"The Huntington Contest," Surfing Illustrated, Winter 1962, by Walt Phillips

This year’s West Coast Surfboard Championships held at Huntington Beach, was one of the smoothest, best-judged, well-controlled contests held for the sport. And the people who put on the surfing event owe a great vote of thanks to the Recreation Department who were instrumental in making it a success.

Some of the judges were from the Surfing Association, like Hoppy Swartz and Marge Calhoun; and there were past winners judging like Linda Benson and Jack Haley, Monte Nitzkowski, Kenneth Kesson, Charles Price, and Les Williams. The Lifeguards who controlled the crowds turned in a great job, to make this one of the high points in the sport of surfing.

Ilima Kalama, this year’s Men’s Champion who came up from last year’s fourth place, displayed a very stable job of surfing in the choppy surf, and was hard pressed by second-place Mickey Munoz, who was heard to say after the contest, “I’m making a comeback.”

Willy Lenahan, Rusty Miller, Mike Haley, had good rides and showed the winning form to put them up in the top five, with Willy taking the third spot and Rusty taking fourth. The 1960 winner, Mike Haley, came out of the contest with a 5th place.

Judie Wilke, who placed first in the finals — a tall, good-looking girl who, in addition, is championship stock—did an outstanding job of surfing to come out ahead of Nancy Ann Nelson who placed 2nd and Judy Dibble who placed 3rd. These girls and the others in the finals were really surfing well in the fairly large surf.

PIER RACE: The last event won by Mike Doyle was the Pier Race. Paddling out around the pier and coming back in the other side, he had to cut through the oil. Coming in 2nd was Bill Bragg with Dave Rochlen 3rd. Rochlen was last year’s winner of this event. Everyone in the Championships did a wonderful job of controlling oil and choppy surf to turn in a really record performance.

JUNIORS: The Jr Mens contest had some upsets. A lot of previously good surfers, but relatively unknown surfers, came up to place tops in this event. With Pete Kobsev from Seal Beach coming in first, Mark Martinson 2nd, John Overmyer 3rd, and Jerry Wallner and Robert Kooken 4th and 5th resepectivly, they had some of the best waves on Sunday, and some very outstanding rides were made.

TANDEM: In the tandem surfing or sliding, which ever you choose to call it, the going was rough. By the time this event came around, there was so much oil in the water from a tanker hit the night before in the L.A. Harbor, that surfers found it difficult to stand up on the oil-covered boards, throw 100-lb girls over their shoulders, do tricks, and look poised while trying to maneuver the boards in choppy waves.

Our hats off to every one who placed in this event. Pete Peterson and Patti Carey won the Tandems with some tremendous tricks. They were pushed hard by 2nd place entries, Hobie Alter and Laurie Hoover; and Bob Moore and Shelly Amerine in 3rd place.

1962 West Coast Surfing Championships

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