I walked around the stage as surfers and skaters were getting ready for the next round of contests. The bands were setting up their gear on the stage next to the skating ramp, and a crowd of surf fans were anxious to see the upcoming live performances. I found 19-year-old Zach Donovan, born and raised on Long Island, who was participating for the second time at New York Surf Week. Donovan has been surfing for nine years now. “Last year the event was great, but this year it’s much bigger with the skate contest and concert,” he said. “I can’t wait to see which bands are here to perform. There’s so much to look forward to.” As a teenager, I wanted to know what surfing means to Donovan. “Surfing is a healthy addiction. Surfing is therapeutic and an adrenaline rush at the same time,” he said. “You get a chance to surf with all different levels of surfers from the East Coast. It’s good for your soul honestly. I love surfing. The first time my parents brought me surfing, I knew I was gonna surf all my life.”
Zach is one of the many teens enjoying this year’s event. Along with medals and awards, there is a purse that goes to the winners, based on their performance. Attending the NYSEA surfing competition, I have come to understand that a common bond exists between the old and new generations of surfers. Kealii Mamala, a 3B?V"???B?v????F?fR?v???2&VV???FVB????7F?'?f?"7W&f??rF?6F6?F?R6V6??B&?vvW7BvfR??F?Rv?&?B?6??w2??27W?'Bf?"F?R?WrvV?W&F???7W&fW'2??B?2W'6???F?W2??R???v??GG&7BF?R??WF?F??VW6?6??rF?R?W?BvfR?( ?N( ?2&V???V?F??F?&R?W&R7W&f??rv?F?F?R??G2??F???F?R??'GV??G?F?'&??r???G2?W&RF???F?W?&RV??????rF?R&VWF?gV?vVF?W"?W&R?????r&V6??B???G2&R&V??rW??6VBF?F?RG'VRW'?6R?b7W&f??r?v??6??26???rF?vWF?W"v?F??F?W'2?BV??????rv??BvfR?( ??R6?B?( ?v?BF?F???F?R6?V?G??b???r&V6?f?"????rF??2?V??( ?F?R7V?GW&R?b7W&f??r?2&6VB6??V6???F?R??FW&7F???&WGvVV?F?R7W&fW"?BF?RvfR??F??Vv?7W&f??r??6VV?6??WF?F?fR??B?2F?W&WWF?22vV???( ?F?R?6V??2?6?W&6??B7W&f??r?0???GW&??7?&?GV?F??R??B6??2?6?V?v?V???6?6??rvfR?( ????6?B?????2&VV?7W&f??r????2?fR?B?2&V6V?fVBw&VB&V6?v??F???f?"??276???f?"F?R7?'B??R?2v???&?B?b7W&f??r6?????6??2?fW"F?R?V'2??B2&W7V?B?v2??f?FVB'???4T?&v?W'2F?F?R'B??F?R6??WF?F?????F??Vv???4T?2&VV?&?V?B6??6R#R??Bv22V?FW&w&?V?B2F?R?Wr??&?7W&b66V?RW6VBF?&R?'WB??rF?BV??R&RF???r??F?6R?bF?R?Wr??&?7W&b7V?GW&R??B??&RWfV?G2??RF?RV?6?6??fW"&??Wr??&?7W&b6??WF?F????&R6???rF?6?V6??WBF??2WfW"?w&?v??r66V?R?F?R?&v?F????2GVr?G6V?b?WB?bF?R6?Bv?F?F???F6?&?GV7F???2?b?Wr??&?7W&fW'2?B&V6?W2?F?R?&v?F????B?G2vV'6?FR6??F??VRF?w&?r2F?R66V?RF?W2??ffW&??r?fRvV"67F??r?bWfV?G2?????rvVV???7G2??WfV?G2?B7W&fW'2??ffW"?fR6?W&f?Wv??r?bF?R7W&bB???r&V6???B7&VFW2F??2?bf?FV?2F?Bf?7W2??B?W7B??F?RV?F?&R7W&b66V?R?'WB???Wr??&?7W&f??r????7G&V??W&?6W&6V?fW2?Wr??&?2F?Rf???6??6V?FW"?bF?Rv?&?B?'WBF?W&R?2??&RF?F?R7FFR?BF?R6?G?F???VWG2F?RW?R???&V6V?B?V'2??&v?F???0??3 ??uur?T?D??DTD??UDT?t???R?4???3??