The 43rd annual Wavemasters Pro-Am, set for Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Jacksonville Beach Pier, has been the largest and most prestigious surfing event in Jacksonville for more than 40 years.
But that all changed this past weekend, when Justin Quintal pulled off the biggest surfing festival in Jacksonville history with the sixth annual Loggerhead Classic. A total of 130 of the world’s top longboarders, men and women, put on a display of surfing mastery over three days in large, perfect surf, the likes of which Jacksonville hasn’t seen in years.
Defending champion Saxon Wilson of Flagler County won the vintage division, which requires competitors to ride a board built in the 1960s. Sally Cohen won the women’s final, and Chase Leider won the men’s division.
A rogue storm from the north put an end to the flattest summer in history, delivering challenging surf the first day and building to the most perfect day you could ever ask for in time for Sunday’s finals.
Quintal, the contest director and creator, was the 2019 world longboard champion, with a competition record rivaled only by his friend Joel Tudor, who was also in attendance.
The opening night welcome party was held at Safe Harbor Seafood in Mayport, compliments of owner Chris Wooten. Wooten is a local surfing icon himself and was quite the competitor in his day on the Hixon Surf Shop team. Three nights of live music and festivities followed, with the awards ceremony held Sunday evening at Casa Marina before a sellout crowd.
The longboard competitors, ranging in age from their teens to late 20s, came from all over the world, including Hawaii, Costa Rica and Mexico, as well as up and down both coasts. The longboard crowd has a much different vibe than the pro shortboarders, who are much more competitive on land as well as in the water.
Today’s young longboard pros are more like a family, cheering each other on in the water and bonding on the beach. Quintal does a great job promoting that vibe and mentoring the next generation of surfers.
The Loggerhead Classic and Wavemasters share the same title sponsor, FaverGray Homes, a company made up of avid surfers that does a lot to promote the sport locally. And of course, Don Nicol of TacoLu is a big supporter of both events and all things surfing.
Next year will undoubtedly be bigger and better. Stay tuned!
