Eight teams from the Northeast region showed up to duke it out in challenging knee-high conditions for 2017 Oakley Surf Shop Challenge at 16th Ave. in Belmar, NJ, Tuesday. Turning out to be a wave-catching contest, shops were making the most of the meager conditions while still throwing down some solid scores. When the dust settled, 7th Street Surf Shop surfaced with the win.
In Round One, Sam Hammer put Brave New World out to an early lead with a 9.27, but decided not to whammy, which looked to be costly with the inconsistent scoring potential. The seasoned local paddled back out and whammied an 8.5 to put his team through to the final, along with Heritage Sea Isle City, Heritage Margate and 7th Street Surf Shop.
Nate Garza of 7th Street Surf Shop opened up the scoring in the final with a 7.5. As if the conditions weren’t already challenging enough, the waves went limp nearing the low tide as the other teams were looking to put up scores. 7th Street combo’d the field as Rob Kelly whammied a 9.8 sealing the deal.
“We came back after a hiatus last year, the team changed due to two guys moving away, so we had to regroup and work a little harder,” said Rob Kelly of 7th Street. “It was Nate and Kevin’s first time competing in the Shop Challenge and they stepped up! Despite the waves being lackluster, when Nate dropped a 7.5 on the first wave of the final, we knew the rhythm was on our side. Everyone did their part and it worked out to take the win.”
The Oakley Surf Shop Challenge heads back to California for the Northwest Regional in Santa Cruz, Calif. on May 25-26th, 2017.
Results:
1st Place: 7th Street Surf Shop – 36.04 points
2nd Place: Brave New World – 16.92 points
3rd Place: Heritage Surf & Sport (Margate) – 15.15
4th Place: Heritage Surf & Sport (Sea Isle City) – 11.58
The 2017 Oakley Surf Shop Challenge Schedule:
· March 24 – Southwest – Seaside Reef, Cardiff, Calif. – SUN DIEGO
· April 6 – Southeast – Paradise Beach Park, Melbourne, Fla. – SUNRISE
· April 11 – Northeast – Casino Pier, Seaside Heights, NJ – 7TH STREET
· May 25/26 – Northwest – Pleasure Point, Santa Cruz, Calif.
· June 9 – West – 54th or 56th Street – Newport Beach, Calif.
· July 10/11 – Hawaii – Ala Moana Bowls, South Shore, Haw.
· August (TBD) – Mid-Atlantic – Nags Head, Outer Banks, NC
· Fall 2017 – National Championship – TBD
For all of the latest information including photos, video footage, results and more, check out surfshopchallenge.com.
Special thanks to Oakley, SURFER and event partners, FCS, Leus and Aluminati Skateboards for their support, without which the Surf Shop Challenge series would not be possible.
About Surf Shop Challenge
Originally conceived to provide a fun and competitive format for the hardcore surf shop riders, the SURFER Shop Team Challenge was one of the most popular and exciting Southern California contests of the early 1980s. Through the years the contest has evolved, with seven qualifying regional events around the country, culminating in a national championship in Bali, Indonesia for the first time in 2012. The underlying principles, however, have remained the same. The Oakley Surf Shop Challenge is still about giving back to the shops, the true backbone of the industry and the heart of the sport of surfing. Each year the competition level rises, the stakes become greater and the prizes become bigger.
About Oakley, Inc.
Established in 1975 and headquartered in Southern California, Oakley is one of the leading product design and sport performance brands in the world. The holder of more than 600 patents, Oakley is a culture of creators, inventors, idealists and scientists obsessed with using design and innovation to create products and experiences that inspire greatness. This philosophy has made Oakley one of the most iconic and inimitable brands on the market, with products that world-class athletes around the globe depend on to compete at the highest level possible. Oakley is known for its High Definition Optics®, which feature unparalleled optical clarity and precision along with impact resistance and UV protection, incorporated into all of the brand’s sun, prescription eyewear and premium goggles. Oakley extended its position as the world’s leading sports eyewear brand into apparel and accessories. Oakley has men’s and women’s product lines that appeal to Sports Performance, Active and Lifestyle consumers. Oakley is a subsidiary of Luxottica Group. Additional information is available at oakley.com.
About SURFER
In 1960, SURFER began as the original surf magazine. With a long history of delivering provocative and insightful editorial features, revealing interviews and award-winning, state-of-the-art photography, SURFER remains the authoritative voice of the surfing world and thus earned the moniker “the bible of the sport.” Through its website, social media channels, magazine, and television programming, SURFER continues to be the most current and reliable source of information to the surf community, reaching more than 22-million active sports enthusiasts. SURFER is published by TEN: The Enthusiast Network. To learn more, visit surfermag.com
About TEN: The Enthusiast Network
TEN: The Enthusiast Network is the world’s premier transmedia network of enthusiast brands, such as MOTOR TREND, AUTOMOBILE, HOT ROD, SURFER, TRANSWORLD SKATEBOARDING, and GRINDTV. With more than 60 websites, 50 publications, 50 annual events, the Motor Trend OnDemand subscription video-on-demand service, as well as the world’s largest automotive and action/adventure sports media platforms, TEN inspires enthusiasts to pursue their passions. For more information, visit enthusiastnetwork.com.
