This Is What A $5000 Closeout Looks Like

Would you paddle battle 99% of the North Shore for a chance at $5000? 

On Dec 4th, this question ripped through the North Shores’ beachfront houses as our friends at Sun Bum greenlit their annual Bum Rush Tour — an impromptu contest where the judges choose a beach, stick flags in the sand, sound a horn, and give a big old check to whomever they deem the most entertaining. 

The judging panel included Tosh Tudor, Barron Mamiya, Vaihiti Mahana, and Dave Wassel. The winner’s check (+ $4000 this year) inspired the panel to make a few criteria innovations, which included but were not limited to: 

• The winner cannot burn everyone 
• Good claims are rewarded 
• Big closeouts are highly rewarded 
• Bonus points go to marathon-sessioners
• A CT surfer should not win (sorry *******)

Around 11 am at Ehukai Beach Park, Mr. Dave Wassel gave a guttural rallying cry to announce the contest on. 

As the sand-spewing righthander flexed, like ants to sunbaked Cheeto, the surfers crawled up each other’s backs before free-falling into oblivion. A champion emerged after an hour of colliding fiberglass, spinal adjustments, and tasteful boardies. 

Bet you would like to know who won. 

Hint: A North Shore Native who would become (arguably) the most celebrated surfer at the Vans Pipe Masters  just two weeks later. 

Watch the Bum Rush Tour take over the North Shore HERE