Flagler surfers contend at ESA championships

Palm Coast Observer
Sports

The following is adapted from a press release.

Out of the 200 surfers that took their boards to the Eastern Surfing Associations Regional Championship, 10 locals finished in the Top 5, earning significant hardware on Sunday, April 19, in Paradise Beach.

Ryan Conklin, 14, took the top spot in the Menehune longboard, the only first-place finisher from the area in the Menehune longboard. Conklin won on a board he shaped himself. He’s been shaping longboards, since he was 12 years old.

Locals Steve Tyson and Eric Worley battled in the Masters final, until Tyson edged Worley by a close margin.

In other action, Ryan Huckabee placed second in the Menehune finals, and Evan Tyson and Braeden Kopec took third and fifth, respectively, in their division. Patrick Conklin CJ Garren took third and fourth, respectively, in the junior men’s division, what many deemed as the most competitive division.

In girls’ action, former East Coast surfing Champion Haley Watson took home second in her division final, and Hannah Blevins got fifth place in the 14U girls final. Hannah Blevins and Olivia Beaven finished in second and third in the Junior Longboard finals.

Ryan Conklin will be a top qualifier from the ESA St. Augustine Region with a division invite to compete at the Eastern Surfing Association's nationals in September, along with other finalists, in North Carolina.