Surf, Sand, and Sea Doos Salisbury Beach Festival Offers More Than Fun and Sun

SALISBURY — It's a shame Mother Nature was in a sour mood this weekend, because everyone involved with the 2008 Salisbury Sand and Sea Festival certainly were not.

The music was rising, the food salivating, the rides spinning, and the ageless soul of the crowd was alive with families and friends. And despite over cast skies, a nagging mist, and some serious chop in the water, the events and plans organized by the Salisbury Beach Partnership executive director Kathy Aiello, came to fruition regardless of how the elements were behaving.

"The Sand and Sea Fest is just a great mix of things to do on the beach and the beach center," said Aiello. "It's great for families and teens, and we managed to attract some excellent bands in The Brew, Entrain, and Noddaclu. What's better than watching a band play with the beach in the background?

"By day, a lot of physical activity, by night, just a perfect place to relax and have fun. It's been nice too, because I've been walking around and hearing different families state that this is what it was like when they were young. And that's what we wanted," said Aiello.

Aside from all of the incredible food, carnival rides and grooving reggae music, the Sand and Sea Fest paid tribute to what the beach is most traditionally linked with — recreation.

Beach Bootcamp, surfing lessons, a volleyball round robin tournament, and Toyota/Sea Doo U.S. Regional Championship Watercross races all did their part of adding a little extra salt to the water and sand.

With facilities all over the North Shore, the Latitude Sports Club of Salisbury was an integral partner in bringing excitement and health to the weekend's busy schedule. Thanks to primary owner John Grossi, and partial owners Eric Leever and Ralph Bagarella, as well as coordinators Dave DeRosa and John Bushnell, the team of health advocates helped set up the beach boot camp work-out, as well as the second annual Sand and Sea volleyball tournament.

In charge of the beach bootcamp was Stephanie Suprin, Chris Meyers and Ryan Floyd. Suprin explained that though the weather wasn't exactly inviting, the folks in attendance still had a great time.

"It went very well. The weather was a little cool, but I think that worked our for the best because every one was shedding their sweat shirts off by the end," explained Suprin who devised a work-out plan of suicides, reverse pull-ups, dips, jumping jacks, push-ups, mountain climbers, lunges, and a short run along the beach. "They loved how it was so different," said Suprin who will be offering the same bootcamp during the Maritime Festival. "They actually preferred to work out in the sand!"

The winners of the two-day, two-man round robin volleyball tournament were Jeff Stanley, 19, and Anthony Aponte, 20, of Haverhill, MA.

"It was a lot of fun. We lost in the championship last year but managed to redeem ourselves this time around," explained Stanley, a student at the University of Rhode Island who collected a back pack with sandals and t-shirts, as well as a $100 gift certificate from pro surfer Mike Paugh's Zapstix Surf Shop. "We played one game yesterday, and three today. We were definitely pumped."

His spiking partner, Aponte, felt like this was their redemption.

"It felt great to finally win," said the Newbury College student. "The conditions this year were the total opposite of last year. Last year there was no wind and plenty of sun, and this year it was pretty cold with a decent breeze. I like our chances next year if we can win in this type of weather."

The Zapstix Surf Shop were set up to the direct right of the music stage, and though the weather didn't permit the finest of surfing conditions, Paugh was glad to see the community coming together.

"The weather didn't allow us to give any lessons, but we managed to rent out a few boards and I just think the overall exposure was great. I'm glad people still made the effort to come out," stated Paugh, whose system of friends and family had a memorable weekend.

Paugh's family dog, Occy, a seven month old white golden retriever named after surfing great Mark Occhilupo, won the best in show at the Pet Parade, and close family friend and Seabrook native Leanne Falvey, came in third at the Watercross races in the Pro Am Ski GP.

Sponsoring the Toyota/Sea Doo U.S. Regional Championship was Upstate Watercraft Promotion Inc., and two of their finest A.J. Handler and Julia Pilat, both of whom were excited to bring the sport back to the shores of Salisbury.
"This is a great place for our sport," said Handler. "The conditions were a little extreme, which of course the racers really love, but occasionally the machines don't weather the elements as well as the athletes. The racers go around 60 to 70 miles per hour and with waves that rough, it's not uncommon to see some handles break. Regardless of the weather though, the racing was great and very exciting."

Pilat was glad to be back in Salisbury, and was eager to compliment the racers, especially Falvey.

"The watercraft community is just so tight-knit and set on being upstanding role models that I feel like these athletes are setting the perfect standard," stated Pilat. "There is nothing cutthroat about this sport. Everyone helps one another out, and it's just a joy to see professional athletes aiding each other rather than trying to set one another back."
And how does Pilat view Falvey?

"She's the fastest woman in the world on watercraft."

The Daily News
By Evan Mugford/Staff writer
Published: June 29, 2008