Local surfers win big at surfing championships
BY DAN PARKER SOUTH JETTY REPORTER

Several Port Aransas residents won honors at the Texas State Surfing Championships at South Padre Island on Saturday and Sunday, May 24 and 25.

Paul Balcom took first place in the legends division of the contest, which was sponsored by the Texas Gulf Surfing Association. The legends division is for surfers more than 50 years old.

Balcom also won first place for the year in that division, acquiring the most overall points from various TGSA contests he entered.

Balcom's daughter, Kalani, 15, took second place in the girls' short-board division of the state championships and was the overall points winner for the year in that division. She also scored fourth place in the women's short board division at the contest.

Kellie Owens, 11, took fourth place in the mini-girls short board division.

The Balcoms and Owens are part of the Port A. Surf Co. surf shop team.

Kate Prejean won third place in the women's long board division at the state championships. She was not part of a team.

Brittany Tupaj, a former Port Aransas resident now living in Corpus Christi, got first place in the women's long-board division of the contest and second place in the women's short board division. She also took first place for the year in overall points for the women's short board and long board divisions. Tupaj is part of the Board House surf shop team of Port Aransas.

All of those who placed at the state competition likely will be eligible to compete in national competition sponsored by Surfing America, a non-profit group that organizes surf contests, said Mary Goldsmith, a Port Aransan who is vice president of the TGSA in Texas. Surfing America will announce later how many slots will be available for Texans in the national contest.

The national championships will be held Aug. 19-24 at Huntington Beach, Calif.