The waves were pumping as Mike McVinney, a UF alumnus, took home first place at the 28th Annual UF Surf Club Alumni Surf Challenge.
Matt Novak, 23-year-old UF second-year health administration graduate student, came in second.
Novak, a former Surf Club team captain, said there was a lot of talent at the meet.
“I wouldn’t say I was happy with second,” he said, “but I’ll take it.”
The challenge between the UF Surf Club alumni and the current club was held recently in St. Augustine.
“Usually around this time, conditions are flat, but this year it was super windy, and the waves were good, so we had a great turnout,” said Jay Leskowyak, 24, UF Surf Club president and horticultural sciences senior.
A record 35 students and 60 alumni competed against each other in the challenge.
At River to Sea Preserve at Marineland in Flagler County, there was an after-party with raffle prizes, including skateboards, longboards, hats, watches and sunglasses.
“The Marineland party was epic,” said Bobby Sowalsky, 22, UF Surf Club event coordinator and industrial and systems engineering major. “The night ended with dance battles and a huge dance-off.”
A version of this story ran on page 5 on 10/2/2013 under the headline "Surf challenge has totally rad turnout"
