Sports
1st Elemental Longboard Jam Offers Wave of Support to Homeless Animals
See the contest winners here. One of the best surf days this summer turned out good swells, big crowds, and many local surf competitors for the first annual Longboard Jam fundraiser to benefit the Potter League for Animals.
Katie Egan surely had a good day Sunday, as it turned out to be a perfect Aquidneck Island summer beach day for surfers and Elemental Surf & Skate's mission to raise money for the Potter League for Animals generated about $1,500. It also helped that with the downgraded Hurricane Danielle about a thousand miles off the coast—enough to be helpful, not hazardous—good and steady two- to three-foot waves persisted all day for the First Annual Longboard Surf Jam.
The event turned out a good crowd of onlookers too, as the beach was packed with surfers and beach-goers all day. With non-competing local surfers also turning out in droves for the promise of good waves along the 2nd beach surf end, the waves were crowded for sure, but local surfers were perfectly hospitable for the event, graciously sharing.
Sunday's event was sponsored by Elemental Surf & Skate as the 1st Annual Longboard Jam to benefit the Potter League for Animals, Aquidneck Island's only animal shelter that houses more than 120 homeless, discarded and lost dogs, cats, and small domestic mammals, birds, and reptiles.
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Egan, who works at Elemental Surf & Skate, organized the fundraiser and selected the Potter League as the beneficiary.
"I decided to plan this contest to pacify the masses," said Egan, explaining how many locals consider the local surf as "mediocre" so encourages long-boarding, however there are few such contests. "There is a huge group of long boarders on the island who do not get the chance to compete in a classic long contest."
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Egan credited Island Elements owner Symon Cousens for suggesting the Potter League for the recipient of contest proceeds while brainstorming a few weeks ago.
"I immediately fell in love with the idea," said Egan. "I am obsessed with dogs...I have my Boston Terrier tattooed on my inner arm. My friends often joke that the day Louie passes away will be quite apocalyptic."
Both Elemental and Island Elements are both very animal-friendly, Egan added.
"When a beautiful, well-behaved pup comes in (to the store) to visit, I am never surprised to learn that the pooch came from the Potter League. The decision to choose the Potter League was a no-brainer. Unfortunately, one can not always trust charities to put the money where it is supposed to go. But with the Potter League, we know the money will go where it intended, to the animals!"
More than 50 surfers participated and jammers each donated $20 to enter the contest, with some donating extra to the cause.
Participants were reported as:
Zach O'Connor, Matt Alotsm, Abby Byrne, Josiah Lax, Jake Case, Jiro Kenworthy, David Boeline, Tom L. Cox, Dereh P. Richards, Azatha Perkins, Ted Fontaine, Liam & J.P, Jay Sponseller, Joe Walsh, John Skutnik, Gregg Person, Jerry Woodmorse, Rodney Dubay, Justin Speeghe, Mr. Mackenzie, Migel Aree, Tony, Jake Caoe, Dave Livingsoon, Pete Razza, Ken Dollashian, Ted Fontaine, Tom Vars, Ken Cellings, Agatha Perkins, Gail Kotowski, Greg Person, James Mackenzie, Gavin Mogley, Chris Mackenzie, Mark M. Naykens, Giuseppe Scnolioriui, J. Sibya, Mig A. Rel, Cheyne Cousins, M. Cellings, Ashley Walsh, Caroline Synatt, Emma Speigle, Amy Nuytkens, Mark Nuytkens, Jeremiah O'Connor, Brian Henriyce, Kai Dolbnshina, Elissa Wall, Lisa Hernak, Ali Dutra, and Katie Egan also took part.
The four judges on hand were Chris Synnott of Middletown, Jay Sibya of Newport, and two young judges, Gavin Megley and James Mackenzie, both from Middletown.
Each heat lasted 20 minutes. No DQ's were allowed and a scoring system was based on a 1-6 scale. Contestants could achieve a "6" for touch nose walking, a catch wave turn manuever, and for finishing off the wave.
Prizes to the top performers included packages of gear, surfwear and equipment donated from event sponsors, including: Elemental Surf & Skate, Quicksilver, Quicksilver Edition, Roxy, Smith Sunglasses, and Sector 9 Skateboards.
