- April 29, 2024
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Blaize Carrol surfs a wave for the Flagler Board Riders' 20's division team. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Bubba Tyson surfing in the 30's division at the Florida Cup. Flagler Board Riders took home third place in the competition. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
St. Augustine's Noah Brownell surfing the 20's division at the Flagler Cup. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Jacksonville's Austin Crouse cuts across a wave during his turn in the Florida Cup's 20's division. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Bubba Tyson surfs for Flagler Board Riders on Saturday, March 25. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Jacksonville's Corey Sapp in the 40's division at the Florida Cup. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
In the 50's division, Flagler Board Riders' Anthony Passarlli surfing at Flagler Beach during the Florida Cup. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Space Coast's David Speir surfs in the 50's division in the Florida Cup. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
The Florida Cup championship's top two teams will surf in the national competition in May in California. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Dane Jeffries, founder of the Florida Board Riders, holding the championship cup. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
The Florida Board Riders' Florida Cup championship was held on Saturday, March 25 in Flagler Beach. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
St. Augustine's Bethany Zelaslzo surfing in the open women's division. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Space Coast's Daya McCart in the open women's division, scoring 17 points in a double whammy for her team. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh.
Florida Board Riders founder Dane Jeffries and Flagler Board Riders' Head Coach Bob Lindsley awards Kelly Brasol, president of the Flagler Board Riders, the MVP award for their team. Photo by Sierra Williams
The Space Coast Board Riders took home first place in the Florida Cup championships. Photo by Sierra Williams
The Florida Board Riders’ Florida Cup championship competition came to a close on March 25, with the Space Coast and Jacksonville chapters heading to the national competition in California in May.
Surfers competed at the Flagler Beach pier over the course of the day. Flagler Board Riders, the local chapter, was in second place going into the championship but ended in third place.
Flagler Board Riders is one of the smallest groups in the area, Head Coach Bob Lindsley said, but still managed to hold its own during the competition.
“To be standing here with these guys shows that we are pretty dedicated to what we do,” Lindsley said. “And we’re a real strong crew.”
Each of the five competing teams also recognized a MVP: Flagler Board Riders Treasurer and President Kelly Brasol was Flagler’s choice.
“We couldn’t do it without her,” Lindsley said.
To consistently stay in second place for the entire season shows it wasn't a fluke. We really brought the talent. We brought the camaraderie. — Kelly Brasol, Flagler Board Riders executive director
The Board Riders competed across seven divisions: under 14, 15-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and the open women’s division. The Flagler Board Riders took first in the 15-19 bracket and placed second in the under-14 division.
Brasol said the Flagler Board Riders did a great job overall against the other chapters. They were honored just to be able to stay in second place ahead of St. Augustine through the season, she said.
“To consistently stay in second place for the entire season shows it wasn’t a fluke,” Brasol said. “We really brought the talent. We brought the camaraderie.”
In 2022, the Flagler Board Riders had finished fourth in the district. Even though they finished third this year, Lindsley said, their surfers did a great job.
“We’re doing really well for a small club,” Lindsley said. “I mean, we’re really happy with our performance.”
More importantly, Lindsley said, the competition and the local chapter help bring the community together. Brasol worked with the city and local businesses to support the competition.
Brasol said community businesses stepped in to support the championship: A1A Burrito Works set up a taco bar to feed the staff, judges and competitive surfers, and 7-Eleven donated drinks food.
“Residents of Flagler County win when businesses and events come together to attract visitors,” she said. “It trickles into the entire town.”
And it was the community support and that brought the championship to Flagler Beach — beyond the waves, of course. Florida Board Riders founder Dane Jeffries said Flagler Beach has the perfect surf-town atmosphere.
“You cannot think of a better environment and stadium, atmosphere,” Jeffries said. “The whole town is so responsive to our event.”
The Flagler Board Riders performed amazingly in the competition, Jeffries said, even though they had a few fumbles.
“When we started this thing, it was hard for them to even get a full team,” he said. “Today … they showed up.”
Jeffries said he hopes to be back next year for one of the series’ competitions, though the finals will likely be rotated to other areas.
“Flagler is just like a town stuck in time,” he said. “It’s perfect. It’s what a surf town should be.”
