Encinitas surf contest may suffer wipeout
By: ADAM KAYE - Staff Writer | ∞
ENCINITAS ---- The city's biggest annual surfing contest may have wiped out.
The Hansen/Machado Surf Classic & Cardiff Beach Fair, a two-day party in September that attracts 400 surfers and 40,000 onlookers from across the state to North Cardiff State Beach, has lost its chief organizer.
Jim Clark, the event's organizer and president of the Cardiff-by-the-Sea Chamber of Commerce, said Wednesday that the chamber's board voted earlier this week to cancel its participation in the contest.
However, a state official and the contest's founders said they are looking for a way to continue the event.
Clark said that in recent weeks state parks officials have increased fees and placed "outrageous" restrictions ---- such as no alcohol and no concert stage ---- on the event.
"If you start stripping away elements, (the event) doesn't function," Clark said. "Not one element of this event can support itself. It's a collaborative thing."
Denny Stoufer, a state parks superintendent working in North County, the cost and other details of the event could still be negotiated.
Through the years, the event has gotten bigger and bigger. Park officials say rock music from the stage and alcohol from the beer garden can create an unsafe mix in such a large crowd.
Last year, with less than one day's notice, the band Switchfoot agreed to play. State officials said the sudden appearance of the popular act caused problems.
"They didn't bother to let us know that one of the bands was Switchfoot, a national band," Stoufer said. "We weren't staffed up for a big draw like that."
Clark said the chamber wasn't responsible for hiring the band, and that he found out about the booking at the same time state officials did. He said he does not know how it was that the band ---- which has local ties ---- agreed to play.
The concert ---- and, for that matter, the entire contest ---- went off without any problems, Clark said.
"We've had riots before," Stoufer said, referring to a surfing contest in Huntington Beach. "Rock music and alcohol ---- it's easy for it to get out of control."
Clark rejected any comparison between the Orange County city and Cardiff.
The state has set a $12,345 fee for the chamber to host a 2006 contest, and for that price, a beer garden and concert stage would not be allowed, Clark said. He said last year's fee ---- which included the $1,400 the chamber paid for increased security ---- totaled $10,000. It was unclear how much a beer garden and concert stage might increase the fee this year.
Stoufer could not cite any history of problems at the Hansen/Machado contest, but he said some local surfers become frustrated when contestants take over their spot.
During the weekend-long event, some 80 vendors, a large, covered stage and great numbers of people fill the parking lot at the mouth on South Coast Highway 101 at the mouth of San Elijo Lagoon.
Contestants from throughout California and beyond compete for cash and other prizes, Clark said. A double-decker bus shuttles visitors to and from parking lots and to downtown Encinitas to shop and eat.
The contest's namesakes have strong local ties.
Don Hansen is owner of Hansen's, an Encinitas surf shop for more than 40 years.
Rob Machado grew up in Cardiff and today lives with his family in a house overlooking Cardiff State Beach.
Contacted Wednesday, Machado said he hoped to work with state officials to salvage the event, even if it's on a smaller scale.
"Our goal is still to pull it off," he said.
Over the years, the contest just got better and better, Machado said.
"It really just became a great gathering at the beach," he said.
Hansen said he, too, hoped the contest could continue.
"We're obviously disappointed, because the contest was basically for the kids," Hansen said. "Even if we don't do it this year, maybe we can do something (in the future) that's as good or better."
Contact staff writer Adam Kaye at (760) 943-2312 or akaye@nctimes.com.
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DAH wrote on Mar 16, 2006 8:33 AM:Given that the band Switchfoot is a CHRISTIAN rock band, I hardly see how "the mix of rock music & alcohol" could be a concern in the case of last year's event. Granted, the number of attendees probably climbed because Switchfoot played - but I pretty much guarantee you, their fans weren't consuming alcohol!
Benji wrote on Mar 16, 2006 11:30 AM:The subcurrent I read into it is that when SURFERS are involved, it is likely to get out of control. There were zero issues last year, to drastically increase fees because of what MIGHT happen is asinine. They just need to nail down the entertainment portion and not allow changes, problem solved. This is really a great family event that needs to continue. It seems that surfers are being singled out as a bad element, the comment on the HB riot proves it. But unknown to many is that the HB riot was caused by NON-surfers who came from inland for the bikini contest, do your research.
J.P. wrote on Mar 16, 2006 10:46 PM:Last years event was out of control. When I was buying a raffle ticket for the Skip Frye fish someone stepped on my foot and I was wearing flip flops! It really hurt. Then when this 10 year old girl got a surf trophy a bunch of people cheered and clapped, that was a close one.
Rob wrote on Aug 27, 2006 10:36 AM:I have been to this event three times participating as a contestant and with a vendor boot and it is a wonderful event. I think if we loze the booze it will still be as great of an event - but keep the stage and bands.
Rob wrote on Aug 27, 2006 10:37 AM:I have been to this event three times participating as a contestant and with a vendor booth and it is a wonderful event. I think if we loze the booze it will still be as great of an event - but keep the stage and bands.
Erin F. wrote on Feb 29, 2008 10:37 PM:It�s too bad that at a time when the state parks are suffering with a major budget crunch and the ominous threat of closing 48 of our beautiful and much needed state parks, that they would basically throw away the opportunity to make some quick cash and provide the cocmmunity with a great annual �family� event. I have been to this contest and have not experienced any sort of negative situations or anything perceived as being close to a "riot". Look at how many people enjoy the day with their families, it�s not just a bunch of crazy �kids� hanging out in beer gardens listening to music. It�s a broad range of diverse people enjoying a day at the beach, watching or participating in the contest; checking out the vendor booths and enjoying the festivities. Yes, when you mix crowds, music and alcohol, there is the POTENTIAL for problems, but it�s obvious by the State Park Superintendents comments they are being overly pessimistic completely paranoid. Why, they might actually need to work a little to earn their dept. an extra $12,000 or more for one or two days work. Imagine that�
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