By Jake Howard
There are a lot of surf contests that groms can participate in these days, but none are quite like the Cosmic Creek Surf Festival, sponsored by surfwear brand Vissla. An ode to the groovy days of the ’70s, when single-fins and twins prowled the lineup, the event celebrated its 21st year at Salt Creek last weekend.
“This has been one of the best ones ever,” said an enthusiastic Eric Diamond, contest mastermind.
For the first time in the Cosmic Creek history, there was a women’s division; and when it came to the groms, the 14-and-unders were more frothed out than anyone. Psyching each other up before the final on Sunday, Zach Perry, Rex Hennings, Callan Emery, Jacob Crouse and Josh Johnson hit the water like rockets. With a clean, three-foot south swell wrapping in off the point, the boys had a ball.
Riding heavy, old, vintage boards, it was a great experience for all of them. Today’s surfboards have come a long way over the last 30-plus years, but to sample what it was like “back in the day,” it’s going to do wonders for their styles, approaches and appreciation for where surfing’s been and where it’s going. In the end, it was Perry edging out the field to take a well-deserved win.
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