Surfer of the Month – April 2010

Ben Thompson with Jackie Richardson

As I write this article, St. Patrick’s Day is behind us, Spring Madness is in full swing, and Spring Breaks are getting under way.  All the surfers I come in contact with are searching for some good waves that were not present here during the winter months.

With spring here, the Tybee Island surf season will definitely be in session.  I have had the privilege for the past eight years to meet some of the finest young men and women who surf in our Georgia Eastern Surfing Association district.  I have watched them grow up and move out of our community.  I am always saddened to see them go, but in most cases happy to see them living out their dreams.

This is very true of the April Surfer of the month, Ben Thompson.  First of all, let me say his parents Georgia and Jonny Thompson should be proud of the great job they have done raising Ben.  Ben is a smart, funny, intelligent, and caring individual. In July he will be moving to California to go to school, pursue a career in music, and surf everyday!  Although I am happy for Ben, our whole family will sorely miss him, especially our son, Josh, for whom he has been such a good influence and friend.

Ben was born in Savannah, Georgia in 1989.  He has been surfing for about 10 years.  His dad started him surfing early.  His favorite board is a Webber.  He jokingly says, “My only board…haha.  It gets the job done.”

Ben started surfing on Tybee Island. Then he surfed on a regular basis in Florida.  He has been up and down the east coast, California, Costa Rica, and Puerto Rico surfing.  He says, “My favorite place to surf is this fun little point break in Topanga Beach, California.  It’s a really mellow, fun break and the views from the ocean are pretty amazing.”

I always ask the surfers what is special about surfing at Tybee Island.  Ben answered, “There’s nothing quite like the comfort of surfing your home break.  I love the community, surfing with friends, and when a cat-5 storm rolls through, there are few places I’d rather be.”  His surf buddies are his dad, Atsushi, Josh, Leland, Brad, Austin, Benji, Toby, Gary, Cat, Jere, Randall, Megan, Vaughan……

Last April, a lot of us from Georgia including myself, went to Puerto Rico for the Mid Atlantic Regionals.  Ben said of that trip, “The most fun I’ve had on a surf trip was with the Durtee Militia (Jonny Thompson, Josh Richardson, and Leland Lively) in Puerto Rico.  The waves didn’t stay good the whole time, but we still had a blast and it was an experience that I’ll never forget.”

All of us in the surfing community have watched Ben grow up surfing.  He has been a good competitor every year, always among the top ranked.  This year, however, he won 1st Place in the Men’s division of the Georgia Eastern Surfing Association.  A much deserved award for him.  I asked Ben who has been his mentor and he said, “Dad has definitely been my mentor growing up surfing.  He got me started, taught me everything he knows, and has taken me on trips all over.  But now he’s getting old and I’m schoolin’ him. HA!”

Ben loves being outdoors.  Ben’s other interests besides surfing are music, hiking, kayaking, camping, biking, swimming, fishing, and traveling the world.

As I have said on many occasions in this column, we have many colorful, interesting characters who surf at Tybee Island.  Ben is no exception.  On any Sunday evening during the next few months, you might just catch Ben on the television show, “Ruby,” on Style network.

Surfer of the Month

Surfer of the Month: Jimmy Manning
by Jackie Richardson

Winter is definitely here.  Surfers up and down the east coast are complaining of the lack of waves.  However, everyone is ready to put on their wet suits to catch one of those winter waves.  Sunny Miller, one of our former Tybee surfers, who now lives in Michigan, was heading out this weekend to surf one of the Great Lakes.  Brrrr!  I can’t imagine. Others head to the warm waters of Puerto Rico. Hopefully, after this month there will be waves as our surfing season here in Georgia heats up again.

This month’s surfer of the month, Jimmy Manning, was born in Norfolk, Virginia. Jimmy moved to Savannah when he was 7 years old.  You will catch Jimmy working at night at the Oyster Bar on Wilmington Island.  This evening job gives Jimmy a lot of opportunities to surf during the day. Jimmy started “surfing” Tybee Island on one of those canvas rafts that you rent.  He tried board surfing as a teen but really learned to surf when he was stationed in Hawaii with the Air Force for three years.

Jimmy’s first board was a long board that was cut down to about 6’.  It didn’t look too good.  His next board was one of the first twin fins 5’8”.  Jimmy now has a quiver of 8 boards and his favorite is his 9’0” carbon fiber.  Jimmy has surfed all over Oahu, Maui (he lived there 3 years), Puerto Rico, and the east coast.  His favorite wave is on Maui at Honoloa Bay, a very fast long right.  Jimmy has surfed 20’+ waves.  He added, “I have come to the bottom of the ocean three times.  I must have a mermaid as a guardian angel.” Jimmy admits he likes smaller less threatening waves.  Jimmy’s favorite place to surf is Tybee Island with all his surf ohana (family).

Jimmy competes just for the fun.  Don’t let him fool you, he is a really good surfer.   He loves teaching kids to surf.  He has volunteered for three years for the Tybee Island YMCA Surf Camp.  He will be their lead instructor this year.  The Y program will teach kids from 7-16 in one week camps throughout the summer.  The kids call Jimmy “uncle” which is a term of endearment and respect in Hawaii.  Jimmy says he loves when they ride that first wave and holler, “I did it uncle, I did it.”  He says the looks on their faces is fantastic.

I ask all the surfers I interview what is special about the surf community at Tybee.  Jimmy says, “I love the tight knit surfing community at Tybee where everyone is friendly and respectful and always optimistic about surf.”  As a fellow surfer, Kato, always says, “it has got potential”, even on the smallest day.

Jimmy says he hopes to surf other places.  This summer he would like to get to South America to surf.

Jimmy’s love of children is very evident when he talks about his two granddaughters.  They are two and three right now and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them in the water surfing before too long.  Finally, Jimmy encourages all surfers to participate in the Eastern Surfing Association contest.  Our local ESA is run by Jeff and Tara Mosley, who do an outstanding job.  Jimmy will see you out at the beach at “THE CHURCH OF THE OPEN SKY.”

(All photos are compliments of Joey Wilson photography, copyright 2010)