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JERSEY DEVIL RETURNS
Dean Randazzo wins Smith Optics Garden State Grudge Match
By:
Jon Coen
Photos: All photos: Anne Marie-Coen
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October 5, 2007
18100 visits
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It's all about the groms! Whether we think it's right or not, the surf industry is youth-driven. Young, good-looking, people sell the lifestyle.
This obsession with youth is bullsh*t. After Dean Randazzo went out and spanked every "young," "marketable" pro at Wednesday's Smith Optics Garden State Grudge Match, my thought was solidified.
This contest doesn't offer loads of money or rating points, and in the history of the event there have been a total of four single women on the beach. It's about something much more important in New Jersey. Pride is too abstract a word. It's about being able to talk shit. To win the Grudge, you just have to beat all of your friends. No one gets seeded. You blow it -- you go home (or start pounding Millers and get belligerent.) |
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All this drama wouldn't be worth anything for a shin-high shindig. And The Grudge waiting period has allowed for honking nor'easters, sweet south swells, and extra sloppy extra tropicals. This year, the swell was courtesy of a pressure gradient between a maverick low and major high-pressure. A little fog never hurt anyone. No one had ever won a Grudge Match twice, and former champs fell hard -- Mike Gleason, then Frank Walsh. Chris Kelly started his Grudge legacy by whomping his older brother, Rob, in the first round. Matt Keenan's clean no-handed air-reverse in the first round will go down in Grudge Match aerial history The 2003 and '05 belt wearers, Keenan and Sam Hammer waged an epic war as the sun made its debut. It would have been tough to understand that these two are friends, as they sat on each other, biting and kicking for each wave, Slayer blaring from the PA. Hammer threw down a vicious four hits on his frontside, that Keenan answered with four impossibly backside turns for an 8.3. The entire beach was electrified, as personal vendettas came to the surface. "All I wanted to do was make it through that heat," admitted a relived Keenan. Randazzo's surfing was inspiring. Not inspiring as in "impressive for an older guy," but just a straight up badass power display - Ageless. Apparently, youth and youthful are two different things. Dean's wearing the belt.
Keenan's complete portfolio of on-rail turns, critical section bashes and fast-foot floaters couldn't be denied. He basically outsurfed everyone all day. But that's why they hold a final. Somers Point's Randazzo could not be denied. This guy became a role model to the whole state when he made the WCT in 1995, and a hero to the entire surfing world when he smacked down Hodgkins Disease in 2001. He went on to win the inaugural Grudge Match, made a solid run at the WQS, and created the Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation. He earned legend status last year, when he spent the summer in the hospital and shook off the illness for a second and third time. "He's the reason any of us make a living doing this," said Jason Reagan. Randazzo was his usual, selective self, letting Keenan rack up five one-point waves to start. Then The Jersey Devil came from behind a section, floated out, got off a wrap around, and laid into that gritty bread and butter power-snap of his for an 8. Keenan piled up a few 5.5's, but never caught Randazzo, as he got off a long right and found a little cover up. Randazzo's surfing was inspiring. Not inspiring as in "impressive for an older guy," but just a straight up badass power display - Ageless. Apparently, youth and youthful are two different things. Dean's wearing the belt. To learn more about his cancer organization, go to deanrandazzocancerfoundation.org MORE SURF NEWS SURFLINE HOME PAGE |
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