What could be better than spending an entire summer’s day surfing with your friends, listening to great music, and eating freshly grilled chicken avocado sandwiches? By most surfer’s standards, not much. The Big Andrew has brought that unparalleled experience to the New England surf community on Long Sands Beach in York Beach, Maine since the foundation’s first surf contest in 2008. The best part? It’s all for a great cause.
Proceeds from the Big Andrew Surf Contest, as well as the organization’s other signature event, the Car Classic, are donated to the York Oncology Network, providing local cancer patients and their families with critical financial and moral assistance. This stoke-fueled contest features divisions for kids, men, and women, who can be seen tearing into chunky sandbar corners, gracefully gliding on logs, and sweeping the day away on SUPs. Throughout the summer day, the delight of the crowd maintains a steady liveliness. Hoots and hollers during every heat are heard up and down the beach and excited chatter amongst the suntanned groms overwhelms the contest area. According to those in attendance, the waves could be big or small, but everyone rallies behind the cause with salty-eyed smiles.
This summer, the foundation will host its 9th Annual Surf Contest on August 14, 2016. Guests can look forward to an oasis of flags, tents, music, and food. If you are not a surfer and would like to participate or are on the lookout for interesting goodies, there is an epic raffle with notable prizes, including Red Sox tickets, surfboards, and GoPros, among many other things. Immediately following the raffle there is a free product toss with donated product from generous sponsors, including Vans, Sanuk, Stance, Bare Republic, Catch Surf, and more.
The 3rd Annual Big Andrew Car Classic will be held the day before the surf contest on Saturday, August 13, 2016. The Car Classic is a proud showcase for a bygone era of beautifully designed classic cars, with owners driving to York Beach from all along the Eastern seaboard to attend. Much like the Surf Contest, the Car Classic experience is accentuated by great food, oldies, and an exciting raffle. Each year, both events have attracted an increasingly diverse crowd of beach goers, surfers, and car enthusiasts who come out to support the cause and enjoy the energy.
The Foundation’s motivation to raise awareness and support for cancer patients came from the passing of a dear friend, Andrew Gmelch, who was 15 when he lost his two-year battle to acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2007.
“The Big Andrew is about community and support, an unspoken understanding of humanity and the ocean that ties us all together,” wrote founder Ian Knowles. “In the spirit of Andrew, we wanted to turn the loss of our friend which was such a tragic experience, into something diametrically positive and this event and organization has done exactly that. We couldn’t be more excited to bring the spirit back for many many years to come.”
The Big Andrew team holds their hearts in York, Maine, which is a small town where Andrew spent a lot of time surfing with friends. They believed this was the place to establish a legacy of support for a cause greater than just one person. For nine years, they have been rallying support from the community, local businesses, and big brand names alike. The more people involved, the better. Together, the foundation and the community have raised over $70,000 dollars to benefit cancer patients and their families by paying for everything from wigs to utility bills (costs that become untenable in the face of expensive treatment). The goal is unending, met then exceeded, and will continue on for years to come.
For all of those involved, it’s impossible to imagine a summer in York without the Big Andrew Surf Contest. It goes without saying the day is very special. According to Anthony Figlioli, a good friend of Andrew’s, “The Big Andrew is the biggest day of the summer, every summer. It’s the ultimate beach day because you’ve got all your closest friends around doing something that everyone loves. Beyond that there’s a special feeling that lingers throughout the day. You feel a unique bond with everyone there because you’re all honoring Andrew’s memory. Every part of the day is amazing from the hazy morning when the sun has just come up, to the memorial paddle out to top the day off.”
As the group takes steps toward the cool Atlantic Ocean for the memorial paddle out, the sun fades in the west behind York’s subtly stunning coastline and participants arrive to the lineup beyond the sandy shore. There is a long pause, and all involved feel the pulse of the ocean’s energy, taking time to be thankful for a successful day and reflect upon Andrew’s memory. Then, it will be quiet. The lull of the ocean gently rocks the group, hands grasped and linked together in an impenetrable circle. Suddenly, a wave appears, the most notable and significant of the entire day. Smiles light up, hands grasp even tighter, hoots echo around the circle as the wave passes. Flowers are cast into the air, the sea’s surface is splashed, and a commencing party wave ensues. A perfect end to a perfect day.
For more information about the Big Andrew Surf Contest and Big Andrew Car Classic, visit www.thebigandrew.com.
