Samohi Surf Club Competes in Final Meet

Surf Club members take time-out at UC Santa Barbara meet to remind everyone of the blood drive (left to right) Andrew McNab, Ian Quick, Jack Jacobs, Darryl McClanahan, Gabriel Dill, Coach Bill Pence, Kendall Dill and Lysandra Carter.
                                                              photo by Randi Hauge

Dave Quick
Special to Mirror
  
   Thirteen Samohi surfers trekked to Santa Barbara last Saturday, February 7, for the Vikings’ final meet of the regular season under the auspices of the Interscholastic Surf Federation (ISF).
   Surf was small and the skies were sunny as over 100 of Southern California’s best high school surfers competed in short board, long board and body board competitions.
   Although Samohi was bested in first round head-to-head team competition by Das Pueblas High School, three Samohi surfers advanced to the second round — Andrew McNab and Gabriel Dill in short board, and Jack Jacobs in long board.
   McNab set modern club history by moving onto the third round and just missed winning a short board trophy.
   Other Viking team members were Kendall Dill, Lysandra Carter, Alex Silver, Sam Perman, Tim Plumridge, Matt Felton, Gabby Fargo, Ian Quick, Darryl McClanahan and Eamon Wright.
   Faculty advisor Bill Pence, who brought team surfing back to Samohi after more than a decade, was pleased: “We had a really decent run,” he said. “In three of our five meets we bested our head-to-competitor school. Our biggest challenge going into next year is the most competitive division, men’s short board. Andrew McNab’s run to the semi-finals and near-miss of the medal round was our best performance of the year and a great note to end on as we set our sights on Fall ’04.”
   The club faces two additional challenges. Nine of its members have been accepted by ISF to compete in the individual state championship meet at Oceanside on President’s Day, February 16th.
   In addition, the Surf Club has joined forces with St. John’s Health Center in the Valentine’s week blood drive which ends Friday, February 13. The club encourages every Santa Monica resident to call (310) 829-8025 and schedule an appointment to give the “gift of life” to the community for Valentine’s Day. Every donor receives two AMC movie tickets, the first 30 donors will also receive a teddy bear and anyone who gives blood also becomes eligible to win one of five free surf lessons provided by the Viking Surf Club at Bay Street just south of the pier.
   Blood drive sponsors include Saturn of Valley and the student group “Donor Dudes.” Season-long surf club sponsors include Island’s Surf Shop, ZJ’s Boarding House, Library Ale House and Patagonia.