1st Annual Salty Sweet Pro Am Cocoa Beach

We woke up with the sun still hiding under the horizon, the sound of waves crashing upon the shore, and a call from one of my best friends, Christian. Today wasn’t going to be a surf day with the guys, it was a girls’ day. Storm and I hopped in the car and turned up to tunes, our destination ahead was the Cocoa Beach Pier. On the way we picked up our home girl who also rips, Dakota (Koda). All three of us were stoking on the waves, but freezing our butts off at the same time as the cool air wrapped around our bodies. As we stepped onto the beach, sunnies on, and pj’s on point; our jaws dropped in awe because the waves. We were here and ready to blow up the 1st annual Salty Sweet Pro/Am !

As we signed in, we soon figured out that Storm was an alternate and there was no slots left for Koda. They both ended up not being able to be placed in, so they left and sped down to Spessard Holland Beach Park. I was kinda jealous because I prefer to surf down where I live over the pier, but I had a contest that I was ready to takeover. We exchanged hugs and tactics, and just like that they were gone with the wind.

Before the contest started I wanted to get free surf session in. I started heading out on the north side of the pier with my friends: Katy Brown, Kaydi Archer, and Matty G. Katy soon discovered a giant hole the size of a golf ball in her log as we hit knee deep water. She and Matty G ran back in to fix the disaster. It was just Kaydi and I paddling out, but we decided to paddle out in different ways. My friends from there always told me to paddle out by the pier because it sucks you out. Kaydi was yelling at me, “Christa be careful of the fishing lines! Come paddle over here by me.” After I explained to her out it sucks you out she decided to follow my lead. I made it out easily, but I couldn’t find Kaydi, and I was flipping out! After catching a couple waves and still not finding her I decided to go in and look for her on the beach. My hunt was a success and I ended up finding out some seriously scary news. Kaydi had a little trouble and got caught in the rip. It pushed her into the pier itself! She got caught in the pillings and took some serious cuts and her brand new Al Merrick board suffered the most damage with an enormous chunk taken out. I must say, Kaydi is one hardcore chick. She surfed her heat afterwards and charged it! I give giant props to you Kaydi!

Not too long after, we set up base camp underneath the pier. My surfer buds, Alexi Howe and Shay Mahoney, joined us. Even my surfer chica from up north, Daylon Muenzer, hung out with us! It was so amazing, all these rippers just chilling. Shay and Alexi participated in Pro Shortboard, and Daylon and I were entered into the Shortboard 13-39 Amateur division. The pro girls heat was run first and I watched them rip. It was great to see them “come out of retirement.” The two surfer babes got just about the same score, but Shay came out on top with .2 over Alexi. Placing them 2nd and 3rd in their heats, with Shay advancing to the semi-finals. Next heat featured Daylon and I. It was a 6 person heat, the pressure was on. My brownie, Katy, helped me stretch out and get me pumped. I was literally jumping up and down because I was so fired up and stoked. Once I heard the horn blow I started sprinting towards the surf. Paddling out is something I learned to do quite well from my guys, so I was the first one out. Even when I caught a wave and paddled back out, no one else had yet made it out. I was stoking so much by then. By the end of the heat I had caught the most waves and ended up even winning the heat! This meant I would go straight into the finals. Sadly my girl Daylon got 4th and didn’t advance, rare for her.

Later on in the day I decided to go for free surf with Daylon, Alexi, Seabass, and his friend on the north side of the pier. The surf was going off all day! After catching a few solid waves, a bombing A-Frame came in. I was at the peak and decided to charge left. Alexi and this other girl, I didn’t get her name, were having a paddle battle for the right. The girl I guess messed up and decided to go left into the closeout instead of taking the radical right. She had a gnarly wipeout. Once my face emerged out of the water I heard a cry for help. Looking all around and I saw the girl who cut off Alexi screaming, crying, and freaking out. As I paddled closer it came to my realization that she had broken her hand and fingers. She definitely couldn’t paddle and she was so shocked that she couldn’t move her body. I pushed her body onto her board with all my might and started to swim her in. The unknown gal started kicking because of the pain, and I suffered there! I caught a face full of foot. Bless her soul, she wasn’t much older than me I don’t think. I helped her up the beach and took her to a guardian. They thanked me, and for the first time in a while I felt good and helpful.

The Finals were now approaching quickly, but I still had a hour and a half. I needed to rest up so my dad told me he would watch over me while I took a short 30 minute nap. And what seemed to be two minutes later, my eyes bursted open with the ringing of a voice on the PA. “Christa McAneney, Christa McAneney you need to check in, 5 minutes till your heat. Please pick up your sapphire jersey and head down to the water with the rest of the girls. Christa McAneney.” They were starting my heat almost an hour early. I started sprinting around the beach, almost in a panicking manner. My stretch routine was forced to go at a 16x faster speed. By the minute before the heat started I was ready to show and blow up. I paddled out and I surfed my heart out. Sure, I couldn’t feel my arms, my lips were blistered from the sun, and jellyfish were caught in my rashgaurd, but I was happy just to make it that far and to be surfing. I was greeted by my friends and family after the contest, after I congratulated all the girls I competed against of course.

The award ceremony wasn’t until 7pm, so my mom took me out to dinner at The OutBack. I was drooling over my meal, I love that place. Afterwards we headed back to the Pier and went to the restaurant for awards. We met up with my friends and their families: Emma Fillmore and her mom, Kaydi Archer, her boyfriend, and her momma Buffy. They were all proud of Emma making her 13-39 longboard final and me for making my shortboard 13-39 final. Buffy bought me a delicious key lime pie. Gosh I love those people and families so much. Emma’s results were first, and got second in her heat! We were all super stoked and cheering her name! I was next… my heart was beating so loud I could have sworn that everyone heard it. “And in 4th place, killing it and charging it for sure, is Christa McAneney in sapphire.” I could tell my mom was proud and I was super pumped! It was a great way to end the contest! Driving home I got another call from Hunter and Christian. I might have been doing the super fun Salty Sweet Pro/Am in Cocoa Beach all day, but I always make sure to make room to hang out with my boys. 1st Annual Salty Sweet Pro Am Cocoa Beach
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