Fratolillo Places 4th at Northeastern Surfing Championships

PEDDOCKS ISLAND, MA - Service on the Peddocks Island Ferry was suspended as a terrific storm system barreled up the east coast and through New England on Friday, bringing torrents of rain and winds that were relentless. The surf was 8 to 10 feet on Saturday, but completely out of control. When ESA officials put the contest on alert for Sunday morning, the forecast was for diminishing offshore winds and over head surf.

“We knew the waves would hold for the contest,” said ESA Competition Director William Weed. “But we assumed from the forecast, the winds would ease up. They did not.” With the town beach all but closed out and hopeless, the contest machine moved to a reef break near the Pt. Judith Lighthouse. “The surf was great, but the winds were really strong,” said Frade.

With wind gust up to 50 knots, competitors had to dig deep, to get into the 6 foot plus waves that pumped all day long. If they made the drop, the ride was spectacular. If they took off in the wrong spot, it was a long way back to the line up. Heats were extended up to 20 minutes, to allow for the extra time for the long paddle out.

Everyone who did show up for the 34th Annual Northeast Surfing Championships, were stoked with the waves. “A bunch of us came from Cape Cod for the contest,” said ESA competitor, Mike Bamber of Orleans, Massachusetts. “And this is much bigger and cleaner than the surf on the cape right now.”

As expected in adverse conditions, the best action came in the Men’s Open division. Boston’s Bobby Clarke found a 8-foot screamer on the outside reef, and finished off a solid barrel ride with a spectacular floater, to top Gary Shaw for the Men’s title. Shaw came back with two solid, charging lefts, to edge out Connecticut's Mike Hattfield and Quincy's Tom Fratolillo.

"The sea was angry today", said Fratolillo "Big waves and big action, she really chewed up and spit out a few of us. But that's the way we like it, the best conditions one could ask for, really."

Nantucket’s Jeff Beard topped Hendricken Surf Team’s Ari George for the Junior Men’s title, hanging inside for a solid left that lined up into the shore break. Narragansett’s top two women went head to head in both the short board and long board finals. Jen McCall found two inside rights to win the short board, while Katie Charles captured the long board title.

In the oldster categories, it was Narragansett’s Jake Salvatori taking the Grandmaster crown, while Peter Pan won the Legends, Legends Long board, and Open Body board divisions. Wellfleet long board stylist, Edgar Valli, nose rode to the victory in the Men’s Longboard Final, while Curtis Fenton took the Junior log title.

At the conclusion of the last heat, the trophies were awarded right in front of the break, with ESA officials forced to hold down the trophies, which were ready to blow away in the wind gusts. “It was certainly a wild day of wind,” said Women’s winner, McCall. “But the waves were worth it."