GHive crew

On the weekend of November 15th and 16th, Sebastian Inlet drew a large number of the best in the East. The maximum alotment of 92 competitors showed  for this unique Quiksilver skins format. Two full days of high level crowd pleasing surfing with $12,000 dollars including the "ESM" Air Show on the line; All wanted the "Golden Crown" that makes for a great career starter or solidifies your name in history, next to previous kings such as Kelly Slater( the original motivator for this event), or CJ Hobgood,  and Bryan Hewitson, just to name a few. Saturday, day one, saw clean offshore winds with a 3-4 foot 9 second period. The hat draw which is also a very unique concept, Kechele says the hat draw is the ultimate equalizer in fairness, no seeding in this event(doesn't matter who you are or what you've done or what you've won, your name goes in the hat). Names are drawn randomly, and placed into Skins heats. Every heat is like a final from the very start with $245 cash given out to each winning claim. Round one sets up 23 heats. Round two the draw is flipped upside down, and each surfer is given a second chance to get on a roll and claim some cash. It's sort of like guys that lose out on day one come back on day two with a whole new game and alot more determination. Let's talk about the action; opening the first skin campaign was Wesley Desouza from south Florida who slid in as a late alternate. Wesley rallied for two skins with some lightning fast snappy surfing. Matt Keenan was in his element and looking like a threat, until Asher Nolan decided he wanted some of that Sebastian gold. Asher is always a major threat in every event. Asher was looking to plant a Jacksonville Jaguars VIP personal parking spot under the Sebastian Inlet bridge. Nolan brought game claiming three skins in a row, while posting the highest scores of the day just to let everyone know he's King. In fact, Asher threw a red flag out on former crown winner Jeremy Johnston with wicked backhand top to bottom hooks in Asher fashion. Kyle Garson, another former King, decided he better stop Asher; he doesn't want to lose his parking spot under the bridge.  Kyle went on tail sliding for another Skin. Then Eddie Guilbeau reminded Kyle that he is one of local Kings at aerial surfing. Eddie coming off a recent ankle injury doing airs, was punting crazy "passion pops", lofty air reverses, and finally landed one, looking eye to eye at the judges and claiming it! Day one saw plenty of cash spread amongst the field, but Asher was the only one that made a really strong statement with his three skin run.  Other flurries of action came with OBX icon, Jeff Myer's, surfing solid for two skins, and Daytona "Mad Dog" Dustin Richardson air reversing smoothly for two skins, also. 

Finishing out day one, the "ESM" AIR SHOW, saw the condition get ripe oil glass. Eighteen aerial aggronauts went for two rounds of air battle. It was judged as a 5 star air show with a 5 star topping out the scale. Kelly Slater, the King himself, showed and lent a hand on some critical analysis. This was the best airshow we have ever witnessed go down at the Inlet. Eddie Guilbeau was flying all over the place. On one particular wave that was only about an 8" wedge, he generated enough speed to fly up and out 3 feet with a spin whip landing his board clean in the flats. Ryan Helm, being the past three time winner, was lofting his typical athletic punts good for 2 stars. Balaram Stack was staying busy on the lefts, but never got the right sections. Jensen Callaway was solid, boosting clean rotations as did Dustin Richardson. The first round was easy to judge. The final saw everyone boosting and rotating 2 stars which were the norm. Blake Jones decided he needed to kick it up a notch, meaning fly like Superman, throw in a little kick all 3 feet above the lip and land like butter. The beach erupted; 3 stars easily. Blake set himself apart for the win and a nice $500 dollars towards the family barbeque! Second place was a straight up tie between Eddie Guilbeau and Jensen Callaway. Both also pocketed a hundgy!

With Asher Nolan sitting nearly in the middle of round two, everyone knew they better get real busy before they go up against him. Surf was typical. November was typical chunky monkey, but the swell size bumped up a bit. Blake Jones was ready for action arriving early during contest set up, and out for a practice surf in the frosty cold morning air. It proved to pay off in heat one with a skin and back into another win for heat three. I guess big brother was feeling a little left out. Justin Jones answered Asher and went onward for four Skins. Leaving Blake victim was a hungry Paul "Rhino" Reinecke, who went onward for another Skin taking out an in form Eddie Guilbeau, and Billl "Legend" Hartley. Quite apparent, there is something in the water these days in Jacksonville, and it's not just Asher Nolan, Ryan Briggs; it's Cody Thompson who came out flairing all over the place, not sure if it was the fact that he figured out the Skins format, and the inner mechanics and possibilities.  For example, if Cody gets real busy, he will meet Asher Nolan later on in the round, and try to throw a stop at what surely looks like a probability!  Perhaps Cody grabbed onto the unique format, and what its all about "one wave scores". It's all about throwing it all out there on one wave. Whatever it was, Cody looked really focused and began by tearing off Rhino's horn with a buzz saw lofty air rotation glider. Then in succession Nils Schweizer, Jeremy Johnston fell victim, too. It all came to fusion for the Jacksonville showdown. Cody (wiith 4 skins) on his way to meet Asher Nolan(with 3 skins). For Asher, it's a clutch moment, where if Cody beats him he's out of the winner's circle. For Cody, he knows his buddy Ryan Briggs has also been lurking going loon balls, and racking up skins(Ryan also holding down 3 skins). Asher like any savvy pro would went straight for Cody sitting in his territory wedge right zone that has been working for Cody all day. Asher was sitting quite close to Cody figuring with his back hand claw, he could give the right a go and keep Cody off maybe throwing off his game. Going tit for tat with no claims and really clean random four foot wedge loomed up and Cody struck with a really square wide open backdooresque barrel followed by a great carving swoop. Claimed score comes in at 8.33(highest score of the event). In the following heat, the only spoilers remaining were Mason Sapp and Ryan Briggs who both dipped out to Puerto Rico's Dylan Graves. Dylan tapped right into the same peak zone that the Jax crew made thousands working over for a few hours. Cody Thompson has the crown, but remained hungry wiinning one more. While Dylan Graves fell to last year's champ, Eric Taylor. Eric and Sebastian Moreno finished out round two, each with two skins good for $490 a piece. Cody Thompson really was the in form surfer. His best moments besides the nice barrel were a huge "passion pop" to switch that posted a 7.66. The kid was boosting airs pretty much on every claimed wave. Great surfing Cody! I'm sure the Jax crew is proud! Go Jags!

Cody Thompson 6- Skins $1490.00

Justin Jones 4- Skins        $980.00

Ryan Briggs 4-Skins          $980.00

Asher Nolan 3-skins           $735.00

Blake Jones 2-Skins          $490.00

Paul Reinecke 2-Skins       $490.00

Eric Taylor 2-Skins             $490.00

Sebastian Moreno 2-Skins   $490.00

Jeff Myers 2-Skins              $490.00

Kyle Garson 2-Skins            $490.00

Dustin Richarson 2-Skins     $490.00

Wesley Desouza  2-Skins     $490.00

Mason Sapp  2-Skins           $490.00

Tommy Bursian 1-Skin         $245.00

Dylan Graves 1-Skin            $245.00

Eddie Guilbeau 1- Skin         $245.00

Matt Keenan 1-Skins            $245.00

Robert Rohmann 1-Skin         $245.00

Ryan Helm 1-Skin                 $245.00

Davey Awbrey 1- Skin           $245.00

Rob Kelly        1-Skin            $245.00

Jonathan Gossman 1-Skin     $245.00

Kenny Kozack 1-Skin            $245.00

Jensen Callaway 1-Skin        $245.00

1st Blake Jones $500

eq.2nd Eddie Guilbeau

eq. Jensen Callaway