by Brian Walsh

In the months to come you will be engulfed with scenes from Red Bull’s Ice Break Challenge in Nova Scotia. All the major surf publications, photographers, numerous videography crews (including myself and Mike Nelson), local press, water cameras and the director who brought you “Step Into Liquid” were there to capture the action. Needless to stay, the event was covered. So, should you pay attention to the media onslaught or was this some hyped up attempt by Red Bull to gain acknowledgement in the surf community? Well the contest was no bullshit. It was one of the most memorable events to go down in East Coast surfing history.

Red Bull didn’t spare any expenses on the occasion. Flying 50 people to Canada on two days notice in the middle of winter can be a logistics nightmare. Jersey Devil Dean Randazzo and Andrew Gessler left the beautiful island of Fernando de Noronha off the NE coast of Brazil to travel 30 hours to Canada. Frankie Walsh opted for right points over Backdoor and left Hawaii for the tundra. The 1 hour and 15 minute flight from Newark which had 22 competitors and staff almost never made it. Circling the icy Halifax runway, the plane aborted the landing and touched down at a very snowy Bangor, Maine airport. Then back to Newark and finally a miracle flight back to Nova Scotia. With only peanuts to eat, they drank the bar dry. Ten hours later they made it with their nerves a bit rattled. And of course the fear that every surfer has going on a trip, a few of the guys board bags didn’t make it (including Nellie’s with his tripod). Finally, happy to be there, we were all a bit anxious on what the next day would bring.

Pitch black, snowy and bitter cold we loaded the vans en route to the contest venue. Some time later we skated across the ice and over the bluff to reveal the perfect right point set up. Although a little fat with morning sickness and high tide, it was looking super fun. A dozen locals traded waves waiting for their break to be invaded by the circus. A Chinese fire drill erupted as competitors tried to unpack there gear and suit up on the icy ground. It was on! Not one complaint from those who’s equipment never made it, they just wanted to get out there. The tide was falling, the offshore wind refreshing and the point was transforming into perfection. Head high waves reeled with top sets going several feet over head and wrapping hundreds of yards down the point.

Sam Hammer came up with the hopes of getting a wildcard spot in the event. With no luck he opted for a free surf on the inside racetrack of the point tearing the crap out of the 100 yard section. He is definitely a major force to reckon with in the future. As the heats got under way, competitors pushed each other up the point in typical fashion. Wave selection was key as some sets swung wide while others were flawless. Frankie Walsh set the bar with a couple of long connecting high performance rides patiently waiting for the best sets. New Yorker Sean Killarney surfed well on a borrowed board, as well as Will Skudin who just got back from a tow session at Corte’s Bank (that’s a whole other story). Adopted Long Beach local Ryan Carlson surfed really strong. Perhaps being underscored on 1 smaller inside wave which he whacked 8 or 9 times effortlessly on his backhand just missing the finals by a tenth of a point. Jason Borte’s polished forehand fit the right point impeccably. Nico Manos of Nova Scotia showed the spirit and future of the fabled points, ripping his way to a very respectable 8th place finish. Randazzle looked a little shaky in the opening rounds after his long flight and just managed to squeak into the final.

With all the hot action in the water you almost forgot it was 9 degrees with icebergs floating around the lineup. But between rounds you could see the fatigue and cold setting in. Surfers huddled around propane heaters as it was impossible to get your core body temperature warmed back up. Several competitors got the claw and needed help moving their fingers. Wetsuits froze solid as soon as you took it off. Video cameras were malfunctioning in the sub freezing temps. Competitors limped around semi hypothermic hoping to get back in the 25 degree warmer water or back to the craps table at the casino hotel. The Ice Break got what it came for.

The beach came alive for the final with Canadian Mounties, locals and even a gang of ATV 4 - wheelers. Not the normal looking surf contest crowd. Although a little smaller and less consistent, the surf actually got more perfect. The final was all but over after Dean came back to life and destroyed his first wave for what seemed like a mile. Frank continued his early domination for a second place showing. Third through sixth was super tight with Matt Keenan and Ian Parnell catching real good waves in the dying minutes to catapult them into third and fourth respectively. Jason Borte and Andrew Gessler surfed well but peaked in the earlier rounds earning fifth and sixth place. We were having so much fun judging and watching the final, we didn’t want it to end.

This truly was a special event that I feel privileged to be a part of. The surfers and staff were some of the best people you could ask to be with and our Canadian hosts were gracious and accommodating. It was everything you could ask of a surf contest. Hopefully other surf sponsors will take notes from Red Bull on this one.