I went down to the point yesterday to hang and watch a surf event. It had to be one of the most refreshing surf events I’ve known about for a long time.

The event “1 fin 1 win” was promoted by Ventuckyco, Ventucky.com. @ventuckyco. And ran by my friend Vince Felix.  It was an invitational event so the entrants were selected and limited to 16 men,  16 women and 8 groms. Ok, that’s nothing real different, and that it was a longboard event, nothing different, only single fin longboards, a bit different, no leash… also different.

The heats were 20 min. so with out a leash if you fell and lost your board, had to swim to retrieve it then of course you loose some heat time. Also, the heats started on the beach, which meant that the paddle out took up part of your heat time.  How about this one.. speaking of no leash and falling, one of the rules was if you did fall and lost your board that particular ride was a no score. Imagine finding the best wave of your heat, pulling of great turns and cutbacks, long down the line nose ride and toward the end on the inside you turn back dig a rail fall and loose your board… no score.  

This was a total throw back event. Using your complete board with transition and flow,

style, power and complete rides including the kick out. Yeah, the kick out was once apart of your ride. In the old days never falling off your board… wipe out… was what you tried hard not to do. The good surfer just didn’t fall. And.. the good surfer passed on riding in the white water. If you determine that the wave you’re on is not make able or the section you’re coming to is not make able you’d kick out, always part of the ride. 

On a sunny spring day there were some good surfing in this event and there was some pretty clean surf. Nice longboarding waves at inside point. Happy and fun.

D.R.