- April 25, 2024
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Braeden Kopec gets friendly with Sunny the parrot (Photos by Emily Blackwood).
Hannah Blevins took home multiple trophies during the competition.
Over 50 surfers competed in the annual contest.
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When Hannah Blevins was 9 years old, she was working on becoming a professional ballet dancer — so starting a surf camp didn't really fit in to her rigorous schedule. Her mother, who really wanted to see her daughter pursue a career in ballet, even woke her up late for the camp to discourage her to go.
Now Blevins is among the top five champions for the National Scholastic Surfing Association Southeast and North Open Girls competition and travels all over the world competing. Needless to say, her mom doesn't think about ballet anymore.
"I caught my first wave, and I was up and gone," the now-14-year-old said. "I love the way it feels. You're free."
The Flagler Beach resident took home double wins in girls under 14 and junior women at the 14th-annual Christian Surfers Daytona Beach and Eastern Surfing Association Spring Fling. Held April 9 at Andy Romano Beachfront Park in Ormond Beach, the event brought in over 50 local surfers to compete.
Wes Hewson, director of Christian Surfers Daytona Beach Chapter, said the goal of the event was to connect — and show love — to the surf community.
"The exhilaration of it," he said as he looked out towards the beach, "the love of the ocean."
