Comp: TheTommy Tant is On For Saturday, Nov. xxxx
The 20 th Annual Tommy Tant Memorial Surf Classic presented by The Surf Station will
take place on November 13 and 14 in Flagler Beach, Florida. What began in memory of
Tommy Tant—a local surfer who passed away tragically from an aortic aneurysm at 24
years old—has grown into a beloved event that celebrates the bond of family,
friendship, and surf culture he loved.
This year’s event will kick off at Tortugas Restaurant on Friday, November 12 at 7 pm
with live music and a live auction. Auction items include an all-inclusive surf adventure
to Nicaragua, VIP seats to the Orlando Magic, a weekend golf getaway to the Hammock
Beach Resort and Spa, and a custom Channel Island surfboard.
At noon on the Sunday of everyTommy Tant Contest there is a paddle out to remember the life of Tommy and what he meant to the surfing and local community. Come join everyone on Sunday and share in the joy of who Flagler Beach has honored for the last 20 years. Photo: Mez
The amateur and professional surf contest begins at 8am on Saturday, November 13.
Some of the world’s best surfers will battle through the elimination rounds at the iconic
Flagler pier. Raffle tickets will be available for a chance to win surfboards, surf gear, and
a one-of-a-kind surfboard wall art. Attendees can also peruse sponsor booths lining the
A1A boardwalk.
The family behind what the Tommy Tant is all about. They have brought new life to the local community each year with the loss of their beloved son Tommy and brother by having a weekend to celebrate his life and bring friends, family ,and surfers together for a great cause. From left : Will,Barbara and Tommy Tant. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
As the first day of competition winds down, friends will continue the celebration with live
music and dancing at a luau hosted by The Golden Lion at 7 pm.
The final rounds of the surf competition take place on Sunday at 8 am. Spectators will
gather to cheer on their favorite contestants as they compete to advance to the final
match. All finalists receive awards but only first place will win a towering 4-foot
champion trophy.
Aaron Cormican taking out third place in the Mens Open Pro at the 2017 event. Few others have caused as many ooh’s and ahh’s at this contest than Gorkin. Photo: Mez
On Sunday at 12 pm, the competition will pause for the commemorative paddle out
ceremony, where surfers paddle out past the breaking waves to join hands and form a
circle of remembrance. This year, the paddle out will honor Tommy as well as Donna
Ciancuilla, a vibrant member of the Flagler Beach community and faithful supporter of
“The Tommy” who passed away in February.
Revenge is best served green, as in dollars. Will Tant hands over the loot to Gorkin at who came back from his 2017 third place result to capture the win in 2018.
The reason Gorkin last in 2017 was this guy, Rasta Rob Mc Cormick, his doppleganger who beat the inventor of the Gorkin Flip and acknowledged . Photo: Mez
The comp site at Flagler Beach Pier as viwed from the air is first class all the way and set in one of the east Coasts a greatest surf town town.
Another of the Flagler surf community is Ben Lacy has probably surfed in every event so far and has put a rejuvenated game into the contest arena and his surfing is crisp and as hot as ever. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
Longboard winner of the Tommy Tant in 2017. Ryan Conklin hangs five in the morning glass on his way to 1st. PHOTO :@tomduganphotos
Tommy Tant 2017 saw some great waves and great surfing. Rachel Presti bangs one under the pier. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
The message is the same at each event: family, community, and giving. The Tommy Tant message rings loud and true. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
The Women’s surfing at the Tommy Tant Contest is always a highly contested event and Braidyn Cunningham is one of the best girls to come and surf. Backside snap for the win. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
Tom and Mimi Dugan are regulars at the Tommy can both be found shooting photos and getting the goods for easternsurf.com. Photo: Mez
Evan Geiselman boosting. Photo: Mez
Tommy Tant winner Evan Geiselman with Will Tant to the left and Dad Tommy Tant on his right. Year after year the best talent on the East Coast is drawn to the event to support what it’s all about and to just have some really great competition. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
The Tant’s and the whole Flagler community have put incredible efforts in for two decades to make this one of the best surf comp gatherings ever on the East Coast. Photo: Mez
The last time the contest was held was in 2019 before Covid hit and Noah Schweizer was the winner. Always one of the best competitors, he is consistently a finalist year after year. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
Will Tant congratulates the Men’s Pro winner Noah Schwieizer and Junior Pro winner Robbie Goodwin in 2019. Who will be holding those checks in 2021? PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
Mike Dunfee xxxx
Another local boy that absolutely rips is Robbie McCormick. Robbie can do the most insane airs on any wave any size. Look for Robbie come finals’ time. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
Local boy Jesse Heilman has supported the event since day one. Being a local has it’s advantages, knowing what to catch and what to let go by. On the windy final day in 2019 this was a wave to catch and rip apart. Backside 12:05. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
In the 2018 Tommy Tant Event, the team with the most wins was the Clever Surf Team. The trophies are bigger than a front row kid. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
Tommy Tant 2017 – Christian Wilson
Local boy Jimmy Blumenfeld grew up surfing the Flagler Beach Pier. Jimmy may have ridden more waves here than Will Tant and that’s saying a lot. Yes it’s debatable, but what is not is that Jimmy will show up and blow up as they say. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
Will Tant at the 14th Tommy Tant Surf Contest in 2013 with the Boy / Girl U11 winner Tommy Coleman. Smiles all around. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
Vero Beach Florida boy Logan Hayes has been a regular contestant for quite a few years and always kills it heat after heat. Logan flies in the 2019 event. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos
At the event in 2013, this snap right here was the turn of the contest. Ryan Briggs throws down a man hack heading into the pier. PHOTO : @tomduganphotos