The 8th annual Clean Water Classic surf contest was held May 15- 17, 2009 in Westport, Washington.

The 8th annual Clean Water Classic surf contest, organized and put on by volunteers from the Pacific Northwest chapters of Surfrider Foundation, is a major fundraising event for local chapters of Surfrider Foundation.  The chapters span from southern Oregon to British Columbia.  The Classic attracted over 1000 spectators and nearly 150 contestants in the only Pro/Am contest held in the region. “Our volunteers and sponsors work hard to put this event on every year and it represents one of the biggest fundraising opportunities and membership drives”, says Charlie Plybon, Oregon Field Coordinator for Surfrider Foundation. “All of the proceeds are split evenly amongst participating chapters in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia to provide crucial funding to Surfrider Foundation initiatives at the local chapter level. Campaigns such as Portland’s Ban the Bag Campaign, Seattle’s Green Bag Campaign, and various outreach efforts and ongoing water quality testing by all Pacific Northwest Chapters help raise awareness of our ocean’s health and the need to protect and preserve it,” adds Shannon Serrano, Washington Field Coordinator.

On Saturday May 16, the first heats started at 7:00 AM at the jetty in Westhaven State Park, Washington. The heats concluded at 3 PM on Sunday, May 17, and the day included a great beach cleanup.  Over the course of Saturday and Sunday, 50 heats were run in 15 minute heats. Six competitors per heat was the norm on Saturday, with the semi finals and finals on Sunday drawing between two and four competitors per heat. Surfers put on their best for judges with quality waves and excellent surf and weather conditions particularly in the mornings and early afternoons.  Participating surfers traveled from California, Hawaii, British Columbia, Oregon, and Washington. 

Title sponsor Global Surf Industries (GSI) President Mark Kelly remarked on this year’s event: “Once again Westport, Surfrider Foundation and all the surfers of the PNW have demonstrated our mantra Life is Better When You Surf. The stoke on display this weekend was sensational, only 52 weeks until next year’s event!”

On Saturday night, event sponsors combined forces to provide a great surf theme party at the Chateau Westport, a Platinum sponsor and host for the event’s volunteers and competitors. Over 450 people danced and mingled to the sounds of Slacktide Soul, while each of the Surfrider chapters hosted display tables in the Chateau’s lobby to educate competitors, partygoers and event spectators on their local issues, campaigns and programs. 

The weekend’s turnout packed Westport hotels and lodging, and brought a new curve to surfing through GSI’s official launch of their wild new surfboard design, The Meyerhoffer. From the wide tail through a minimal waist and into a more classic nose, the design brings short board elements into a longer board. “As a designer I believe in the proportions of nature. If you change a shape in one direction the flow on effect undoubtedly changes it in the other," said Thomas Meyerhoffer who attended the event.

The event would not have been such a huge success without the amazing support of all our sponsors which are too numerous to list. Some of our biggest supporters this year were: Global Surf Industries, Chateau Westport, Pacific NW Judges, Kona Brewing, Barefoot Wine, Surf Shop, Steepwater Surf Shop, Spencer Reynolds Art, Precision Shapes Northwest, The Islander, Sportsman’s Chalet, Analog, 104.7 FM, 1490 AM, 107.7 FM, and many more. Thanks to all our sponsors and chapters for making this event such a huge success. 

For event photos please visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/38505479@N02. 

2009 Clean Water Classic division winners:

GSI Board –  Matt Spencer

High Score Shortboard –       Perry Abedor

High Score Longboard –        JP Canlis

Pro/Am –          

1st Robin Johnston

2nd Logan Garrett

3rd Janek Peladeau

Master’s Shortboard –           

1st Perry Abedor

2nd Geth Noble

3rd Mike Tuel

Women’s Shortboard -           

1st Leah Oke

2nd Meira Dinsmore

3rd Cristen Don

Men’s Longboard -

1st JP Canlis

2nd Bryan Torian

3rd Nathan Osborne

Master’s Longboard-              

1st Jon Tipple

2nd Peter Cochran

3rd Mike Tuel

Women’s Longboard -            

1st Annie Atkinson

2nd Cristen Don

3rd Sasha Medlen

Juniors -                                 

1st Janek Peladeau

2nd Simon Bauer

3rd Frazer Mayor

Stand-up Paddle -                     

1st Robin Johnston

2nd Kapono Nahina

3rd Ken Wilson

Keiki (child) with Parent -                    

Isabella Martinez-Ybor

Noah Martin

Scarlett Redpath

Trevor Tice

The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches.  Now in its 25th  year, the Surfrider Foundation has grown from a small group of dedicated surfers in Malibu, California to a global movement made up of over 50,000 members and 90 chapters worldwide. For more information visit us at Surfrider.org .

Questions? 

Event and logistical questions go to an event organizer at  pnwcleanwaterclassic@gmail.com

Media questions go to Pamela Clark at clark_pamela at yahoo.com

Sponsorship questions go to Adrian Nelson at adrian at slanted-media.com

2009 Results Press Release is here: 2009 Clean Water Classic results.pdf

Website by Pamela Clark of One Wahine