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Jeremy Johnston wins Jupiter contest
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Jeremy Johnston at Jupiter photo by: MoondoggieSurfer
Jeremy Johnston, of New Smyrna Beach, Florida won the 2009 Jupiter Fall Classic Sunday, Nov.22, at Carlin Park in Jupiter, Florida. Johnston, 23, took the $2,500 first place prize by a narrow margin over fellow New Smyrnan, Aaron Cormican. In third place was Alek Parker, 24, the defending event champion, from Melbourne Beach, FL. Fourth place was Asher Nolan, of Jacksonville Beach,FL. Cormican received $1,200 in prize money, Parker - $600 and Nolan - $350.
Conditions for the two day event were marginal, although there was a two to three foot, northeast groundswell on offer. As Contest Director, Mike Bloom explained, “We’ve had good swell for almost two weeks, but unfortunately it has scoured all the sand away from this venue. It’s just a deep hole in the shorebreak.” Indeed, the returning competitors and judges from previous years were heard to remark that it looked like a completely different beach than 2008. Longtime local surfer and Judge, Bruce Burnstin pointed out the prominent rocks exposed in the shorebreak and said, “I’ve only seen those rocks a few times over my years.” Other surfers who were in the area for the weekend lamented that there were shoulder-high waves to be ridden only a few miles away at other spots, like Juno Pier. Unfortunately, the event permit did not allow organizers to move the location.
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Jeremy Johnston photo by: Mez/EasternSurf.com
In fairness, Carlin Park is usually a terrific venue for the tournament, now in it’s ninth year, evidenced by the fact that the Pro Mens division attracted a field of 64 contestants. Bloom and the other organizers can be congratulated for using what flexibility they had to juggle schedules and move the judges a short distance down the beach, to optimize the waves that were available.
The Jupiter Fall Classic also attracted a stellar field of eastern pros because it was the third jewel in a triple crown of 2009 East Coast events, called the Western Atlantic Surf Series, which offered a bonus prize of $5000 to the winner. That series was also originated this year by Mike Bloom, with three east Coast stops culminating in his hometown of Jupiter. It began in August at the 47th annual East Coast Surfing Championships in Virginia Beach, VA. The second event moved to Belmar NJ, for the Belmar Pro in September, and finished Sunday at Jupiter, where Nils Schweizer, of New Smyrna Beach was awarded the overall series championship based on his cumulative points for the three events. On hand to catch all the action was Josh and his staff from Moondoggie Surfer, who graciously provided the action photos.
Jeremy: winning moves photo by: MoondoggieSurfer
Despite the fact that he was out of the running for the Western Atlantic championship, Jeremy Johnston was excited by his win Sunday in Jupiter, which capped off a good year of competition for him in 2009. In addition to several finals appearances, including a second place at the afore-mentioned Belmar Pro, the Jupiter Classic was his second victory of the season, following his win at the UnSound Pro, in New York on September 29. Examiner caught up with Johnston at home in New Smyrna Beach, where he sounded poised to take on a new level of his surfing career.
Examiner: “You were able to accumulate a two wave total of 16.03 in the Final, so that last left, where you got the big hit in the shorebreak, was clearly the winning wave.” “Yeah, it was,” responded Johnston. “It was the best wave of the Final. I had to grovel a fair ways to get to the inside, but I was able to get projection on that last move. It felt really good.”
“This was my second win this year, and I made a few other finals, so I’m really stoked,” Johnston continued. “ I guess my favorite contest of the year was UnSound, since it was the second year in a row I’ve won that one. It’s been a good year. I traveled up the coast with Nils and Kyle Garson and that worked out real well. We share expenses and driving and they’re good guys to surf with. They’re also two of the nicest people you could hang out with, so it makes for a real positive vibe.”
On good surfboards:
“I’ve been trying boards from several different shapers, because I want to get my boards dialed in for next year, but all of them tend to be 6’0” by 18 5/8” by 2 5/16”. The one I rode today was an Al Merrick, that goes real well.”
Toughest opponent this year?
“ Hmmm, (long pause) there are a lot of tough guys, but right now I’d have to say Evan Geiselman. He’s so young (only sixteen) and he’s such a good competitor. He’s right there with (his older brother) Eric now. And we’re both goofy-footers, so we’re usually looking for the same waves in a heat.”
Plans for 2010?
“My main goal is to enter as many ASP WQS events as I can next year. I know it will take a couple of years to build up my seed, until I have the points to get into the five and six stars, but I finally feel ready to give it my best shot. I’ve been saving all my winnings, and I have a new sponsorship from DNA Energy Drink, so I’m ready to get out there and try it. At 23, I feel like it’s now or never, or I might as well get a “real job”. I’m just going to try it on my own. I don’t even have a manager, but I get such great support from my family and friends and the local community that I feel real confident. The last two years have been a fun journey and I’m ready to do it now. So I’m going for “the Grind” in 2010.”
Results of 2009 Jupiter Fall Classic:
Pro Men:
1st Jeremy Johnston $ 2500
2nd Aaron Cormican 1200
3rd Alek Parker 600
4th Asher Nolan 350
= 5th Ryan Helm 200
=5th Cheyne Cottrell 200
=7th Jensen Callaway 100
=7th Kyle Garson 100
Pro Women
1st Haley Watson $ 600
2nd Lauren McClean 300
3rd Amy Nicholl 200
4th Savannah Bradley 100
Pro Jr
1st Keto Burns $ 750
2nd Tanner Strohmenger 350
3rd Nathan Behl 200
4th Morgan Taylor-Leavel 150
Pro Longboard
1st Brian Bowen $ 600
2nd Justin Quintal 300
3rd Mike DeTemple 200
4th Cooper Brandt 100
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