Cold isn't really an adequate word to describe the conditions at the
2008 Ho Ho Surf Off held at North Side Indian River Inlet last Saturday,
December 13th. With stiff northwest winds and temperatures in the morning at
the freezing mark and barely topping out at a high of 40 during the day,
area surfers quickly realized that staying warm was going to have to be a
major part of their competitive strategy. Thankfully, the Delaware Park
Service arranged an exception to their normal beach policy and allowed a
bonfire for the shivering, wet contestants to warm up around in between
heats.

As the final contest of the 2008 season, there was plenty of excitement
as Travis Knight and Dillon Harrington were neck and neck coming in to the
wire for the free ticket to the 2009 Regionals next Spring in Puerto Rico,
sponsored by Studio S. While a half a dozen competitors were within striking
distance of claiming Open division champion, as the season drew to a close,
less than 50 points separated Knight and Harrington.

Both surfers possess a small wave mastery which served them well in the
waist high, but somewhat inconsistent surf. But when the final buzzer went
off, the lanky goofy foot Travis Knight had tail whipped his way to victory.
However, at only 16 years of age, Dillon will undoubtedly continue to be a
force to be reckoned with in the years to come as he matures.

Ponzetti's Pizza once again supplied the fuel to keep the surfers going
throughout the grueling day. And for those hard core contestants that were
willing to brave the elements, the Ho Ho provided a fitting conclusion to
another great ESA season and a final chance to shore up those all important
point totals before qualifying for next year's Regionals.

For more information about the Delmarva District of the Eastern Surfing
Association go to DelmarvaESA.org or call the toll-free contest info
line at 1-888-632-4742.
    

The full results for the 2008 Ho Ho Surf Off are as follows:
OPEN SHORTBOARD
1. Travis Knight
2. Dillon Harrington
3. Chris Makibbin
4. Avery Sieg
5. Roy Harrell
6. Jamie Crosby

MENEHUNE SHORTBOARD
1. Shane Moore
2. Jack Fager
3. Simon Hetrick

BOYS SHORTBOARD
1. Brad Flora
2. Avery Sieg
3. Cody Michael
4. Seth Conboy
5. Dallas Harrington
6. Trevor Hanley

JR MEN SHORTBOARD
1. Dillon Harrington
2. Jamie Crosby
3. Matt Reinhardt
4. Shawn Woolyhan

MENS SHORTBOARD
1. Travis Knight
2. Waldon Remington
3. Roy Harrell
4. Dane Woolyhan

MASTERS SHORTBOARD
1. Chris MAkibbin
2. Jack Thomas

SR MENS SHORTBOARD
1. Craig Garfield

JR WOMANS SHORTBOARD
1. Rachel Harrell
2. Kelly Powell
3. Jenna Landon

WOMANS SHORTBOARD
1. Kelsey Willison

MENEHUNE LONGBOARD
1. Robert Fernandez

MENS LONGBOARD
1. Chris Makibbin

MASTERS LONGBOARD
1. Craig Garfield

WOMENS LONGBOARD
1. Chelsea Remines

OPEN BODYBOARD
1. Craig Chatterton

MENEHUNE BODYBOARD
1. Bradey Cooling

The Eastern Surfing Association (ESA), founded in 1967, a non-profit, IRS
tax-exempt corporation, is the largest surfing organization in the world
with more than 11,000 members. It is dedicated to the sport of surfing, to
the operation of a program of competition for surfers of all ages and
abilities, and to the establishment and preservation of public access to a
clean shoreline and ocean environment. The association's activities are
organized in a total of twenty-seven districts, which extend along nearly
2,000 miles of coastline, stretching from Maine through the Gulf Coast of
Florida and Alabama and also including the Great Lakes and Puerto Rico. The
Delmarva District currently has more than 550 active members and is operated
by a non-paid, all volunteer staff. Visit the Delmarva ESA on-line at
DelmarvaESA.org.