Sandy is the reason for the freezin’

Written by SHAUN SMITH Wednesday, January 09, 2013 04:09 pm

The race begins with a sprint toward the Dorset Avenue Bridge.

VENTNOR – Here was an event that lived up to its name.

It was one degree above freezing on land when more than 100 paddleboarders took to the water for the Freezin for a Reason fundraiser Saturday, Jan. 5 at Viking Rowing Club in Ventnor.

Somers Point resident Sean Duffey organized the 5.7-mile paddleboard and stand-up paddleboard race and 2.5-mile fun paddle around VentnorHeights and ChelseaHeights for the organization Waves for Water.

Duffey is a teacher and head coach for girls crew at Atlantic CityHigh School. He is also a 16-year veteran of the Longport Beach Patrol.

He said he organized the event to raise funds for rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and also to restore the image of the shore communities.

“Atlantic City got pretty bad press in my opinion,” he said before the event.

“My dad is a jitney driver, and people think the boardwalk is gone, that the city washed away – but really it was just a small part of the boardwalk in the north end,” Duffey said.

“South Jersey is still here. In the summertime you can come down here; it’s still a place to vacation.”

Duffey said he chose to partner with Waves for Water because it is well-known in the surfing community. The nonprofit organization, which provides clean water to communities around the world, began the Hurricane Sandy Relief Initiative to provide assistance to storm victims, focusing primarily on the surfing communities in New York and New Jersey.

Some 127 people participated in the event – 105 in the race and 22 in the fun paddle – which raised more than $10,000 for Waves for Water.

Duffey also reached out to his surfing buddy Carmen Rone, who owns Tomatoe’s, to host the after-party at his Margate restaurant with music by DJ JJ Walsh.

A surfboard featuring pictures from Hurricane Sandy was auctioned off at the party, adding $800 to the coffers.

For information see http://www.wavesforwater.org/fundraiser/freezin-for-a-reason-57-mile-paddleboard-race-for-sandy-victims.

Photos by Shaun Smith

Race results provided by Freezin for a Reason

1. Bruckner Chase – 1:00.30 Surf ski

2. Ryan Mathews – 1:03.06 Open prone

3. Steve Dullak – 1:04.38 14' SUP

4. Sven Peltonen – 1:04.40 14' SUP

5. Mark Colino – 1:04.42 14' SUP

6. John Kutner – 1:04.50 14' SUP

7. Bill Webster – 1:05.56 Open prone

8. Jim Mason and Judge Caiciotta – 1:06.07 Life boat

9. Thomas – 1:06.35 Surf ski

10. Jim Rothwell – 1:07.08 14' SUP

11. Bill Alty – 1:07.33 Prone

12. Drew Felson – 1:08.29 14' SUP

13. Mike Laielli – 1:09.39 14' SUP

14. Doug Bergen – 01:09.5 Open prone

15. Tim Schwegman – 1:10.04 14 prone

16. Sean Duffey – 1:10.26 14' SUP

17. Dan Callaghan – 1:11.03 14 prone

18. Dave Cooker – 1:11.20 14' SUP

19. Chad Brcockman – 1:12.24 14' SUP

20. Erich Becker – 1:12.36 Prone

21. Matt Rinck – 1:12.39 Prone

22. Carl Tripician – 1:13.20 Open SUP

23. Chris Atlee – 1:13.55 14' SUP

24. Kyle Gronostaski – 1:14.07 Prone

25. Zack Stiener – 1:14.08 12'6" SUP

26. Paul Giunta – 1:14.31 14' SUP

27. Nick Nichols – 1:14.56 14' SUP

28. Terri Plunket – 1:15.12 Female

29. John Fox – 1:16.11 14' SUP

30. Brian Warley – 1:16.27 Prone

31. Brian Coen – 1:17.28 12'6" SUP

32. Darryl Heale – 1:17.45 14' SUP

33. Brian Pasternak – 1:18.09 Prone

34. Adam Walcoff – 1:18.26 14' SUP

35. Margo Pellegrino – 1:18.44 Female

36. Eddy O'Kinsky – 1:18.57 14' SUP

37. Ken Gallant – 1:19.10 14' SUP

38. Mark Neustader – 1:19.55 14' SUP

39. Samantha Cerone – 1:20.00 Female

40. Paul Veres – 1:20.22 14' SUP

41. Brian Ketcik – 1:20.28 Prone

42. Carmen Rune – 1:20.30 14' SUP

43. Ryan White – 1:20.39 Prone

44. Brian Dellet – 1:21.05 12'6" SUP

45. Pat Armstrong – 1:21.37 14' SUP

46. Joe Destefano – 1:22.04 12'6" SUP

47. Roy Kvalo – 1:22.37 14' SUP

48. Rob Ransom – 1:22.46 14' SUP

49. Jasper Jarden – 1:23.15 12'6" SUP

50. Jeff Deron – 1:23.43 14' SUP

51. Brandy Middlesworth – 1:23.49 14' SUP

52. Tim Chambcovich – 1:23.56 Prone

53. Chad Destanik – 1:24.16 14'SUP

54. Rich Bubnowski – 1:24.35 12'6" SUP

55. Scott Jordan – 1:24.39 12'6" SUP

56. Jon Coen – 1:24.48 14' SUP

 

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