Top surfers heading to Hampton Beach
May 07, 2007 6:00 AM
If you live on the Seacoast, you know of "The Wall." It's that spot at Hampton Beach where folks go to walk their pet of preference, jog or get a little sun. But for surfers around New England, it's a prime locale to catch waves.
The portion of The Wall near 10th Street will be busier than usual this weekend, when the Eastern Surfing Association will host its annual Northeast Regional Championships. Surfers young and experienced — anybody who rips it up well into middle age and beyond cannot be referred to as old — will strut their stuff from Friday through Sunday.
For those unaware, this event is a big deal for competitive surfers.
"You have to compete in this event to get to the Easterns and Nationals," said Kevin Grondin, a Hampton resident, six-time U.S. surfing champion and one of the event's coordinators. "It's the only road through."
More than 350 surfers from the Seacoast and beyond are looking to take that road, which first stops at Eastern Surfing Championships at Cape Hatteras, S.C., in September, and then at the Nationals in "Surf City," Huntington Beach, Calif., in October.
There are also regional competitions in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, and the top competitors from the three earn invitations to the Easterns.
"(Hampton) is the smallest regional of the three, but no less for talent," wrote ESA Competition Director Brian Broom last week via e-mail.
From the youth divisions through the Grandmasters and Legends, some of the Seacoast's best surfing talent will be vying for that trip south.
Among the young talent competing will be Jesse Gould, 14, of North Hampton, and Mitch Repucci, 15, of York Beach, Maine. Hampton residents Kody Grondin (Kevin's son), 14, and Max Fatello, 15, are also in the mix.
Fellow Hampton resident Kyle Linseman, 17, is also among the top-tier locals competing. Linseman is the son of former NHL great Ken "The Rat" Linseman, who is no stranger to the surfboard himself.
In the men's division, Casey Lockwood, 20, of Rye, whom Kevin Grondin referred to as "one of the stars of the crowd," is among the favorites. Garrett Krapf, 20, of Hampton, and Lars Jacobson, 19, also accomplished surfers, will be there as well.
ESA Northern New England District Director Lenny Nichols, 51, is pleased so many young surfers from this area are sticking with the sport and trying to establish themselves in ESA competition. Having lived in Hawaii prior to moving to Hampton in 2000, Nichols knows the difference between heavenly surfing and, well, Seacoast surfing.
"It has its moments here, but it's not as consistent, not as powerful," Nichols said. "You've got to love it to do it here."
The competition isn't limited to men, either. Among the top women's surfers competing from the Seacoast are Hampton residents Leah Grondin, 16 (also Kevin's child), Nohea Nichols, 20, Julia Nichols, 19, and Jill Caisey, 42. Nohea and Julia are daughters of Lenny Nichols, who will be competing with Kevin Grondin, 50, in the Grandmasters Division.
Further instilling the concept of a family event, Nichols has two other children, 7-year-old Kainalu, and 11-year-old Hokulani, competing for a grand total of five Nichols family members participating in the competition.
The elder Grondin's involvement, meanwhile, is quite a coup for the ESA, as aside from the six U.S. championships he is also a 10-time East Coast champ and coached the U.S. National Surfing Team from 1996 to 2004.
But he isn't competing to add to his trophy case. Grondin thrives on helping young surfers in any way he can.
"It's something where, hey, I'm hanging around, so I might as well do it," he said with a laugh. "Really, it's all for relaxation and enjoying health and life. I play chief coach and bottle washer at the event, whatever they need me to do."
It is that type of unselfish attitude Grondin hopes to impress upon the next generation of surfers in the area. Here's guessing it will help.
Find out for yourself this weekend at The Wall. You know where it is.
For more information on the Eastern Surfing Association or this weekend's competition at Hampton Beach, visit www.surfesa.org.
Mike Sullivan is a Herald columnist. He can be reached at mikesully3234@yahoo.com
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