By Barbara Salter
Whether you are a surfer or not, if you’re going to be in Flagler County on the weekend of Nov. 11 – 13, you’ve to check out the Tommy Tant Memorial Surf Classic.
The event began twelve years ago to celebrate the life of popular local surfer Tommy Tant who died unexpectedly in his sleep from an aortic aneurysm at the age of 24. Over the past twelve years, the Tommy Tant has grown into an internationally recognized surfing competition with more than 300 professional and amateur contestants.
The proceeds from the event benefit the Tommy Tant Memorial Scholarship Fund, the Flagler County Food Bank, and the National Marfan Foundation. Each year, the competition and the activities and events surrounding it have become bigger and better!
This year the 12th Annual Tommy Tant presented by Nautica will include two days of amateur and professional competition and a nighttime surfing exhibition hosted by Red Bull. But wait, there’s oh so much more!
The event kicks off with a concert and silent auction at the Golden Lion, which was voted the 2011 #1 Florida Waterside Beach Bar. Brian Corrigan of the band Dispatch will be performing and the silent auction features international travel packages and surf-related items. The suggested donation of $5 includes an automatic entry into the raffle for a surfboard.
Surfing begins at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday. When you’re not watching the action, you can stroll along the Flagler Beach Boardwalk and check out the sponsor booths featuring a wide range of surfing goods, apparel, food, drinks, and free giveaways as well as live art with artist Patrick Maxcy as he returns to his hometown to create another wonderful mural on several canvases that will be auctioned off.
My favorite event is the Concert and Food Festival on Saturday night. Some of Flagler’s most popular restaurants will be serving it up in Veteran’s Park across from the Flagler Beach pier. You can get an all-you-can eat ticket for $25 that enables you to dine at all the vendors with as many portions as you’d like or you can buy a sampler ticket for five different restaurants. Either way, it’s a great way to taste some of Flagler’s culinary delights.
Then walk all that yumminess off and head across the street to the pier to watch the Red Bull Night Riders featuring six world-class surf pros as they battle it out under the stars. Last year more than 3,000 Flagler residents and visitors lined the pier and the beach to see this exciting, free event.
On Sunday, you can catch the second day of surf action. The booths, raffle, silent auction and live art will continue throughout the day culminating with the awards ceremony.
The 12th Annual Tommy Tant Memorial Surf Classic will be an event the whole family will remember as well as a great opportunity to experience the “surfing” side of Flagler County at its finest!
Photos: The Tommy Tant Memorial Surf Classic