On the Beach

Lucas getting ready for his heat with Coach Liz.

My problem with the ISF contest season this year is that the Middle School contest and High School contest are on the same weekend. This makes for a marathon session of two days at the beach watching. I bring my board, but usually am too swept away in the competition to surf. This week was complicated by my second bee sting in so many weeks. The doctor medicated me into some benadryl and pain pill stupor and I was ready for the end. Hence my reference to the 1959 movie On the Beach

Making matters a bit worse was the contest site at Ocean Beach 'Avalanche'. The water quality makes Cardiff at low tide seem like pure spring drinking water. This together with the 'dog beach' scene made an interesting mix of odors.



But enough about me. Here is the report. The waves were firing each morning a bit bigger on Saturday for the High School Contest. Then low tide came in the afternoon making for some pounding walled up waves. Lucas was 'one and done' eliminated after standing up after the horn. The good news is that he has made the A team, the bad news is that he has to surf as a freshman against the other A teams. Heavy competition but pretty exciting to watch the talent of the High School surfers.

Logan did well blasting his way through the first heat and getting eliminated before the semi's. He caught a bomb on the first wave of the contest in the first heat and rode it to the sand. He paid me back for all my whining over the weekend. My inner stage mother was quenched. There is something to learn form the experience. At this age the kids need to learn how to lose with grace and win with integrity.

Will I blow off the next contest and drop them off.......not a chance!