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(Barrigada, Guam –– Sunday, April 7, 2013) The Rickʼs Reef Classic VI surfing and body-boarding competition elicited a high turnout of contestants on April 6. A total of 40 competitors registered for the event in four gender-neutral divisions, with a predominance of surfers over body-boarders. The longboard surfing category saw a record number of nine participants this year.

Against a backdrop of sunny skies and three- to five-foot waves, the 40 surfers and body-boarders competed in 20-minute heats from 7:30 a.m. through 5:30 p.m. In the Juniors division, where five teenagers competed, Jared Brandon Gogue and Napu Taimanglo advanced to the finals while judges gave Misake Cramer, Christopher Perry and Alison Bowman a repechage (second chance to qualify for the finals). As daylight waned, contest officials reduced the finals to 15 minutes per division. This yearʼs event ended past sunset with the prize presentation ceremony taking place after dark. “We were blessed with perfect conditions despite two holdover dates. Everything –– the wave conditions and weather –– came together to make this one of our most successful and quality Rickʼs Reef Classic contests,” said Willi Byerly, contest director and Guahan Napu Inc. president.

The following are the results:

Juniors division:
1st place – Jared Brandon Gogue (who also competed in the open Surfing division and came in fourth place in the finals against older and more experienced surfers)
2nd place – Napu Taimanglo
3rd place – Christopher Perry

Longboard surfing division:
1st place – Kenny Pier (this is the third consecutive year that the senior Pier has won this category)
2nd place – Richmond Arciaga
3rd place – Derrick Ikehara

Body-Boarding division:
1st place – Joe Santos
2nd place – Jonathan Barber

3rd place – Carl Dela Cruz

Surfing division:
1st place – Shane Pier (the younger Pier came in second place in Rickʼs Reef Classic II and III in 2009 and 2010)
2nd place – Aaron Taylor (2012 Rickʼs Reef Classic V first place winner)
3rd place – Derrick Ikehara

Rickʼs Reef Classic VI was sponsored by SPPC 76, Tumon Bay Lobster and Grill and Bud Light. The event was also made possible by the Sheraton Laguna Guam Resort, Primo Surf Shop, Lotus Surf, Fokai Industries, GoPro, PROA Restaurant, DNA Evolution and the Fishermenʼs Co-Op.

The next surfing/body-boarding contest will be the Surf the Basin V, sponsored by Monster Energy Drink, in the early fall, according to the federation.

For more information about Guahan Napu Inc., contact Willi Byerly at 483-1376, by email to gnipresident@teleguam.net or follow Guahan Napu on Facebook.

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