Farewell to the King

It is with much sadness that we bid farewell to the king. The King of the Cape Freestyle Pro-Am began in 1999 with nothing more than a dream of creating a local event to serve the burgeoning interest in freestyle on Cape Cod. I, then President of the Cape Cod Windsurfing Association, placed this event onto the calendar of the New England Windsurfing Journal without any idea of what it was to become over its six-year reign. Within a month of putting the word out a call came in from Trip Forman of North Sports asking what was going on with the freestyle contest and how they could be involved. I spoke of plans to create a fun freestyle event in the same vein as the “King of the Lake” that was happening in Italy on Lake Garda. Ann Phelan came on board as the Marketing and PR Director and they set about raising sponsors and putting together an event that would forever leave its mark on Cape Cod.

One of the first sponsors to sign up was Dunkin Donuts and it was then we realized we would have a purse and actually put together a pro event in our first year. Trip Forman worked his contacts within North Sports and secured freestyle wiz, Josh Stone to come to this inaugural event and help put it on the map. Other notables of the time that come out to compete in the pro division included Web Pedrick, Jace Panebianco, and 80’s freestyle champion, Chip Winans. The stage was set for the ultimate battle of new school versus old school freestyle.

This theme of old school – new school permeated the contest of the 6 years in that depending on the wind and weather conditions, a balance between old and new was found and sailors who had the tools in both camps dominated the competition. The idea of little of no wind minimum was established and those who came to the king knew they had to pull out all the stops. Wind and weather didn’t always cooperate, but everyone had the time of their life, hanging with the pros, eating all the food, and dancing away at the parties into the wee hours.

The King of the Cape was more than a competition it was truly an experience that was unseen on Cape Cod previously. As the years passed the event grew from a small freestyle contest to a Windsurfing Festival that included a PWA Pro Freestyle event, Nevin Sayre Kids Camp, and the WindFest Demo Tour. All of this made for a three-ring circus and provided non-stop fun and entertainment for all who came to see the event. From Dunkin Donuts, to Red Bull, Paul Mitchell, to Verizon Wireless, corporations saw the value of the event in the New England market and supported it whole heartily. And the value that the public saw in spectatorship, competition and participation was grand with over 13,000 people passing through the gates over the past 6 years.

Over the years, many notable sailors graced our presence, holding the annual King/Queen of The Cape title for freestyle, including: Josh Stone, Brian Talma, Web Pedrick, Matt Pritchard, Ricardo Campello, Diony Guadagnino, Colette Guadagnino, Daida Moreno, Nori Hubbs, Karin Jaggi, Petra Kanz, Robbie Swift, Andy Funnel, Martin VanGeenhoven, Carter Skemp, Marco Perez, Jace Panebianco, Taty Frans, Tonky Frans, Eric Girard, Nathan Mershon, Nick Warmuth, Riley Coon, and Tyson Poor. So many of these sailors came from so far to share their windsurfing spirit with us and for that we are grateful.

However, very often the stars of the show were the kids, who came from around the world on a mission of spreading the word of Freestyle. Seeing them improve as each year passed, becoming young men and women, new athletes, and role models for our sport, were an inspiration to all. The King of the Cape was a hotbed or youth spirit and energy with competitors as young as 6 years old, solidifying freestyles position within the youth market and within our sport. The Bonaire Team who came each year to show us the latest moves they created over the winter always set the bar for all others to achieve. They were as much a part of the show as any top touring professional.

We will never forget the huge bright smile of Josh Stone who never ever seemed to be too tired to talk story or give a hand, especially when tending bar at the Saturday night party. The boundless positive spirit of Brian “Irie Man” Talma who truly expressed what the event was all about. Or the incredible moves the Frans brothers from Bonaire came up with that seemed to stump the best of our judges. Or the juxtaposition of Chip Winan’s riding his 1980’s Windsurfer, sailing “back-sided-inside-the-boom-on-the-rail-tail-first” against Josh Stones massively aerial Vulcan. Or little Kiri Thode beating most of the adults without any effort at all on a wave board in the light winds. Or the incredible talent of up and coming female freestyler Andrea Gillum. Or the site of 6 year old Rasmus Sayre competing in his first event ever. Or the amazing trophies from Chris Caron and Jerry Evans. Or the amazing food provided by Jim and Karen at the Chatham Seafood House and Iso Bar each year. Or the sadness when we heard of the passing of Andy Funnel who graced our presence for a mere moment with such mastery and skill. The memories of the past six years will be with us forever and always with a fond smile.

Behind the scene and with much less of a spotlight was the countless volunteers whom came and helped make this event everything that it was and without them, none of this could have been. First and foremost, Ann Phelan, who worked tirelessly, helping secure sponsors, and organizing the social aspects of the event from the beginning, cheering the sailors from the sidelines, Trip Forman, whose early support helped getting the industry on board and was head judge for years, Jim Desilva, who was the voice of the event and one of our key judges in the early years, Steve Saunders, who was our Beach Marshal every year and ran a tight ship keeping the heats flowing, Bo Piersonik, who assisted our Beach Marshal, ran the score board, and helped with setup and break down each year, Nevin Sayre, who was a big supporter and ran the kids camp portion of the event and helped bring Bic Sport North America on board as a sponsor, Chuck Gerbutavich, who was head of safety and kept the event site running smoothly, Philip Mann, who helped coordinate things on the ground and provided much needed help and local support, Jim Ballantyne, whose shop at Sailworld was a big supporter as was Platt Johnson at Island Sports, Lynn Mancini from Verizon Wireless without whose strong financial support none of this could have happened, the Bonaire Sailing Team who were a source of never ending freestyle inspiration and camaraderie, Michael Leon, Mike Burns and Gino DelGercio who produced amazing videos of the event that we will cherish for years to come, Peter Bogucki at the New England Windsurfing Journal, Eddy Petricelli at Windsurfing Magazine, John Bryja at Windsport Magazine, Dustin Pineau at Town of Dennis Parks and Recreation, Marc Downing at the Corsair, “Fast” Eddie Senechal, Stacy Bogs from AWSI, Chris Decerbo and Bob Honeywell from Bic Sports NA, Doug and Nancy Sheeley, Jerry and Janice Evans, Dave Boynton, Marc Morales, Chris Caron, Charlie Cook, Edward Spencer, Henry Coz, Ace Ali, Cape Cod and Dennis Chambers of Commerce and many, many others.

You never know what the future may hold and the King may yet live again, but until then, we bid you adieu and farewell, ye ole King of the Cape.

 

Marc Lefebvre
Event Director

 

 

Past Winners