surfresearch.com.au  joey cabell, mahaka, 1963

In 1973, Bob McTavish recalled:
Cabell really impressed some with his opposite approach (to that of Phil Edwards).
His thing was to stuff himself into (the) curl at every opportunity, foresaking almost anything to do it, then dress up the situation with a noseride if possible.
This meant the wave became everything, every nuance and change in the rate of peel had to be answered.
He rode high, swooping out of the top to accelerate, trimming it through, then stepping up to hold it back in there as long as he could.
This approach captured the imagination of those that had the nice waves to work on, so up at Noosa it got going, with (Bob) Cooper, Russell Hughes, Algie Grud, myself, Kevin Platt, making the boards to suit at Hayden's (Surfboards).
...
Shorter, 9'- 9' 6" fuller throughout, thin rails, finer.
Cabell's model made at McDonagh's was the forerunner.
The Hayden boards soon took on in Sydney, Brian Morris and Bondi guys took to them.

- Bob McTavish : Pods for Primates - a personal history of surfboard design Part 1.
Tracks  March 1973,  reprinted in The Best of Tracks (1973).

Articles
Bob Richardson and John Severson: Santa Cruz, includes map reprinted from "the old Surfer Quarterly", page 14-19.
Also two photographs of Jim Foley
Fred van Dyke: Time Machine, (visit to new Zealand), pages 27-33.
John Severson: The Big Surf (interview on the past Ohau winter), pages 45-53.
Bev Morgan: Surfing Behind Boats, pages 56-61.
John Severson: Contest- United States Invitational, Oceanside, pages 62-63.

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JOEY CABELL THE NEW CHAMPION HIS VIEWS ON THE SURFING WORLD - HIS STRATEGY- HIS LIFE Duke Kahanamoku, former Olympic Swimming champion and pioneer of modern day surfing, was on hand to congratulate Joey Cabell, the new MakahaChampion. Photo by Mac Maki.

When and where did you start surfing?

I started surfing in Hawaii - the Waiiki Beach area - at the age of seven.
This was 18 years ago.
I spent my early years riding Queens and Canoes ourf in Waikiki Beach with Hawaiian stylists like Squirrelly, Richard Kao, "Rabbit" Kekai, "Dickey Boy" Abbey, Bobby Daniels, Alan Gomes, and many others.
These were some of the great surfers of that time.
I spent most of my hours of each summer day surfing and for spending money I would shine hoes and make coconut hats and sell them to the tourists.
The quality of surfing during those days was tops.
The surfers were setting the pace to be followed in California and Australia.

What type of board were you riding then?

The redwood board and the hollow addleboard were the most popular at that time - this was during the late frties.
I started surfing on a hollow board, then switched to a redwood plank - a hot curl plank.
I surfed until the age of 11 that board, then switched to a balsa board with a fin.

Where did you get this board?

It was made out of old Army liferaft balsa wood.
Somebody picked up the wood in the Waikiki area - this was before any of the light balsa wood was brought over to Hawaii.

Was there any one surfer who you looked up to or kind of idolized at that time?

Yes.
Rabbit Kekai, undoubtedly.
Rabbit helped me a lot and after I had been surfing for a year or two, it was Rabbit who did take me under his ring and took me on trips with him - when I got a little older he took me to Makaha.
I spent a lot of time lith Rabbit when I was younger.
When I was growing up and going through school I surfed most of the spots on Oahu and Maui in both big and small surf.
After I graduated from high school I spent four years attending college in Southern California.

What college?

Orange Coast College.
Being in Laguna Beach, it was so convenient to continue surfing - which I did.
I surfed during that time most of the popular spots in Mexico and California.
After college I started spending my winters in Aspen, Colorado, which is a ski area, and my summers in Hawaii.

How did you get interested in skiing?

There was a group of surfers from Laguna Beach, including Bobby Patterson, Mickey Munoz, and a number of others.
My first year in California !thse fellows started my interest by telling me of their experiences at Alta, rtah,
Three or four years later I went there for the first time.
That's where my skiing interest started.

What's your present occupation?

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I became interested in the restaurant business in Hawaii and decided to open my own steak house.
In 1962, with my good friend Buzzy Tent, we opened a steak house in Aspen, Colorado, called the Chart House.
Buzz and I and another partner, Pete Siracusa, just recently opened up Chart House number two in Newport Beach.
A night business of this nature leaves many pleasurable hours to surfing and skiing.
My future plans will be to continue along the same lines and perhaps open Chart House number three.

Does the fact that you and your partners surf create any problems in the business when the surf is up?

No, when we're all working together, each person has his own responsibility and we believe that business comes first.
The morning hours are free to surf if we so desire.

Did you find that surfing came easy in your youth or did you have to develop your co-ordination and wave-riding ability over a long period of time?

Surfing did come easy to me, but only because of hours put into practice in the sport?

Do you feel that you are gifted in co-ordination - having what it takes to ride waves as far as balance and judgment?

I feel that I was gifted in co-ordination, but co-ordination without practice will not do it.
You have to have both, I think.

Do you think surfing is a hard sport for the average person to learn?

Yes, surfing is extremely hard for beginners.
The beginning surfer has to learn how to paddle a surfboard, he has to learn how to catch a wave, and then how to turn on the wave.
It takes so much time for a beginner to learn this - mainly just to get organized.

Do you think it's worthwhile for a beginner?

Yes, it's worthwhile.
I think it might be a very difficult sport to learn, but once you pass a certain stage of accomplishment, it can be very rewarding and pleasurable.

What does surfing mean to you at this time?
Surfing is still my favorite sport.
I can remember a day surfing at Trestle alone as the sun went down.
You know, it leaves memories I'll never forget- kind of a personal satisfaction.

Can you describe that day?

It was a very hot day in the fall.
I remember the heat spell.
There was no surf anywhere on the coast- mean it looked that way as we drove up and down, but Trestle had maybe a three-foot wave and there was no one out; it was hot and there was a slight offshore wind.
The surf was so small and quite glassy, even though there was a slight wind - the waves were just perfect.
There was no one there to even share the experience with, but, it was so perfect that it's something that I won't forget.

Did you at one time in your life ever think that there was nothing else but surfing?

I think I can honestly say that I went through a stage were surfing seemed to mean everything.
I would say that maybe at the age where nothing material seems to matter - the age of 9, 10, and 11 - surfing did mean everything to me.
That probably explains the fact that I could put hour after hour in the water- many times eight hours in the water without even coming out for lunch - without feeling guilty abqut it.
As I became older and as I started high school I began to realIze that there is so much more - there's so much more than spending eight hours a day in the water surfing.
Surfing is my sport, not my whole life.

How did you find surfing affected your schooling?

I think I missed maybe two or three days out of three years of high school - one or two days I might have surfed - a couple of other times I was sick.

What advice would you give to young surfers who are students regarding how surfing affects their school work?

School is obviously the most important of the two.
It shouldn't be overlooked.
There will always be a wave to enjoy.

Do you feel that you will ever become too old to surf?

Yes, but I plan to enjoy surfing for many years to come.

What was the biggest thrill for you in surfing?

My first experience surfing the point surf at Makaha - surf around 20 feet.
I was only 15 years old then and I can still remember and picture the sets looking like mountains on the horizon.
Looking at the horizon was like looking at the mountains back of Makaha.

Did you ride these waves?

Yes, I did ride - I paddled out and I can remember this experience paddling out with Walt Hoffman and both of us not making it over a set.
I lost my board, but went out again and did catch two waves.
It was quite exciting and obviously satisfying.

What kind of surfboard do you use?

I use a Hobie surfboard and the one that I have been using has been a nine foot ten inch board, 22 inches wide, and 25 pounds light.

You use the same board in all sizes of surf, whereas other people use different boards for different sizes.
What is your feeling on this?

A small-wave poard is obviously best in small surf.
Why wouldn't it be good in most large surf?
I believe this to be true - at least for me.
I find that small-wave boards paddle well, pick up waves easily, are safer for late take-offs, turn with control from the middle of the board, are easier to prone out, and easier to surf in most big waves except where there are long lines and you need a fast board to make it.
I think the trend is going toward a board that is light and easy to maneuver- away from the big gun.
A lot of surfers are using light boards now at Banzai and Sunset.
I find that a wave can be worked over quite a bit more by using a small wave board and unless it's very large, you can get more enjoyment out of the small board and it is safer to ride.

You ride one board in all sizes of surf.
Do you look on surfing as iust one sport-the sport of surfing-or do you look on it as divided-big surf riding and small surf riding?

No.
I think to be a well-rounded surfer you have to surf not only big

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surf, but small surf, and I think you should be able to surf all sizes equally well to be considered a top surfer.
Take for example ski competItion.
The best skier is the skier who can ski all events well.

Would you say then this takes a little away from California contests where most of them are run in small beach break?

No, but that's just one facet of it.
Versatility isn't entering into the contest.
Each contest speaks for itself.
It's just one day - one event.

What are your favorite surfing spots in Hawaii?

Sunset Beach, Haleiwa, Pupukea, Waimea Bay, Makaha, Ala Moana, Queens, and Number Three in Waikiki.

How about California?

I like Trestles, St. Ann's, Hammond's Reef, Rincon, the Point Conception area, Church and Windansea.

Do you think the up-and-coming young surfers will develop into better surfers than we are today?

Yes.
Competition among surfers is keener all the time and as in any sport, competition drives athletes towards higher and higher goals.

What do you think of marriage and do you have any plans in that direction?

I think that marriage is the divine relationship between two people, you know, but I don't have any plans at the moment.

Do you think public opinion is changing about surfing?

Yes, mainiy it has been accepted at least in California as the up-and- coming sport that is becoming very popular throughout the United States.
Beaches being closed and other clamp downs by city councils are going to make the young people straighten out and eventually make surfing a better sport; The young people are the ones who control the sport and set the standards in surfing.
Their good conduct will insure a future for the sport.

How long do you plan to continue in competiton?

As long as I can - as long as I'm able to compete successfully.

If Australia invites you to compete in their World Championships, would you go there?

Yes, and I'm looking forward to it.
I  think that international contests with international judges would be great, you know, but there might be a problem of getting people to go to these things - unless the countries subsidized it.

What do you think of the Australian surfers and their wave-riding ability?

I think the quality of the Australian surfers that I have seen is excellent and guys like Midget and Gnat Young are equal to some of the best in California.

Do you have any comments on how the Makaha Contest was run?

I do.
After the contest I was quite concerned about how fair it was in the eyes of the people who saw it- younger kids who were on the beach and watched it -and some of the older fellows who witnessed the event.
It seemed to be the unanimous decision that it was fair and that I did win it and that some of the guys that were supposed to come in second didn't really do as well as they thought they did.
I think the contest was run very well.
It was put on and continued and all with consistent surf.
It's hard to put on a contest of this size with maybe 300 entries and run it as smoothly as it was run this year.
The judging seemed to be quite fair - when you're dealing with opinion; I think it's very hard to satisfy everyone.

What did you think your chances of winning the Makaha Contest were when you first went over?

I thought I had about as fair of a chance as anyone else.

Did you work out a strategy- a plan in the way you were going to ride?

Yes.
First I caught three waves in the bowl itself.
I wanted to guarantee myself three rides in the part of the wave that was biggest and safest to ride.
In the bowl you can get the highest wave and probably get out of it clean, those were insurance waves.
I caught three waves there and then I went

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to the point and caught every wave from the point to the beach.
I went as far over as I could and then I went as far as I could across the wave and to the beach.
I figured that 75 percent of the time you don't make waves from the point, so I tried to surf as far over - which gets you points for being over and then gives you points to pass the middle, then to pass the bowl, then to the beach.
I wanted to get a combination of all those points and I wanted to pick the largest waves so I would have plenty of time after I caught three waves in the bowl.
I tried to make the waves on the point as critical as I could and then I'd work the wave as much as I could, up and down and back and forth, figuring on not making it, but on performance.

Were you surprised when you were announced fhe winner or did you think you were in the running?

I thought I had as good a chance as the rest of them.
I figured I could have won it.

Has the Makaha Contest affected your life?

The Makaha Championships brought back memories of my first and biggest thrill - my experience in the big surf.
Winning the contest hasn't particularly affected my life except for perhaps some personal recognition that I achieved here in Aspen or wherever I've been after the contest.

Do you think contests could be improved as far as judging, rules, and so forth?

Yes, I think in time they're going to get better and be improved upon.

Do you think surfing will ever make the Olympics?

I think there might be a possibility there, but I think it would take quite a bit of promotion to do this.
I think as more countries become involved in the sport there might be a chance for surfing to get into the Olympics, but I would imagine that it would have to be quite popular before this happened.

Most of the contest winners are younger.
Do you think that a competitive-minded surfer is usually over the hill when he reaches his twenties?
Why aren't the older surfers winning?

Here's what I think about it.
I think ability speaks for itself, but as a rule, most surfers that perform are younger.
They have the time to put into it.
Once they get good, they have the time to maintain their ability.
When a surfer gets older, he doesn't have the time to put into the sport, but you can't take away his experience.
I think a surfer with the years of experience has the ability to win the contest if he could just put the time into the sport.

Why did you pass by the recent U. S. Invitational held in Oceanside?

It's just too much, you know.
To enter Oceanside, I would have to come down a couple of weeks in advance to get in shape for it.
Right now I can't take that much time off from business.

What do you think of the gremmie problem and which way do you think it's going?

I haven't spent that much time around the beaches recently, but the feeling I had the last time I was aware was that it wasn't as bad - it obviously isn't as bad as it was several years ago.
I think maybe a lot of kids are realizing that surfing spots potentially can be closed - have been closed - and will be closed.
This straightens most of them out or at least it gives them something to think about, anyway. (the end)

Just off Lighthouse Point, the Santa Cruz surfers tackle some of tbe biggest waves that hit the California coast.
The name of  this break, Steamer Lane, carries with it an image of big spooky waves in a cold, gloomy setting.
During the past winter the surf came up so big that no one would go out for about two weeks.
Several of the accompanying photos of Steamer Lane were taken on the smallest day when a few did venture out.
Photographer Bob Richardson recalls a 20-foot-plus day at the Lane when "Rod Lunquist took otf on a wave that was already inside-out.
He dropped in as the tunnel threw completely over him.
He disappeared and we thought that he'd been wiped-out.
Amazingly, he came through the front of the tunnel and then went on to make the wave.
That same day Jack O'Neill got off on an 18-foot wave and did three flips down the face.
It was the closest call he ever had."

Although Steamer Lane takes a south swell, it's at its best when the big north to west swells are running.
It's often peaky, but occasionally gets a good line-up.
On bigger days ofteft there is no shoulder on the right and the left slide is best anq extremely fast.
During the summer months and south swells the take-off point moves over towards the cliffs, creating a right slide point surf, one of the best Steamer Lane breaks.

Although the weather is often gloomy, Santa Cruz has many fine days with perfect conditions.
The points and contours of the coastline receive both north and south swells and the surfers aren't limited to Steamer Lane.
There are plenty of medium and small wave spots.

From north to south, checking out the Santa Cruz surf spots, one would stop first at Stockton Street.
Not too consistent, with rocks in the middle of the curl, Stockton Street occasionally, has an excellent top-to- bottom tube right slide between two and six feet.
Just south of Stockton is Mitchell's Cove, a hazardous surf spot because of rocks and the remains of an old wharf.
The fast break and hazardous conditions find this area

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recommended only for the most experienced surfers.

Moving south on West Cliff Drive, you would next encounter Steamer Lane and, just inside of Steamer, Cowell's, a popular beginners' surf.
It ranges from mushy to well-formed little curls.
The beach break at Cowell's and next to the pier sometimes produces a hot little curl which is not recommended for beginners. Across town on East Cliff Drive is the popular Rivermouth break, at its best after a wet winter builds up a sand bar at the mouth of the San Lorenzo River.
This is one of the best-formed waves in the area and very fast.

The 25th or 26th Avenue break and Little Windansea are both best at low tides and surfable the year round.
They're both fast with 25th Avenue a right slide usually, while Little Windansea is a fast left, quite popular with the body surfers.

One of the most popular spots is Pleasure Point, best in the summer with the south swell.
The Point itself is fast and unpredictable.
The area immediately in front of the Point is called Outside Pleasure and usually has a good long line up.
Inside Pleasure, good for beginners and intermediate surfers, is far more popular.
Just around a small point, the Wild Hook offers a: fast right slide.

Surfing has become increasingly popular in Santa Cruz durIng the last few years and there has been increasing trouble with would-be surfers who have come close to getting the beaches closed down.
Most of the trouble has been caused by non-surfers, ho-dads and kooks, unable to get attention with their wave-riding abilities.

In contrast to these trouble-makers, Santa Cruz has many outstanding surfers who are comparable to the best of any area.
Gene Hall rides all sizes of surf, executes tremendous bottom turns, and does a lot of nose work.
He hot-dogs big waves extremely well.
Gary Venturini likes all sizes of surf.
He rarely wears a wet suit, even in the mid-winter freeze-out when the water temperature is as low as 48 degrees.
His favorite spot is Stockton Avenue when the surf is extremely hollow.
Joe "Moon Mouse" Woods is the hottest goofy- footer in the area.
Jim Foley stands out as one of the top performers for his fancy hot-dogging on his small board.
Ironman Rod Lunquist, of course, thrives on the big surf at Steamer Lane.
Several years ago Lunquist made a trip to the Islands and the big surf.
He found the whole situation pretty tame and the water unbearably warm.
The End

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[Photographs] Rod Lunquist, Steamer Lane. Mike Winterburn, bottom turn, Steamer Lane. Jim Foley, Steamer Lane. Don Golden, Steamer Lane. [left] Don Hansen, Rockview Street, Pleasure Point. Jim Foley, Pleasure Point. [below] Dick Keating, Steamer Lane. Waing in the kelp at the "Lane."  Bob Biddle, Rivermouth, Dave Allen photo.

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CONTEST-The Inside Story- UNlTED STATES INVITATIONAL
byJohn Severson, U.S Invitational Judge
photos by Bev Morgan

There was a meeting of talent, waves, and offshore winds at Oceanside Pier February 22 and 23 in what was described by some as the finest surfing contest to be held on the California coast.
The successful U. S. Invitational was highlighted by Sunday morning's Junior Finals featuring the top riding of the contest.
Mark Martinson, riding out of Long Beach, put on a dtsplay that earned him not only the Junior Championship, but a free round-trip to Hawaii as the outstanding rider of the contest.
The other talent-packed divisions saw Rick Irons edge out Little John Richards in the Men's Division, Linda Benson sweep the Women's event and Mike Doyle and Linda Merrill easily capture the Tandem Contest.

The major disappointment in the contest was the fact that the heats were not held one against one- double elimination as originally planned.
The thinking was split on this particular method of judging and at the last minute, because of a lack of organization, the judges reverted back to the original style of single elimiqation.
However, it remains that the Oceanside Contest,. as an Invitational, is a first and definitely proved to be a more interesting contest in that it virtually started with the semi- finals.
The cream of California and Hawaii surfers were there- and every rider was capable of winning.
The heats were not crowded and in most cases the riders were allowed enough time to prove their ability.

In the Junior Men's Division, Corky Carroll and Mark Martinson emerged victorious in the first heat, barely edging out Tom Leonardo from Huntington Beach.
The second heat was easily determined with Mark Hammond and Danny Lenahan winning.
Picking the winner of the third Junior heat was no problem:  Shawn Claffey of Santa Barbara outclassed his competitors.
However, it was close between John Klose and Jackie Baxter from Venice. Klose was given the nod for second in his heat.
Steve Dabney and Bruce Wood, both of Palos Verdes, made the semi-finals from the final Junior heat.
In the semi-finals it was Corky Carroll and Shawn Claffey showing the class and edging out Bruce Wood and Seal Beach's Danny Lenahan.
In the other semi-final heat Martinson and Dabney left no doubt in the judges' minds and were selected over Klose and Hammond.
By the time the Junior finals rolled around Sunday morning a full-on Santana wind was blowing and the surf was a consistent two-to- four feet. The four finalists were Corky Carroll, Steve Dabney, Mark Martinson, and Shawn Claffey.
It was here that Martinson took command of the situation with several phenomenal curl rides, excellent nose work, and championship control. Corky Carroll was having bad luck with his wave selection and time after time ended up with a soup ride.
However, Corky does things in the soup that most surfers couldn't do on dry land.
During this time Steve Dabney was pecking away, getting ride after ride, good position, although nothing quite as outstanding as Martinson. Early in the heat Shawn Claffey came through with a couple of excellent rides, but wasn't able to follow it up with enough to put him in the running. As time was running out, the judges took a quick poll and it was Martinson, a strong first place, with Dabney in second, and Corky close behind in third.
Corky upset this immediately with a beautiful nose ride and some good wave positions.
The time was up.
It was unanimous that Martinson had won the event.
In fact, with his rides he probably would have won any heat on either day.
Picking second place was a problem.
The judges, Phil Edwards, Don Hansen, Jim Graham, Henry Ford, Hobie Alter, and myself, could not decide between Carroll and Dabney.
As much as we disliked the idea of a tie, we finally gave into it and placed both Corky Carroll and Steve Dabney in second place -tied.

We were not judging on the best three waves or best six waves or distance ridden, but the overall performance, the surfer who rode the best over a given period of time.
In several cases we took into consideration aggressiveness and most waves.
This was only where we felt two riders had shown equal ability, but one had been more aggressive and had ridden more waves.
The contest was not scored on a point system, but was judged on a panel discussion method.
To keep track of waves ridden, wipe-outs, and mistakes, I personally used a plus-minus system.
I find it much simpler than a one to ten system where your values may change from heat to heat and rider to rider.
Some judges get so involved in scoring by the numbers they often times miss a good ride.
With my system an outstanding ride gets a bigger plus: poor judgment or an unnecessary wipe-out would get a minus.
A good ride, nothing outstanding, gets a small plus.

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Thus I am able to keep track of the number of rides, the number of mistakes, who got the best waves, and put this together with my overall feeling of the heat and then make a decision on the placement.

In the Women's Division a problem arose in the very first heat.
Nancy Nelson seemed to be ahead with Margo Scotton and Candy Calhoun both looking good.
Candy was more consistent and rode more waves.
Margo did more on the waves she rode.
Our decision went to Scotton over Calhoun because we felt that her ability outweighed Candy's aggressiveness and consistency.
Joyce Hoffman and Robin Calhoun easily won the second heat, while Linda Benson left no doubt in the third heat.
However, once again it was close for second place with Charlene Price and Shelley Merrick battling it out.
In the end it was Charlene Price's ability outweighing Shelley Merrick's consistency and aggressiveness.
This left six girls all going to the finals: Margo Scotton, Nancy Nelson, Joyce Hoffman, Robin Calhoun, Charlene Price, and Linda Benson.
The judges decided to run the finals for approximately 20 minutes, then eliminate three girls, leaving three for the final places.
After 20 minutes Robin Calhoun, Nancy Nelson, and Margo Scotton were eliminated and at that time our tentative decision was Linda Benson first, with Charlene Price and Joyce Hoffman fighting it out for second.
Linda continued to shine with a couple of excellent rides to cinch first place.
As time ran out the judges unanimously felt that Joyce Hoffman was the second place winner on the basis of her consistency and the number of waves she'd ridden.
This outweighed Charlene Price's several good rides.

The Senior Men offered more problems in their division than any other.
There were more close decisions.
In the first heat L. J. Richards and Mickey Munoz won over Malcomb McCassey and John Teague.
The problems started in the second heat with Mike Doyle, Bill Fury, Sam "Skipper Fats" Harwood, and Paul Strauch.
They all looked good, but in the end it seemed to be Doyle and Fury getting a few more better rides.
Lance Carson looked best in the third heat with a very close contest between Butch Linden and Skip Frye.
Once again it came to the difficult decision between consistency and aggressiveness versus good rides.
Frye was pushed into the semi-finals on the basis of his strong and consistent performance.
There was no doubt in the next heat as Rick Irons and Mickey Dora completely dominated, thus eliminating Mike Hynson and Ilima Kalama.
The final Senior Men's heat was held early Sunday morning with Butch Van Artsdalen failing to show.
This left Robert August, Donald Takayama, and John Fain battling it out for two semi-final spots.
August dominated the heat with Fain barely edging out Takayama.

The first Men's semi-final heat saw Irons and Richards going to the finals with Fain a close third, but out of the contest.
In the remaining semi-final heat Mickey Dora ran into Mickey Dora-type problems and failed to show.
This left Doyle, August, Munoz, and Frye to battle it out for two final spots.
August and Munoz were finally selected to join Richards and Iroqs in the Men's finals.

The four surfers battled it out for almost an hour in the chilly water and offshore winds.
In the end the judges felt that there was only a small margin separating the first place from the fourth place.
All of the riders were aggressive - all had good rides.
It was the toughest decision of the day.
On the basis of his two stand-out rides, Rick Irons of Torrance was selected as first place winner.
L. J. Richards, Oceanside's hometown favorite, was a very close second.
For third spot it was between Robert August and Mickey Munoz.
The judge's unanimously agreed that August showed more versatility and thus deserved the third slot.

Hobie Alter, victim of a saw accident only days before the contest, was forced to withdraw, leaving Mike Doyle, Jim Robb, Bob Moore, and their tandem partners to battle it out for tandem honors.
By the time they hit the water the tide was low and the offshore winds were still fairly strong.
The conditions were definitely not the best for tandem.
Mike Doyle and Linda Merrill made the best. of the situation and emerged as easy winners in the contest.
On the basis of several excellent curl rides, Jim "Mouse" Robb and Judy Dibble scored second.

The city of Oceanside was extremely happy with the results of the contest and definitely plan the Second Annual U:S. Invitational next year.
With a year's experience and a little better organization- and a little good luck with the surf -the Oceanside event could become one of the top contests on the Coast. (the end)

Surfer  Volume 5 Number 2   April 1964.  Cover:            Sammy Lee (left) and Gharlie Galento "take gas" at Waimea Bay in Hawaii.    Photograph by John severson.       Copy courtesy of the Graham Sorensen Collection.

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