- April 25, 2024
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Aaron Cornican competed in the mens pro, heat 5, Saturday, Oct. 31. Photos by Anastasia Pagello
Tommy Tant's family continues to celebrate and remember his life with the love and support of the community every year . Pictured: Tom, Barbara and Will Tant
Nikita Pandelos competed in the mens pro, heat 3, Saturday, Oct. 31.
Corey Howell competed in the mens pro, heat 5, Saturday, Oct. 31.
Flagler Beach crammed with onlookers during the two-day surf competition.
Cameron Alvarez competed in the boys 18-U, heat 2.
Dustin Richardson competed in the mens pro, heat 3, Saturday, Oct. 31.
The Tommy Tant Memorial Surf Classic had over 250 competitors this year.
Chauncey Robinson shows off some incredible moves to impress the judges.
Surfers prepare themselves for their turn to shred some waves.
Chauncey Robinson competed in the mens pro, heat 4, Saturday, Oct. 31.
Nathan Colburn competed in mens pro, heat 4, Saturday, Oct. 31.
Talk of ending the Tommy Tant Memorial Surf Classic has been put at rest for the moment. Mother and father of Tommy, Tom and Barbara Tant, have been handed the responsibility of directing the event for the years to come, with the loving support of the community. Their son, Will, was the previous event director and is starting a fresh chapter in his life by continuing his education at Oxford University in England.
“The community has asked us to continue the event,” Barbara Tant said. “So with the love and support of the community the event will go on again next year. When you look around, and see the energy from the crowd how can anyone not feel the love? You can see this event is not ordinary, this is amazing.” Barbara said as she raised her arms gesturing at the beach crowded with surfers and bystanders.
“Tommy was always very humble and considered himself a free surfer,” Tommy’s brother, Will Tant said. “We grew up surfing this wave every day, he enjoyed the comradery of being at the beach just hanging with his friends.” Will recognizes that although the event is a surf competition, the real focus is to bring together the community and to memorialize his brother who died at the young age of 24.
The Tommy Tant Memorial has donated $20,000, within the last three years, to the Marfan Foundation to continue research on Marfan syndrome and related disorders. Tommy died suddenly as a result to a familial aortic aneurysm, a condition that is related to Marfan syndrome. The aneurysm was a result of a swollen artery that takes blood away from the heart. This syndrome is a life-threatening genetic disorder that can be diagnosed early if signs are recognized. The Tant’s were unaware of his condition. After losing Tommy, the family was advised to take precautionary health evaluations. Will and Barbara were found to have the same condition and were also diagnosed. Each underwent an open-heart surgery to intervene the possibility of an aneurysm.
The Tant family channeled their grief from losing Tommy into creating an amazing and well-loved community event.
“It probably would have been a natural tendency for my parents and I to become recluses after losing Tommy,” Will said. “Instead we found strength within the community and so much more was accomplished.” The event has produced an opportunity to help others. Every year the Tommy Tant Memorial Scholarship Fund gives on average $7,500 in scholarships to local students. Proceeds also go to benefit the Flagler County Food Bank.
Visit tommytant.com to get involved and for a list of the 2015 surf competition winners.
