More than 100 surfers will gather at Ocean Beach Pier for the Tony Mezzadri Surf Classic on Saturday, Sept. 23. The annual event benefits spinal cord injury research.
The Sunset Cliffs Surfing Association has collaborated with the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) to host the surf classic since 1994, with all proceeds from entry fees, T-shirt sales and donations going to the UCSD research group of Mark Tuszynski, M.D.
“This is a spinal cord injury awareness competition, without too much emphasis on competition. It’s just a really fun time,” said Lee Edging, president of the Sunset Cliffs Surfing Association.
Participants ranging in age from teens to seniors will compete throughout the day in long board, short board and knee board contests. The event, which begins at 7 a.m., also includes a beach cookout, silent auctions and music by the Naked Ones.
The benefit came about as a grassroots effort to help Tony Mezzadri, who broke his neck in a surfing accident in Ocean Beach 13 years ago, Edging said. The accident left Mezzadri without the use of his legs and limited use in his arms and hands. Friends, family and the community rallied to help him and the Tony Mezzadri Surf Classic has been hosted every year since then.
Originally, the proceeds benefited Mezzadri directly to help defray medical costs and related expenses. However, since the event was such a success, Mezzadri and a loose-knit coalition of surfers, including Edging, re-established the Sunset Cliffs Surfing Association. The SCSA has been known for its generous involvement with the community and are “not just a bunch of surf guys,” Edging said.
Through the surf classic, the SCSA, Mezzadri and the Ocean Beach community have raised tens of thousands of dollars for spinal cord injury research, and spread a message of awareness and prevention.
According to Edging, keeping the growing event in the hands of the community has presented a challenge. The surf classic became “too big for its britches,” he said, adding that last year’s “Bringing it Home” theme emphasized the grassroots origin of the benefit with pictures from the first installment, encouraging a more scaled back, local feel.
Donations toward spinal cord injury research are tax deductible and may be mailed to UCSD Foundation, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0696. To participate in the surf classic, visit www.tonycontest.org or contact Mouse, (619) 226-8649, or Frank, (619) 224-9595.