Out of the water, the MSA focused their attention to throwing a Green event, putting the environment and environmental awareness at the forefront of the contest. The MSA also honored surfing legend Lance Carson and their former president Diane Sanders with special awards over the course of the weekend. Another feature of this year's Classic was paying homage to the first MSA Classic way back in 1963, a time when the MSA was still under the leadership of now SBSC member Butch Linden (the MSA's first president and one of its founding members).

With 1963 on the mind, surfers from the original MSA Classic were invited to come on down and hang out over the weekend. Locally, Andy Neumann and Mike Haskell, both of whom represented the SBSC in this year's event, were among the many surfers from the original MSA classic in attendance this year. In 1963, these two surfers were among a team of young high school aged kids that came down to Malibu as part of the Hope Ranch Surf Club team to compete. They were not the only HRSC surfers from the 1963 team to make an appearance, howevr. Showing up at the Saturday night party, were 1963 HRSC surfers and Santa Barbara locals Jim "Slim" Powell, John Powell, and Jon Church, thereby creating a mini-HRSC reunion (see this link for more info, courtesy of Jim Powell, on the HRSC and its participation in the 1963 event: www.west.net/~coyote/hoperanch.html). Other members of that original team not in attendance at this year's 45th MSA Classic include: Jim Hansen, Steven Neal (killed in Vietnam 1967), Alan Hazard, Jim Head, Glen Merfield, and possibly John Peck (there is debate among the above as to whether or not Peck was on the 1963 team). Old age sometimes creates faded memories i suppose. Several original contestants from the 1963 contest from the Long Beach Surf Club, the MSA, and the Windansea Surf Club also attended the party. All in all, it was a very neat experience to be able to meet some of these surfers and hear their stories of the original event and their memories of the "old days".

Party and side attractions aside, this year's MSA Classic once again proved to be a successful competitive venture for the SBSC. Although not as fruitful as a year ago (in 2007 the club finished as a team and placed 18 surfers in the finals), the SBSC once again established itself as a dominant presence at Malibu. Indivdually, the club placed 12 surfers into the finals:

Menehune Girls - ChaCha Fisher 4th Place (This was ChaCha's first ever time surfing Malibu! Imagine that! Your first Malibu session is just you and 5 other girls and the waves are good! It can only goes down hill from there. ChaCha's dad and I had to explain to her how crowded of a spot first point typically is).

18-34 Women - Kaley Swift 6th Place (A return finalist from 2007, Kaley surfed great all weekend in two different divisions, making the finals in both). Janna Irons 4th Place (As usual, Janna showed tremendous tip riding skills and power in her heats and once again found herself on the finals podium at the end of the contest. Nice Job Janna!)

Open Women - Kaley Swift 4th Place (Kaley was a rock all weekend. Sliding through heat after heat near effortlessly, or so it seemed. Congrats Kaley!)

13-17 Boys - Gabe Biancone 4th Place (Gabe's second straight Malibu final this summer, well done!)    Sam McClennon 3rd Place (Sam surfer great all weekend!)

30-49 Men - Andrew Buck 5th Place (From first to fifth, Andrew won the MSA Classic in 2007, but had to settle for 5th this year)  Tommy Dane 1st Place!!!!! (Excellent job Tommy. This was Tommy's fouth straight Malibu final appearance and his first first place finish. You did the club proud Tommy).

60-69 Men - Andy Neumann 3rd Place (A true Santa Barbara legend. Andy surfed wonderfully all weekend, as usual).

70+ Men - Bob Perkos 6th Place (Long time Santa Barbara surfer and an original member of the circa 1960 Santa Barbara County Surf Club, after recently turning 70, Bob Perkos decided to begin to compete again. Before his heat Bob entertained many of us with story of the old days, including how the Bixby Ranch surf spot Perkos came to named Perkos. What a fun story. In the water, Perkos caught two of the best waves in the heat and might have placed first had he had the wind to catch two more like his first two! Add some time to this age group's final and lookout for Bob! Nice job Bob, you did great!)   Frayne Higgesan 4th Place (Yet another nice surf contest for the near 75 year old Frayne. The best part about watching the Super Legends surf is listening to how many people comment how they hope to simply still surf when they are that age! Frayne, Bob, and all of the other Super Legends are a true gift to be able to watch surf).

Open Men - Tyler Anderson 5th Place (Riding one of his homemade sub-5'8" quads Tyler wowed the crowds and competion with his unreal speed on his board. This was his first contest for the club and we hope not his last. Congrats Tyler!)