluded with an awards banquet Sunday evening at the Yucatan Grill, where organizers also raffled off five surfboards. The band Cali Conscious performed.

Marine Safety Chief Joe Bailey said the event went well despite some small waves. 

“We would have preferred to have better surf, but you know, we just haven’t had good surf all winter,” he said.

Bailey said they had “Good weather, good fun, (and) a lot of people out on the beach,” however.

“Everybody seemed to have a good time," he added.

The event was held in honor of Sean Collins. 

This year, the proceeds from the event will go to Walk on Water, a children’s charity that provides therapy to special needs children through surfing. 

Last year, the Seal Beach Life Guard Association raised $5,000 for the Seal Beach Victim’s Fund to help those who had lost loved ones in the mass shooting at the Salon Meritage in Seal Beach.

Last week,  about a month after officials had to cancel contest preparations after the forecasted swell fell apart.  

A number of organizations sponsored the event, including Body Glove, the Surfrider Foundation and the Yucatan Grill.  

For a full list of sponsors, scroll to the end of the story.

And now the winners (courtesy Tim Senneff)

Menehune (Co-ed, Ages 11 and Under )

1. Lucas Viljoen
2. Ethan Hurst
3. LLiam Bowman
4. Nate Thompson

Grom (Co-ed, Ages 12-14)

1. Jeremy Guilmette
2. Jon West
3. Sam Wickwire
4. Hunter Barrit

Junior (Co-ed, Ages 15-17)

1. Tyler Kileen
2. Trevor Barton
3. Hunter Barrit
4. Sam Wickwire

Womens Open

1. Connie Hurst
2. Gerrica Trias
3. Caroline Carpenter
4. Maddie Camargo

Seniors (Age 50 plus)

1. Rich Payne
2. Mark Burke
3. Doug Scott
4. Terry Carmadella

Masters Longboard (Ages 35-50)

1. Mike Herspalmer
2. Mark Burke
3. Russ Campbell
4. Cory Hobgood

Masters Shortboard (Ages 35-50)

1. Chas Wickwire
2. Mike Rielly
3. Sean Jarvis
4. Krister Erikson

Mens Longboard Open

1. TJ Riddings
2. Shane Pires
3. Shane Jones
4. Jeremy Guilmette

Mens Shortboard Open

1. Alex Gullett
2. Tyler Kileen
3. Justin Davis
4. Tim Senneff

Body Glove Best Trick

Alex Gullett

Event Sponsors

Katin Surf Shop, Harbour Surfboards, Inflight, Stamps Surfboards, Rich Payne Surfboards, Bettis Surfboards, Chas Surfboards, Body Glove wetsuits, Future fin system, Foam EZ, Califormulated, Captain Jacks, Surfrider Foundation, Yucatan Grill, Getto Juice magazine and Marina Family Medical Group

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