Freedivers Just Want to Have Fun
In gearing up for the 2nd Annual Jack Kearns Spearfishing Tournament, the South Florida Freedivers needed a kick-off party to match their chillaxed, yet adventure seeking, and fun-loving nature. So if you happened to be driving down Miami’s US-1 on Friday and heard the distant jamming of Bob Marley while you were at the 27th Avenue stoplight, you likely heard the reggae tunes from DJ Kultcha Shok spinning in the parking lot of the new aquatic goods shop, Adventure Sports Miami.
Adventure Sports Miami celebrated its Grand Opening Friday night, and as the South Florida Freedivers represent a strong faction of their future clientele, there was no better spot to convene to register for their upcoming spearfishing tourney on December 5th whose proceeds go to benefit The Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation. The event, jam packed in the parking lot and crowded as Black Friday inside the shop as well (“I had no idea so many people would come!” exclaimed one attendee), showcased the store’s brand spanking new items – from apparel and footwear to kayaks and surfboard – and gave the Miami community of acquatic sports enthusiasts a great excuse to get together off the water.
Some of the biggest names of the South Florida Freedivers – and lots of repeats from the first competition last December – attended the shindig, including the godfather of spearfishing, and the tournament’s namesake, Jack Kearns, who enjoyed a veritable receiving line of enthusiastic greeters. Of them, Captain Carl Starling (similarly renowned for his spearfishing prowress), Juan Comendeiro, former football player for the Miami Hurricanes and now avid spearfisher, Joe Fernandez, Chairman of the South Florida Freedivers, Manuel Menendez, one of the big names to beat in this year’s tourney, and Kent Marinkovic, the spirited owner of AS Miami, all made the rounds to connect with their comrades.
The uniform of the evening, tee shirts with shorts and the occasional ball cap (a polo if you were feeling fancy – or just came from work) was a welcome deviation from the South Beach nightlife garb. In fact, the only element reminiscent of the Miami “scene” were two lady bartenders clad in black who served drinks behind the store’s register. (By the looks of AS Miami, that register will get just as much attention even after the girls leave.) The rest, including the non-pocked-sized dogs roaming in and out of the store, the scrumptious chicken and steak soft tacos served up and kegs of Yeungling getting pumped where you’d usually park your F-150, and the kayak tossing contest held in the parking lot, communicated one thing: this crowd may take their diving seriously, but not themselves.
Stay tuned for much more coverage of the fun-loving and very talented South Florida Freedivers leading up to the Jack Kearns Spearfishing Tournament on December 5th!
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