Skimmin’ Up North

Press release

Sleeping Bear Surf & Kayak of Empire held its second annual SBX Up North Skim Competition on Sunday August 2. The competition was held at North Bar Lake. The event was to be held the day before but weather forced the postponement until Sunday.

There were 30 competitors of all ages from as far away as Canada, four age divisions and an all-girls division. Every competitor received a t-shirt for the $20 entry fee. The first three competitors all came away with prizes: t-shirts, dvds, hats. The first place finishers each won a brand new skimboard.

The first-place finisher for the 8 and under group was Isaac Brendel, age 6, second place went to his brother Luke Brendel, age 8, with Xander Okerlund of Empire taking third place.

Reiss Skrocki, age 12 of Empire, won the 9-12 age division, second place went to Ranger Trucco, and Keller Flees took third place.

Nick Vogel, age 13 of Libertyville, Ill., took first place in the 13-16 year olds. Zachery Brendel won second place and Alec Hamelink of Rockford took third place.

The largest age division was 17 and older. Local Dustin Maleski, from Lake Leelanau, brought his top game to the event and won first place edging out a number of J-Gordon team riders. Eric Mueller of Muskegon took second and Rob Bennett from Ontario, Canada took third.

Last, but certainly not least, the Girls division winners were 11-year-old Natalie Vogel of Libertyville, Ill. Sam Thompson of Empire won second place, and Annabel Skrocki of Empire and Cameron Bazner from Lake Ann tied for third.

Thanks to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore for the venue. Big thanks to co-organizer Kyle Bazner and many thanks to sponsors Victoria skimboards, DB skimboards, J-Gordon skimboards and Gravity skateboards and Up-North Skim Crew. Great thanks of course to judges Adam Scarbrough, Weston Buchan and Kyle Bazner.

Start preparing for the third annual SBX Up North Skim Competition scheduled for the weekend of July 17, 2010.