My First Contest Win

My First Contest Win

A Blog A Day 2017: Blog #22

Friday, September 22nd

  For the first few years as a bodyboarder, I really didn't concern myself too much with competition.  I was still learning how to control my board and trying to be more consistent with my maneuvers.  When I did start to focus more on competing, I was still only entering one or two local events per year.  I made my first amateur final in 1991 (see previous blog for that story). For the next several years it was the same story; a contest here and there, a finals appearance here and there.  Whenever I made a final, though, it was always "close, but no cigar."  It wasn't until 1996 that I committed to competing full-time as an amateur in the Central New Jersey district of the ESA (Eastern Surfing Association) Men's Bodyboarding division.  I managed to finish 5th overall in the year-end rankings, but still had yet to win a contest.  That was about to change.

Letting my wetsuit hang dry from the hatchback of my beat up old 1989 Ford Escort in the parking lot at Loch Arbor, NJ.

(Backstory: Saturday, April 19th, 1997)
  I drove to New Brunswick, New Jersey to see Ignite play at The Down Under.  The Down Under wasn't really a club.  It was, basically, a small lounge bar in the basement of a hotel that booked hardcore and punk rock shows.  I got to see a lot of great bands and incredible shows in that hotel basement.  This show was no different.  The place was packed and Ignite, literally, had people bouncing off the walls!  After the show, I caught up with the guitarist from Ignite, Joe Foster, and asked him if he could spare a few minutes to do an interview for my fanzine.  As it turned out, we ended up going with Tim (the lead singer for the band Mouthpiece) and my friend Scooter to go watch the Knicks vs. Bulls game back at Tim's house. While we were at Tim's place, Joe and I stepped outside to record the interview on my microcassette recorder.  Now, if the name "Joe Foster" sounds familiar to you, it should.  In the mid-to-late 80's Joe was a pro bodyboarder from Orange County, California and rode for Madrid Bodyboards.  Well, after asking him questions about both Ignite and bodyboarding for my fanzine, we got lost in conversation talking about bodyboarding for a while.  It was a lot of fun, and rather inspiring for me.  Before we wrapped up our conversation, I mentioned I had a contest the next morning.  "Good luck.  I hope you win."

Ignite at The Down Under in New Brunswick, NJ on April 19th, 1997.

(Excerpt from Interview with Joe Foster)

-Now, a little bit about your bodyboarding.  How often do you get out in the water these days?
Joe Foster:  I'm kind of a lazy, grumpy old man now.  So, if I'm not sick, and if I feel healthy.  See, it's weird, because if I stay away from the water for a while, after a tour I know the second I hop back in and have a good session, I'm going to want to do it every single day.  It just depends.  If we get back from tour, I catch up on my health, and I'm not tired anymore I'm out there every day.  If I'm home for a couple of weeks in between tours, I might not even see the water.

-How long have you been bodyboarding for?
Joe Foster:  Oh, man. 18 years.

-Yeah?  It was pretty cool when I realized that "Joe from Ignite" was Joe Foster, pro bodyboarder, who was top five in the world back in '87!
Joe Foster:  I didn't even think anybody even remembered.  That's pretty cool!  You know what?  Back when I was bodyboarding and doing my older bands, just having fun as a kid and just living it and loving it,  I found myself, around 1988, doing other things and getting away from the (music) scene because it was so violent,  I was never a part of that.  I was into the Youth Crew movement, 7 Seconds, and the sing-a-longs.  I started seeing gangs and violence, and I said, "Fuck, this isn't for me anymore.  This is stupid!"  So, I went overseas and did some other stuff.  I found myself in Japan, one day, like six years later going, "Man, I'm so unhappy.  When was the last time I was happy?"  I don't know.  I'm thinking about it.  It was when I was bodyboarding, and when I was playing hardcore!

The Ignite interview as it appeared in External732 Fanzine, Issue #6.

(CNJ/ESA Event #1 @ Loch Arbour. Sunday, April 20th, 1997)
  The morning after the Ignite show in New Brunswick, I was parked in the gravel lot at Loch Arbor, bright and early, for the first CNJ/ESA contest of the 1997 season.  At the end of the previous season, two of Central New Jersey's best competitors (and former district champions), Larry McGinn and Chuck Guarino, made the decision to start competing professionally.  Even without having to compete against them, I knew I had a lot of work to do this season.  I felt confident that I could improve on my ranking from last season, but I was anxious to get out in the water for the season opener.  I was surprised to see Chuck in the parking lot.  "Are you competing?"  "No, I agreed to judge the bodyboarding divisions."

The Custom X Matrix that I had purchased as a back-up board for my trip to Puerto Rico a month before had become my "Go-To" board.  I felt really dialed-in to this board, and it showed in my riding!  I loved this board, and wish I still had it!

  As eager as I was to get the new season started, the surf conditions weren't exactly inspiring.  The waves were horrendous, ankle-to-knee-high gutless slop.  Always the optimist, our district director Scott Goodwin, announced the classic ESA mantra, "It's contestable!"  With junk waves, and Chuck on the beach judging, I started to feel a little nervous.  I was really going to have to grovel it out to get a decent result.  Out in the water, I didn't pay attention to the other competitors.  I was so focused on what I needed to do, that I kind of zoned out.  Back on the beach, I had to wait for the results of the Men's Bodyboarding final to be announced.  I went out to the parking lot, changed out of my wetsuit, got dressed and waited at my car.  I started to think about it too much, and doubt my performance.  "Was it enough?  Could I have done better?"

  Finally, it was time to find out the results.  I had felt really confident coming into this event.  I had felt rather confident while I was out in the water, battling it out in the final, despite the weak conditions.  Having to wait for the results, I was driving myself crazy.  So, by the time the results were about to be read out I had convinced myself that it was going to be just another final for me.  Scott started reading, "Results for Men's Bodyboarding.  In 4th Place..."  Not me.  "In 3rd Place..."  Not me.  I breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to myself, "Okay, 2nd Place is a pretty good way to start the season."  "In 2nd Place..." Not me.  WHAT?!?  "...and in 1st Place, Steve "Action" Jackson!"  I couldn't believe it!  I'd finally won a contest! Apparently, I was the only rider pulling off spin-roll combos during the final which put me out in front for the win.  SOOO STOKED!!!  On the drive home,  I had my trophy sitting in the passenger's seat of my car, Ignite blasting on the stereo, and a Cheshire Cat-like smile plastered on my face!