Logan Radd, Daya McCart take top honors at 38th annual National Kidney Foundation Surf Festival

COCOA BEACH ― Comebacks were the story of this weekend's 38th annual National Kidney Foundation Surf Festival, where a pair of Indialantic kids took top honors in the marquee Pro Shortboard categories.

Logan Radd and Daya McCart each won more than $1,000, plus a gold medallion depicting contest honoree Rich Salick, valued at $4,000.

Other main event winners included Fort Pierce's up-and-coming Gabe Griffin in the Men's Jr. Pro; Flagler Beach's Saxon Wilson, claiming his sixth straight Men's Longboard Pro; and 16-year-old Californian Malia Ilagan clinching the Women's Longboard Pro in her first visit to the Space Coast.

The three-day contest also included some heart-warming comebacks by Melbourne Beach's Eddie Guilbeau (major cancer surgery in 2013), who won the Masters (30-39) Shortboard title, just as he had done recently at the East Coast Surfing Championships, and Barry Pasonski (double hip replacement and a former shark bite victim). Also making an appearance was former World Qualifying Series standout Kyle Garson who, more than a decade ago, graced the marquee as Ron Jon surf shop's primary rider.

"You can never count us Melbourne Beach guys out," Pasonski said, laughing.

Garson, who will soon turn 46, placed third in Monday morning's talent-packed heat. "I take the losses way better now," he said, jokingly, before his son, Clay, won the Boys Pollywog (9-under) division.

Other comebacks included Titusville's Chad Carr, returning after seven years with his 8-year-old daughter, Finley, who made her first contest a success. And, new Cocoa Beach Mayor Keith Capizzi, competing for the first time in some 25 years, placed third in the Masters (35-49) Longboard event despite a late arrival, but he still managed to perform an artistic handstand just to the north of the Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier.

There were more than 300 entries, but it was the pros who attracted most of the attention Monday.

Radd, 17, who suffered a shark bite a few years ago, put together an impressive run to total 13.26 and out-duel friendly rivals Tommy Coleman (11.57), Corey Howell (11.33) and William Hedleston (10.00) in an all-local final.

"All these guys are insane," said Radd, who felt "super stoked" after winning the pro event for the first time, along with the $1,600 prize.

Winner of the season-long USA Prime Series and now a Junior Olympic team member, Radd said sharks don't bother him anymore.

"They say, once you get bit, you won't get bit again," he said, smiling.

McCart, 15, who recently was invited to surf in a Rising Tides exhibition at the Kelly Slater Surf Ranch in California with former four-time world champion Lisa Andersen, won her second straight Women's Pro title. Her first ride, a solid right, collected 7.17 points and set the tone for a 13.67 total to complete a three-day sweep of her heats.

"Better than getting a 2 (to start off)," she said, smiling.

Next up is a USA Prime event in Atlantic City, N.J., and then the Super Girl contest in Jacksonville, where recently crowned world champion Caroline Marks of Melbourne Beach will be making an appearance.

McCart was at Lower Trestles in California watching Marks win the title last month. "It was very cool," she said.

Griffin, 16, put up the highest score of the day, an 8.83 with a huge rooster-tail spray on an inside section just in front of the judges, and dominated the Men's Jr. Pro. It was the high school sophomore's first pro win here.

"It just kept going," he said, of the rare 3-foot wave blown in from a cool front. "I just kept pushing."

Together with a 6.57, his total was 15.40, the second straight heat in which he scored in the 15's (out of 20). Radd was second with 13.13.

Wilson also put up big numbers in the Men's Pro Longboard, scoring rides of 8.00 and 7.57 to also complete a three-day sweep of his heats. Now 23, he's dominated so much that "retirement" has even approached his mind.

This year, he was a wildcard at the U.S. Open in jam-packed Huntington Beach, Calif., but he said he felt no pressure.

"While everyone is competing for points and titles, I'm out there feeling loose, just having fun," he said. "And, isn't that what it's supposed to be about?"

Ilagan was thrilled to see a SpaceX rocket last week during her visit to see friends and her boyfriend, Gavin Idone, who was the runner-up on the men's side of the pro longboard events.

"It was really hard to surf," she said, describing the small close-outs. "But, it was so much fun."

One familiar name on the victory list was Savanna Lanza, the CEO of NKF-Florida and the organizer of the contest. The mother of 1- and 3-year-olds was making her final appearance in the Women's 18-34 Amateur Shortboard event and led from start to finish.

"It was my last chance. I had to do it," she said.

Final 38th NKF surf results

Girls Pollywog (9-under):  1. Maddie Scheidnes 8.77; 2. MacKayla Clark 8.24; 3. Coral McFarland 7.77; 4. Finley Carr 6.33.

Boys Pollywog (9-under): 1. Clay Garson 12.83; 2. Isaiah Gregory 7.66; 3. Beau Behrens 7.44; 4. Arlo Leslie 7.20.

Girls U-12: 1. Mahina Friend 10.27; 2. Sky Cecil 8.83; 3. Colbie Taylor 6.83; 4. Brii Canavan 6.17.

Boys U-12: 1. Kai Peters 11.73; 2. Dominick Nunez 7.00; 3. Kai Leavins 6.27; 4. Zion Baker 5.43.

Girls U-14:  1. Kendall Dimmick 11.17; 2. Tylah Maresh 8.17; 3. Mahina Friend 7.24; 4. Colbie Taylor 7.13.

Boys U-14: 1. Charles Moren 12.93; 2. Kai Peters 11.73; 3. Cyrus Ray 7.84; 4. Tristan A. King 5.83.

Girls U-16:  1. Kendall Dimmick 11.60; 2. Tylah Maresh 7.57; 3. Colbie Taylor 7.00; 4. Mahina Friend 5.03.

Boys U-16: 1. Charles Moren 12.10; 2. Jude Moore 10.93; 3. Jay Hunt 8.43; 4. Jake Griffin 7.56.

Junior Men U-18:  1. Brock Vergara 8.90; 2. Jude Moore 8.57; 3. Jake Griffin 8.30; 4. Jay Hunt 7.07.

Women's SB 18-34: 1. Savanna Lanza 8.27; 2. Jessica Howell 6.24; 3. Hannah Grace Craig 5.00; 4. Kialani McCutchan 4.60.

Men's SB 18-29: 1. Wyatt Tomlinson 8.67; 2. Willard Tomlinson Jr. 6.66; 3. Carmine Lento 6.23; 4. Kyle Stevens 4.70.

Ladies 35-over: 1. Nicole Golden 9.10; 2. Chelsey Loder 7.77; 3. Suzanne Wagner 5.47; 4. Val Szudziejka 3.90.

Masters SB 30-39: 1. Eddie Guilbeau 13.17; 2. Dave Morgan 8.77; 3. Daniel Lanza 6.24; 4. Bret Sullivan 5.60.Jr. Women LB 17-under: 1.

Jessica Moore 9.23; 2. Camille Shafer 8.96; 3. Hailey Underwood 7.36.

Women's LB 18-34: 1. Hannah Grace Craig 10.53; 2. Sydney Osborne 8.54; 3. Savanna Lanza 7.67; 4.Mallory Smith 7.27.

Ladies LB 35-older: 1. Susan Kelly Christman 9.83; 2. Suzanne Wagner 9.24; 3. Chelsey Loder 6.60; 4. Kristin Murray 4.17.

Senior Men SB 40-49:  1. Chacy Eveland 10.77; 2. James Moren 8.77; 3. Justin Eckhoff 7.36; Chad Carr 7.13.

Legends SB 50-over: 1. Kent Compayre 12.17; 2. Sean Volland 8.64; 3. Tim Hawk 7.97; 4. Glen Mallard 7.23.

Legends LB 50-over: 1. Mark Johnson 13.44; 2. Joe Lento 9.57; 3. William Austin 7.43; 4. Gino Tommasello 6.96.

Jr. Men LB 17-under: 1. Kailer Krueger 10.17; 2.Kanoa Williams 6.64; 3. Kincaid Kobel 4.97; 4. Talan Vierk 4.88.

Men's LB 18-34:  1. Willard Tomlinson Jr. 7.20; 2.Cameron Harris 6.74; 3. Tucker Shogren 6.37; 4. Trey Jackson 4.10.

Masters LB 35-49:  1. Chacy Eveland 11.47; 2. Dave Morgan 10.50; 3. Keith Capizzi 9.13; 4. Elliott Grozan 9.06.

Combined Menehune LB 13-under: 1. Zion Baker 9.90; 2. Brandon Ewell 7.66; 3. Madison Ewell 6.20.

Combined Grand Legends SB 60-over:1. James Savage 7.93; 2. Barry Pasonski 7.47; 3. William Austin 6.50; 4. Joseph Van Wart 4.34.

Combined Grand Legends LB 60-over:1. William Austin 12.70; 2. James Savage 7.83; 3. Randy Highsmith 7.07; 4. Scotty Roush 6.60.

Open Bodyboard: 1. Mark Johnson 10.43; 2. Madison Ewell 8.54; 3. Jake Griffin 7.50; 4. Jude Moore 6.83.

Women's SB Pro: 1. Daya McCart 13.67; 2. Sofia Gamboa 12.40;  3. Isabella Goodwin 5.97; 4. Ahnika Patten 4.31.

Men's LB Pro: 1. Saxon Wilson 15.57; 2.Gavin Idone 13.96; 3. Shane Konrad 11.43; 4. Victor Nunez 7.53.

Women's LB Pro: 1. Malia Ilagan 13.10; 2. Emily Ulman 9.10; 3.Kaylin Weinrich 6.67; 4. Fiona Sargente 5.80.

Luke Mackin Jr. Men's Pro: 1. Gabe Griffin 15.40; 2.Logan Radd 13.13; 3. Kole Mazzarella 8.17; 4. Dylan O'Hallaron 4.43.

Ron Jon Men's Pro: 1. Logan Radd 13.26; 2. Tommy Coleman 11.57; 3. Corey Howell 11.33; 4. William Hedleston 10.00.

Men/Women SUP: 1. Johnny Zinzell 10.26; 2. Darryl Auatin 8.13; 3. Brian Bartlett 7.67; 4. Trisha Michelle 6.37.

Foamie Classic: 1. Corey Howell 12.06; 2. Justin Eckhoff 6.13; 3.Dalton Smith 5.90; 4. Kendall Dimmick 5.63.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Logan Radd, Daya McCart best in Pro Shortboard at NKF Surf Festival