Melanoma Mini-PIF and 2013 DOTY Awards Ceremony report

Yesterday a group of divers came from all over NorCal to celebrate the life of a young man, Connor Cockerham, who passed away from Melanoma 10 days ago...

We also came to send out positive energy to e2g's wife Robin who was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 Melanoma.

It was a BEAUTIFUL day in the water and there were some really nice fish shot! 

My young buddy Jesse also cruised down to 45 feet and stoned his very first LingCod...so proud of him!! 

We raised ~$550 that I will be giving to Connor's Mom Tracy.

My good friend Nathan shark_bait Tsuji who I dove with all day won the mini-PIF (Pay It Forward) Diver Of The Day competition, and the prize piece of art donated by Amadeo Bachar, with a massive fatboy Lingcod, big Grass Rockfish and nice Cabezon. 

It was super fitting for Nathan to win since he knew Connor, and his mom Robin also has stage 4 melanoma...

When we all gathered back at the beach I talked a little bit about Connor and Robin and Melanoma...then we did a moment of silence for Connor...then to send positive energy to Robin we all yelled her name out as loud as we could...

Very grateful to all who came to show their support and love for Connor and Robin. Proud to call you all my friends.

Then we switched gears and went into the 2013 DOTY awards. Had an EXCELLENT array of prizes for the top ten thanks to our sponsors FreediveShop, Neptonics, Austin's Diving Center, Amadeo Bachar, PacificNalu Dive Co, CharlesLaKamp.com, and Matt Michie of CALDFW.

Ruthless Rye IPA Sierra Nevada was the BigFish beer for 2013. 

Very proud of my AWESOME Piscean DOTY Champion plaque!!! 

Will post pics as I gather them...if you were there and took any pics please post them here.

Thank you!!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Great pics, great post, and all for a greater cause!!! Congrats on your award, it looks awesome.

Nicw work champ, whos the skinny GQ modle with your plaque though?

Nice work on dedicating this to Connor and Robin, very cool..

Congrats bro, you deserve it!

Hope you celebrated with a beer and some hardcore ---

Super job! Indeed, a well deserved award for an inspired, hard working freediver, Big Jim - Congratulations!

Well done fellas!!

Thanks Jim

Looks like youa ll had a great time.  Way to go in keeping the PIF alive and well and helping out those in need.  Great job on the spearing in 2013 as well

The award looks super sweet. Piscean is the man!

Way to go, to all involved.  Excellent energy and spirit.  You're a good man, Jim Russell.   

Thank you Jim for all your hard work making DOTY a success I know I am a much better spear fisherman as a result of this awesome competition! Congrats on your win! well deserved!! Looking forward to 2014.

Way to go, fellas. That's what it's all about. Wish I could've made it down for the chillin'. 

*Added to NCKA tournament archives sticky.

You did a great job Jim!

Congrats on the DOTY too!

Thanks fellas!

Few pics of the prize table, and shark_bait's Ling that helped him win the mini-Pay It Forward Diver Of The Day comp.

THICK fish and you can see the scar on her back where some spearo failed where Nathan succeeded! 

Awesome prizes donated by Freedive Shop, Neptonic Systems, Amadeo Bachar, Abachar Illustration, Austin's Diving Center, Pacific Nalu Dive Co.

All the top ten divers left with a great prize, a killer t-shirt and a fish ID chart or book donated by one of our CAL DFW friends and NCKA member Matt Michie!!

HUGE thanks to our very generous sponsors for the awesome prizes!!!

All the DOTY players are very grateful for your continued support!!!!!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Few pics of the group.

WTG.
Congrats to Jim and the other winners.
What a beautiful day you guys had out there.