Wishing For Waves Comes True

by Mr Christian on May 28, 2007

Story by Marc Angelillo
Photos by Claire Hassett

It was better than organizers could have scheduled or hoped for as the Ryan Roberts Memorial Surf Contest finally got underway on May 19th. After two rescheduled no wave weekends, it was like a dream come true when competition director Sid aka “The Package” Abruzzi dialed into some wave forecasting and made the call Friday night that the contest was on. The shop phones started ringing, the website hit counter started spinning and the Team at Elemental / Waterbrothers and Island Sports started putting their game jerseys on for this long awaited event.

Over 80 competitors and tons of spectators came from as far as Cape Cod, Block Island and numerous towns in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The call on the surf report was to potentially start heats at 8 am at Second Beach, but with such a large number of last minute sign ups it did not start until 10am. There was no rush to push through the contest as it was apparent waves were going to hold up all day. Surfers woke up to the reality that it was going to be some of the best surf conditions for competition they had seen in the last handful of years. Waves were charging-in with ripable faces in the 5 to 7 foot range all day. At periods and with a tidal surge, some heats even saw sweet 7 to 9 foot sets rolling in for the competitors to tear apart.

This event was A WISH COME TRUE Inc. collaboration with the owners of Elemental Surf & Skate / Waterbrothers and Island Sports, RI. There were also a number of major surf vendors, volunteers and community members coming together to honor and remember Ryan Roberts who passed away in 2000. Ryan was the tenth wish the organization provided (the first child on Aquidneck Island back in 1983). He and his family went to Disney World, a wish they will always remember and cherish!

A Wish Come True has helped over 1400 children receive a quality wish. A Wish Come True Inc., a local organization, has been fund raising and granting wishes for almost 25 years with the help of many committed volunteers from local towns and communities through dinner dances, boat cruises, golf tournaments, car club shows and now surf contests, too!

Ryan was an avid surfer in Newport RI. He loved being with his family and friends, who all showed up in his honor to make this event one of the more successful turnouts and fundraising efforts yet. The contest took a couple of months to organize and the day’s efforts raised over $5000 for another family to have their wish come true. A Wish Come True believes in the extraordinary power of “A WISH”. They believe that when medicine and magic work together miracles can happen. A wish can have the power to help a child rebound from a serious illness. Please take just a minute of your time to visit their web site www.awish.org to see how you can get involved. Remember, together we can all help make a difference for others.

The Ryan Roberts Memorial Surf Contest not only had unreal waves but heat after heat of performances and eliminations of some of the top local surfers in the area. The surfing level just kept getting raised heat after heat, advancing only the top 50% of competitors in either the 4 or 6 man heats. The playing field was wide open as the age categories were 18 and under and 18 and over in both longboard and shortboard. The display of surfing in both arenas and age categories were identified by the stoke of the crowds and the scoring from the judges with some insane rides. The heat of the day was the Men’s shortboard final and a boxing match of wave exchanges between Brian Burns, Dan Hassett and Mike Sweeney. These boys were on their game and put on a full show for the crowds and competitors alike.

The night wrapped up then for some and just got started for others at Easton’s Point Pub which is close by the surf shop that hosted the party. It was definitely flowing with people, energy and an on stage performance as the auction and raffle kicked in. Elemental Surf & Skate / Waterbrothers and Island Sports called on a few of their vendors to generously donate prizes for the crowds as most drooled over and bid on them. Some of the prizes that helped raise huge dollars for the organization and memorial included two surfboards, half a dozen wetsuits, gift certificates donated from local merchants and many other prizes to make the event as successful as it was.

Don’t forget to check out the host surf shops and their websites @ www.elementalsurfandskate.com or www.islandsports.com. Owners Simon and Exum promised this event will be back even stronger and bigger next year. A warm Mahalo to all of the competitors, volunteers, tabulators, judges, staff and participants who, with out their dedication of time and resources, this event would not have been possible. Thank you to everyone that participated in the event and contributed his or her time and energy. Congratulations to everyone who surfed the event and to the following finalists:

RYAN ROBERTS MEMORIAL SURF CONTEST – FINAL RESULTS
SECOND BEACH MIDDLETOWN RI – MAY 19, 2007

MEN’S
MEN’S SHORTBOARD – OVER 18

1. BRIAN BURNS
2. DAN HASSETT
3. MIKE SWEENEY
4. KIRK VIDOTTO
5. CHRIS PARKER
6. DEAN JENNINGS

MEN’S SHORTBOARD – UNDER 18

1. WELLS HOWE
2. DOUG STERNS
3. NEIL TORACINA
4. JACK GALVIN
5. JEREMIAH O’CONNOR
6. IAN KERR

MEN’S LONGBOARD – OVER 18

1. CHUCK BAREND
2. MARC ANGELILLO
3. MIGUEL ROMAN
4. KEVIN KIRBY
5. CHICK WEIGOLD
6. ERIC ANDERSON

MEN’S LONGBOARD – UNDER 18

1. CHRIS MCKENZIE

WOMEN’S
WOMEN’S SHORTBOARD – OVER 18

1. ANA BAREND
2. CHRISSY BARBARESS