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Words and photos by Tom Dugan
The 6th Annual Hotdogz on a Stix was held at the end of Lincoln Street in Cape Canaveral, Florida on Saturday July 6th, 2024. This year’s event was a bit different as they reached out to sponsors and raised the prize money to a cool $5000.
A photo study in clean line surfing with this year’s Hotdogz on a Stix winner Gavin Idone. Five tows over on his way to a first place and a $1500.00 paycheck. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
As in years gone by, the waves showed up in early July (a bit of a miracle in Florida) and were very consistent thru both the morning high tide and the afternoon low tide. The waves could have been bigger but waist high waves are plenty good for logging.
The 2024 Hotdogz on a Stix Finalists: ( L to R ) Saxon Wilson 2nd, Shane Konrad 3rd, Gavin Idone 1st, and Nohea Williams 4th. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
Once again, riding longboards from the 1960’s or before is the main requirement for the contestants. For those contestants whose quivers don’t include a 60’s board, a few were provided and shared all day long, keeping the vibe authentic to the vision of the event.
The one who makes it happen year after year. Core Surf owner, contest director, poster artist, and promoter for the last six years; Dennis Griffin shows off this year’s contest jersey. Such a cool addition to the 60’s vibe and all around fun the Hotdogz on a Stix. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
The men and women surfed heats together right up till the end, where the women and men each had their own finals. The money break down was decided with a paycheck of $1500 for the Men’s winner ( Gavin Idone ) and $1000 for the Women’s winner ( Carly Cappelluzzo ).
If you want to win in a log contest, you need to pull out all the stops. Carly Cappelluzzo shows us how to get the $1000.00 dollar first place Women’s check by putting her head firmly in the game. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
The day was a perfect Florida summer day with the temperature in the 90’s, light winds, and water in the mid 80’s. Small, clean consistent swell lasted all day.
Canaveral Pier, just a few blocks to the south, stopped allowing surf contests a few years back when the new owners took over. It’s a shame, as over 50 years of surfing contest history was erased for a few bucks. Time moves on and The Hotdogz location is just as good if not better, and has had a steady six year run of contestable waves every July. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
This is always a fun day, with great surfing and good people having quality surf time with old friends and new ones. Congrats goes out to all the finalists and a huge Thank You to Dennis for another great July Hotdogz on a Stix weekend. – Tom Dugan –
Shane Konrad nose rides as Chris Duff drops in, and Mike Rowley paddles out. Busy time in a morning heat. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
Open
1st $1500 Gavin Idone
2nd $750 Saxon Willson
3rd $500 Shane Konrad
4th $200 Nohea Williams
Nice cutback staying in the power source of the wave by 2nd place finnisher Saxon Wilson. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
Women’s
1st $1000 Carly Cappelluzzo
2nd $500 Emily Ulman
3rd $200 Fiona Sargent
4th $100 Josie Clark
Shane Konrad with a solid CHEATER FIVE on the way to a 3rd place finish and a $500.00 paycheck. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
Although not fins from the sixties, the influence is always there in today’s longboard skegs. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
Nohea Williams hangs five for a forth place finish and a $200.00 check. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
Girls just want to have fun …..and earn some cash while they’re at it. Second place finisher Emily Ulman (in white ) took home $500.00 cash, while Carly Cappelluzzo ( in yellow) took $1000.00 for the win. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
Top flight judges judges Eddie Guilbeau, Matty Mullon, and Barry Pasonski with Chip Hall hanging in the back , spent all day watching and scrutinizing every single ride in every single heat. To say they earned their pay is an understatement. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
Past Hotdogz winner Saxon Willson sits on the tip with a solid ten. Saxon surfed into second place this year and a cool $750.00 in take-home pay for a day at the beach. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
Some of the boards on hand to use if you didn’t have your own. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
Yancy Spencer Jr. hit the water with style and a bit of the Spencer flair that runs in the family. Styling on the inside run. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
Hanging five taken to the extreme. Tommy Coleman shows us how it’s properly done. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
Down from college in Jacksonville, Florida, Georgia boy Liam Kolkmeyer checks out the keg on his vintage 60’s BUNGER surfboard. If you had your own board from the 60’s, it was within the rules to surf it. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
Brent Russel cuts back on a smaller wave that looks to be about “Two Foot “ PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
With the hot summer sun shining down all day, 1st place winner Gavin Idone wore a hat to help with some sun protection during his heats. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
Hotdawger’s smiles. Nohea Williams and Gavin Idone head out for the first semi-final heat. Gavin took first and Nohea got second in what turned out to be a real nail bitter. The iconic Canaveral Pier – the scene of decades of legendary contest battles starting in the early 60’s til present – looms in the background. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
Early morning women’s heat about to hit the water. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
