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Wrap up: The 2012 Quiksilver Rincon Classic was held under sunny skies, with breezy conditions on Saturday and Sunday February 11 & 12 at the Queen of the coast. The trigger was pulled for the fourth waiting weekend after our official forecasters at Surfline predicted highly contestable chest high to overhead waves.

Community watching the show Photo: Caligiuri

For the twelfth straight year Surf Happens Surfing School produced the event for the local community, and the level of surfing was the highest that it has EVER been, featuring 3 time world champion, Tom Curren, former World Tour stand outs Bobby Martinez and Dane Reynolds, underground hero Pete Mussio, up and coming Parker Coffin, Adam Virs, 2011 champ Mike McCabe and a host of other local professionals.

  The level was amazing to watch in all divisions with the little guys putting on a clinic as well. Contest director Chris Keet called the event, “Classic squared” to describe the storybook finish and went on to note the event as being one part community, and one part waves. For all those on hand, the 2012 Rincon Classic will be remembered by the surfers who participated, and how they made the most out of not so perfect Rincon.

270 competitors from the Gremlins (11 and under), all the way to the Legends (55+) divisions surfed in what was to become a

Bobby Martinez throwing buckets Photo: Billgren

storybook event. The entire cobblestone point was lined with family members, friends, and spectators eager to catch a glimpse of their favorite locals and pros going berserk in heats.

Preliminary rounds featured heavy match ups, the most incredible of which was a close fought battle between Dane Reynolds and Tom Curren. Both surfers put on dazzling displays of their abilities, but it was the 3 time world champion that took the win with a blistering series of forehand blasts. He was riding on a 4’11” board that looked like it should have had a kite attached.

 Dane Reynolds Wins His First Contest Since 2001!

Dane Reynolds wins Pro & Red Bull Air Show Photo: Shafer

The pro finals was a nail biter with Bobby Martinez holding the lead heading into the final minute, Pete Mussio in second, Reynolds in 3^rd, and Coffin in fourth. Bobby had played an amazing game, caught the best waves, and detonated his lethal backhand attack into a series of turns that netted him a 9.0 and 8.80. Mussio had clawed his way up into second with a few solid turns and a massive air reverse. Reynolds was not to be outdone and was sitting on an 8.67, requiring a 9.23 to take the win. 30 seconds on the clock Dane caught an inside wedge chip and pumped down the line punting a huge stale fish to net a 9.5 as the horn blew. The beach exploded and everyone had to wait until the awards ceremony later that night at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum to find out the results.

Dane humbly took the microphone while smiling broadly and stated, “This is my first win since 2001, and that is a long time for someone who is professional.” He received a standing ovation by all those on hand before pulling the winning raffle ticket for the lucky winner of his signed signature model surfboard by Channel Islands, the Neck Beard. Winner Christopher Imperato is the happiest grom in Santa Barbara right now.

Boelsterli wins unprecedented 8^th consecutive womens title!

A great time was had by all with competitors shredding in all divisions. Highlights included Demi Boelsterli posting the events

Demi Boelsterli, 8x Women's champ. Photo: Shafer

only perfect 10 for a huge layback snap in the hook enroute to her unprecedented 8^th straight womens title. Eithan Osborne was surfing like a “manimal” posting huge scores with precise, explosive surfing to take the Gremlins division title over Tommy Mckeown. Mckeown posted the highest score of the division on day one and is one to watch in the future.

The boys division was won by Mickey Clarke who proved that he is truly the prince of the Queen. His polished and powerful style suited the Rincon walls perfectly. His winning wave in the final featured one of the best turns of the event with a huge blow tail off the close out that was reminiscent of Reynolds and netted a 9.17. Runner up Jason Knell was putting on a backside clinic, linking together swooping cutbacks and vertical lip blasts enroute to his second place finish.

Junior's runner-up Decker McAllister, shack time. Photo: Dubock

Juniors champ Charlie Fawcett dominated the field and was one of the stand out surfers of the event. Fawcett turned up the heat with full rail cutbacks and buttery style to take the win. Runner up Decker McAllister had been on a rampage and fell just short in the final.

The Mens division was won by an in form Nate Winkles who put on a power surfing clinic clinching the title with huge cutties, and vertical lippers. Winkles dedicated his win to his best friend, the late Brandon Yates who passed away in 2004 and then promptly gave his brand new Channel Islands Surfboard he won to a grom in the front row. Legend. The 2004 Mens champ Justin Paul, nearly took the win with his final wave,   ripping the tar out of it all the way down the point in the dying seconds but falling just short.

The Masters top two surfers was a repeat of the 1990 boys final with Vince Perry and Gabe Venturelli trading blows. Perry took the title convincingly by squaring off the bottom on his backside and blasting straight up through the lip. Venturelli settled for second with uber smooth power surfing. They will be battling it out until they are legends!

Grand Masterswinner Brett Jordan took his first title since 2008 and was surfing like a kid, putting 100% commitment into his turns and throwing buckets of spray to defeat an in form Tony DeGroot. DeGroot posted one of the highest point totals of the event 17.17 in his semi final, but fell just short in the final.

Tom Curren defeated Dane Reynolds in the opening round Photo: Billgren

Donnie Campbell cemented the win in the Legends, playing a game of cat and mouse with the Queen. Sitting in 4^th place for most of the heat, with only one wave ridden, Campbell found what he was looking for with 3 minutes left on the clock, hitting the lip at 12:00, repeatedly on what was the biggest set wave of the final, netting an 8.17 for the win.

Mesa grommette Jessee Ransone won her first Wahine final with great wave selection, Solid turns, and her powerful skate like style, reminiscient of a young Lakey Peterson. Ransone kicked off the final with an 8.17 and quickly followed up with a back up of a 4.67. 2^nd place finisher Abbey Browne nabbed the second highest score of the final, a 5.83, which brought her within striking distance, but time ran out before the wave came.

Gremlins runner up Tommy McKeown with smooth style. Photo: Shafer

Longboard winner Robert Curtis is more known for boosting airs, and pulling into deep tubes, but in recent years has been putting in a little time on the nose of his longboard. Curtis, the 2011 reigning champ found his rhythm mid heat, but with time winding down was short of a second wave. One minute remained when an inside chip doubled up right to him offering a bowl section, and open face to carve the turkey, and a close out lip to Blast giving him the win. J.P “Performance” Garcia was on fire the entire event, blending old school style, cross step to hang five combos, and powerful cutties to garner great scores, but fell short to deteriorating conditions and in an form Robert Curtis in the final.

On the nonprofit side, community efforts raised $4,000.00 for the Surf Happens Foundation’s Camp Healing Wave funding a free surf camp for youth cancer survivors June 11-15, 2012 at Santa Claus Lane. A portion of proceeds is also being donated to First Descents to support young adult cancer survivors. Special thanks to all of our event sponsors, staff, the Rincon homeowners, and the local community, for the support to make this event possible.

Official Results: 

Gremlins (11 & under)

1. Eithan Osborne                         16.06

2. Tommy Mckeown                     13.60

3. Jake Quittner                              7.17

4. Ryder Alves                                  6.66

5. Zane Booth                                   6.33

6. Aden Capps                                  5.00

Boys (12-14)

1. Mickey Clarke                              17.00

2. Jason Knell                                  14.10

3. Eric Ronning                                10.43

4. Decker McAllister                        9.53

5. Peter Healey                                  5.50

Juniors (15-17)

1. Charlie Fawcett                              13.76

2. Decker McAllister                         10.33

3. Christopher Imperato                  8.87

4. Dryden Brown                                6.87

5. Frank Curren                                  6.70

6. Beau Clark                                      4.84

Wahine (17 & under)

1. Jessee Ransone                          12.84

2. Abby Browne                               10.16

3. Poppy Brittingham                     4.80

4. Zoe Luna                                       4.74

5. Alanna Moore                              3.74

6. Olivia Siemens                             3.63

Longboard Open (all ages)

1. Robert Curtis                               12.77

2. J.P Garcia                                    9.40

3. Evan Trauntvein                        8.87

4. Danny Bralver                            6.90

5. Brad Frohling                             6.74

6. Dave Johnson                            6.73

Masters (35-44)

1. Vince Perry                                 14.50

2. Gabe Venturelli                         13.34

3. Greg Venable                              11.37

4. Kas Alves                                     10.60

5. Max Cail                                       9.84

6. Jason Smith                                 4.90

Grand Masters (45-54)

1. Brett Jordan                               15.57

2. Tony Degroot                            13.60

3. Tony Luna                                  12.17

4. Chuck Graham                           10.47

5. James McClintock                     6.30

6. Dave Johnson                             6.07

Legends (55 +)

1. Don Campbell                           11.67

2. Kit Cossart                                  9.63

3. Dave Johnson                            8.43

4. Danny Bralver                             6.07

5. Andy Neumann                          5.60

6. Frank Morales                            4.63

Womens

1. Demi Boelsterli                           18.17

2. Aubrey Faulk Luyendyk            9.57

3. Michelle Perry                             5.36

4. Meghan Frontino                        5.14

5. Lisa Wynn Luna                          2.70

6. Olivia Siemens                              1.90

Mens (18 +)

1. Nate Winkles                                13.94

2. Justin Paul                                    13.56

3. Dennis Rizzo                                13.40

4. Gave Venturelli                             12.76

5. Sean Lesh                                       10.64

6. Thiago Portes                                 7.60

Professional Division

1. Dane Reynolds                               18.17

2. Bobby Martinez                              17.80

3. Pete Mussio                                      13.60

4. Parke Coffin                                     11.17

Stats after 63 heats

Total of 1431 waves surfed

Best Waves:

1. Demi Boelsterli                        10.00

2. Mike McCabe                            9.67

3. Dane Reynolds                         9.63

4. Dane Reynolds                          9.5

5. Mickey Clarke                            9.17

6. Chuck Graham                           9.17

7. Tony DeGroot                             9.17

8. Tom Curren                                 9.10

9. Adam Virs                                    9.00

10. Dane Reynolds                        9.00

11. Bobby Martinez                        9.00

Best Average Heat Points

1. Dane Reynolds                           18.17

2. Bobby Martinez                          17.80

3. Tony DeGroot                              17.17

4. Tom Curren                                   17.10

5. Mickey Clarke                               17.00

6. Bobby Martinez                            16.73

7. Mike McCabe                                16.67

8. Nate Winkles                                16.60

9. Chuck Graham                             16.34

10. Dane Reynolds                            16.13

Red Bull Airshow:

Dane Reynolds                             9.5 (Stalefish)

Expression Session:

Tom Curren

Pat Curren

Davey Smith

Brandon Smith

Lisa Anderson

Chris Brown

Dane Reynolds

Jonathon Warren

Demi Boelsterli

Jesse Bilauer

Keith Malloy

Josh Bradbury

Check out the live action from this years competition. All finals & highlights filmed & edited by Josh Pomer.

Pro Finals on Demand

Mens Finals On Demand

Woman Finals On Demand

Boys Finals on Demand

Gremlins Finals on Demand

Wahine Finals On Demand

Juniors Finals On Demand

Masters Finals on Demand

Longboard Finals on Demand

Legends Finals on Demand

Dane Reynolds Red Bull Air Show on Demand

Tom Curren VS Dane Reynolds On Demand

Heats On Demand film & Editing by Josh Pomer

The Red Bull Airshow ran throughout the entire event. Every score for completed airs counted towards the overall winner. The winning air by Dane Reynolds was a super clean stalefish. Dane received a custom RC 12 drum trophy and a ride in the Red Bull flip helicopter. Guaranteed he’ll be flipping out! Till next year..

WINNERS:

Thank you for your support!

Surf Happens Hat & Stickers-Mike Harnish, James McClintock, Craig Hendren, Erich Herbst, Cayden Quittner, Tad Danlike, Peter Bunning, Jake Quittner, Ron Knowles, Rachel Quittner, Jason Campbell, Paul Panossian, Peter Bonning

Quiksilver Hat & Stickers-David Girard, Travis Quittner, Bromi Krock

Roxy Beanie-Kim Ladelpha Tocco, Stacey Fell

Quiksilver Towel , Hat, Caribbean Coffee-Kevin Keating

Teva Shoes-Heather Briggs

Quiksilver Backpack & Hat-Rick Hogue

Indo Training Board-Scott Brittingham

Quiksilver Tide Watch-Don Cambell

Arbor Skateboard-Patrick Shauer

Custom Lisa Anderson Roxy Wetsuit-Scott Brittingham

Custom Channel Islands Surfboard-Rick Hogue

In an effort to spread awareness, we have partnered with area nonprofits to help educate the public on simple solutions to pollution, and ways to get involved in grass roots activism.  Look for Green Booths from the Surf Happens Foundation, Surfers Without Borders, Surfrider, and The Quiksilver Foundation, and participate in our daily beach clean ups!

Green Tips

• Bring your re-usable mug for coffee, and drink tin for water
• Dispose of waste and recyclables in proper containers-compost/recycling/landfill
• Carpool to the contest
• Participate in our daily beach clean ups to keep RC12 pristine.
• Ride your bike to the contest
• Use designated restrooms
• Stay off of the natural foliage
• Keep dogs on leashes, and clean up after your pet.