Grand Haven Daily Tribune  September 6, 1966

Surfing Meet Here

Jim Pushaw, (standing) 825 Lake, son of Councilman and Mrs. David Pushaw, displays some of his winning form in copping the junior men’s division trophy in the first annual championship meet of the Great Lakes Surfing Assn. on turbulent Lake Michigan here over Labor Day weekend.

   Hundreds of spectators Sunday watched the first annual championship meet of the Great Lakes Surfing Assn. off Highland Park beach.

   It was concluded Labor Day morning with Lake Michigan boiling over the sandbars so powerfully the meet was ended sooner than planned.

   There were 44 participants from Waukegan, Ill., Wilmette, Ill., Chicago, Cleveland, Michigan City, Baldwin, Grand Rapids, Muskegon and Grand Haven area.  The association, organized two years ago at Grand Haven has almost 200 members in the Midwest.

   Surfers had “beautiful” rides according to Judge Terry Laug of this city.

   Trophies were presented to winners in two classes.  They were:

   Junior Men’s — Jim Pushaw, Grand Haven, Scott Stinebower, Grand Haven, Glen Curtis, Michigan City, Ind.

   Senior Men's — Craig Van Single, Grand Rapids, Rick Sapinski, Grand Rapids, Kerry Kessler, Zion Ill.

   A point system is used to determine winners.  Total performance allows a maximum of 10 points taking each contestants three best rides.  Each heat was 15 minutes, 20 minutes in championships wit eliminations held Sunday and finals Monday morning.

   Surf conditions are considered good at Grand Haven with the pier heads providing the right kind of wave action.

   Plastic – Material surfboards are 9½ to 10 feet ling and weigh 25 pounds.  They cost about $150 and are waxed for the sport.

   Surfers wear rubber jackets in cold weather as protection against wind and water.

Surfing Champs

    JUNIOR MEN’S WINNERS with trophies of the Great Lakes Surfing Assn. won on Lake Michigan here Labor Day weekend are: (left) Terry Laug, Grand Haven, judge; Glen Curtis, Michigan City, 3^rd, Scott Stinebower, Grand Haven, 2^nd; Jim Pushaw, Grand Haven, 1^st; Bob Allen, Grand Rapids, president.

   SENIOR MEN’S champs happily displaying their trophies at Highland Park beach Monday morning are (left) Kerry Kessler, Waukegan, Il., 3^rd; Rick Sapinski, Grand Rapids, 2^nd, and Craig Van Single, Grand Rapids, 1^st.

   SURFING started here two years ago October.  Judges for the 1^st championship meet of GLSA were Terry Laug, Grand Haven, John Companella, Cleveland, and Katy Laws, Hawaii, wife of local Coastguardman.