James Crush Reclaims His Title
Reported By Otto Teller
Redemption may come in many forms and for James Crush it came with a second title at the 4th annual "Who's the Hot Shot?" surf shootout in South Mission. Crush dominated throughout the day in small 2 to 3 foot fickle slop to handle his business. Notables of the event include industry insiders Larry Kraus and Brady Mitchell finishing the final with respective 2nd and 3rd places. Rounding out the final was Dave Solomon, the subsequent winner of the "Most Radical Maneuver" award with a sick backside 3 in his semi-final heat that "Brody" Mitchell (Split and Famous Wax) won on a retro twin.
Also, riding a new MR signature design retro twin was Emerald City's Larry Kraus, who hammered a back 3 in his semi as well. The "Purple Heart " award for honor and dignity went to "Backyard" Jack Motter, aptly named by virtue of his house being on the contest site. "Back-Jack" worked hard and well throughout the early rounds but was perhaps robbed in his semi. In the end, Crushy owned his heats by catching longer lefts and in essence throwing out a big old "Yea What?!" to everyone in own special way. Later Crush, who was all business until the final horn, would dedicate his title to good friends, the late former Hot Shot champion Jim Miller and Mshindi Ford. All the finalists chilled on the beach before throwing numerous maneuvers upstairs in The Pennant (now pronounced with a French accent).
Big ups to everyone involved including sponsors Sector 9, Wahoo's Fish Taco, Converse, Soda Sunglasses, Emerald City, Rusty, Globe, Epitaph, Split and especially to S-9's Craig Beck and Rob Molt, Mike Brown Tyler Mars and The Artist known as "Artie" Arterburn all of whom surfed in the event.
