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East Coast Surfing Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony

It would be a fair argument to state that the soul of Surf Expo can best be found there in the audience, on the stage, and in the true admiration evident for all to see.

Posted 2/2/2012

By Sean O'Brien

Every two years the legends of the East Coast surfing world gather to celebrate their own and welcome a new class of heroes into their ranks. On Friday, January 13 at 6:00 p.m. in room N320 at the Orange County Convention Center, the 9th induction ceremony of the East Coast Surfing Hall Of Fame occurred in front of a packed house. To say that it was a night full of emotion and memories would be a gross understatement.

In fact, it would be a fair argument that the soul of Surf Expo can best be found there in the audience, on the stage, and in the true admiration evident for all to see.

While we're unable to do justice to the night itself, Surf Expo would like to congratulate the 2012 class of inductees and offer this glimpse of the night that occurred.

Archival photos courtesy of Tom Dugan/ESM

The Class Of 2012:

John Holeman: 1980s and 90s Florida pro surfer, John was the pioneer of surfing's new look. Gracing the covers of the major surf publications, he pushed the limits of what was thought to be impossible. John was forced to retire from active competition at an early age due to a heart condition but has remained an active surfer and currently is running his surf coaching business in Satellite Beach.

Tim Briers: A fierce competitor in both amateur and professional ranks, Tim was the winner of the 1978 US championships in Cape Hatteras. A member of the legendary 80s Ocean Avenue team, leading them to many of their numerous team titles, Tim continues to surf and live in Brevard County Florida.

Sean Slater: A member of the ESA All Star most of his teen years, Sean turned pro in 1988 and competed on the ASP World tour and PSAA National Tour in random events around the world from 1989 on. Began repping for Volcom in 1991 becoming the brand's first employee beyond California state lines. Began shaping surfboards in 1994 under the label Slater Surfboards. Still shaping today. Has an annual event with his two brothers, the Slater Brothers Invitational, a one of a kind event.

Pat McCoy Wilcox: Winner of the 1977 US Surfing Championships in California. Member of the Fox Surf Team of Palm Beach Florida and member of the Fox Surfboards factory crew. One of the true standout women surfers of the 70s. Still surfing today and resides in the Florida panhandle.

Barbie Belyea: A late 60s, early 70s standout gaining an ESA championship in the legendary ESA East Coast Tour Championship Series of 1969. Always a top performer she represented the ESA at the ISA World Championships in 1972 with an impressive third place finish at Johanna, Australia. Today she lives and surfs in Kona, Hawaii.

Kevin Welsh: Longtime staff photographer and Eastern representative for Surfer Magazine and creator, videographer of the highly successful NRG Video Series. Throughout his career his photography and video's have promoted eastern surfers and surfing and provided many talented athletes with the kind of needed international coverage that leads to lucrative contracts and notoriety.

Kirk Cottrell: Built his shop, Island Water sports, into one of the powerhouse shops of all time. Kirk had the guts and chutzpah to eventually bring pro surfing to south Florida, sponsoring pro surfers as well. Began a franchise program that eventually grew IWS to 22 national stores. Never afraid of the big move, he geared back and reentered the ministry, taking the proceeds from his shop empire to created a youth ministry at Jeffries Bay in South Africa. Kirk realized many of his dreams and passed away while surfing.

Shagg Catri: Longtime owner of Shagg's Surf Shop, one of the oldest and most influential surf shops on the East Coast. Shagg's surf teams have consisted of most of the very best Eastern surfers of the 60s and early 70s. Shagg was the glue that held things together at the shop, the factory, the foam warehouse and her own home with three lovely, young daughters.

Bill Feinberg: Owner of the highly successful Oceanside Surfboards in the 60’s and early 70’s, the first company of its kind on the East Coast. Oceanside became a coast wide phenomenon. Their Rockledge factory produced in excess of 5,000 boards a year employing such luminary shaping legends as Doug Haut, Wayne Land, Pat O’Hare and Johnny Rice.

Larry Miniard: Respected, stylish competitor from Jax Beach, Larry was a protégé of ECHOF member Bruce Clelland. Always a top AAAA competitor throughout the 60s and early 70s and ESA Men's champion in 1970, his subsequent contest results earned him an unprecedented four World Contest appearances. He continued competing and shaping boards until the late 70s. Since then, he's been a world-renowned Redfish guide in North Florida.

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