- April 20, 2024
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Tommy Grooms places first in the men's shortboard division. Photos by Michele Meyers
Boys U15 participants: Torrey Medina Jr., 1st place; Victor Martinez, 4th place and Dononvan Vanek, 3rd place.
Beautiful day to fish at the Ponce Inlet Jetty.
Busy day at the Ponce Inlet Jetty.
Victor Martinez, Donovan Vanek and Torrey Medina Jr. goof around before the competition.
Ariel Dixon gets help hooking the bait from her dad Mark Dixon.
The 11th-annual May Day Surf Memorial took place at the Ponce Inlet Jetty.
Event announcer Travis Ajay.
Sage Jagocki and mom Katie.
Eli Jagocki rides his board in as his mom Katie cheers.
Minnow surfer Knox Marks is totally focused.
Moms and dads get ready to take their minnow surfers out on the waves.
Lucas Neal grins for the camera.
Minnow surfer Helen Chibbaro.
Tanner Brasol catches a wave as Victor Martinez joins him.
Penelope Mcdonald walks out of the ocean after placing 3rd in the girls' U15 division.
Kora Passarelli wins girls' U15 division.
Candice Griffin hits the waves.
Tommy Grooms places first in the men's shortboard division.
Open men's shortboard competitor Christian Schwarz.
Open men's shortboard and pro men's division 3rd place winner Dustin Richardson.
Marie Neal concentrates on painting the competitor awards.
Victoria Marks, sister to the #2 ranked surfer in the world Caroline Marks, laughs with buddy Kingston Wong.
Surf moms get ready to head out.
Event creator Haley Stephens.
For the first time in the tournament's 11 years, the Ponce Inlet jetty was home to the May Day Memorial Surf Classic, which took place on Saturday, May 8.
Flagler Beach had always been the location of the event, but the lure of Ponce’s high performance waves and the organizational logistics brought about a change of venue for the event that brings awareness to heart health.
Haley Stephens, the event creator, was 14 when her mother died of heart disease at the age of 48. Stephens’ mom, Dollie Sue Watson, was an intensive care unit nurse at the Halifax Health Medical Center and had suffered her first heart attack in 1998 at the age of 20. Stephens, at age 18, was still mourning the loss of her mom when she started the competition.
“I knew I could either feel sorry for myself or I could make a difference, and I wanted to make a difference,” Stephens said. “So that was the start of the surf competition. It has turned into this celebration of life and love and community and togetherness, celebrating not only my mom but all of our moms.”
Stephens said that it was an accident that the surf classic fell on Mother’s Day weekend. She had lost track of the day throughout the years and picked the second weekend in May for her first surf memorial, which ended up being Mother’s Day weekend.
“Without moms, there would be no groms,” event announcer Travis Ajay said. “I have been doing this event for all 11 years and announcing for about 20. I helped Haley get it started. She’s my best friend.”
A total of 106 competitors, increased sponsorship and a whopping $8,586 in fundraising to be donated directly to the Halifax Health Foundation in memory of Dollie Sue Watson were this year’s record breaking numbers in comparison to the event’s previous 10 years. The proceeds are earmarked for the Center for Cardiology.
Professional surfers were sprinkled among the locals competing at the surf classic. Model and “Baywatch” actor Eros Exarhou placed first in the mens pro division while teenager Delaney Spruill placed first in the womens’ pro division. Stephens is also a professional surfer, but she is mom to 2-year-old Mason and went out with the surf moms. Last September, she placed first in the women’s shortboard division at the ESA Easterns Surfing Championships.
“I hope that one day, if Mason would like to surf, I will support him,” Stephens said. “But my reason behind continuing with competitive surfing is to set a positive example for Mason to never give up doing what you enjoy doing and always try your best.”
