2018 Results
Superstar Oregon Grower Steve Daletas Now a 4-Time Champion at Half Moon Bay’s Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off Capturing the Coveted Title With a Beautiful 2,170-Pound Beast
Mighty Mega-Gourd and Four Heaviest Overall Star at this Weekend’s Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival
It was a momentous reckoning day in the World Pumpkin Capital of Half Moon Bay, California.
Steve Daletas from Pleasant Hill, Oregon, took top honors at today’s 45th Annual Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off with his 2,170-pound giant. The grand champion mega-gourd, along with the top four pumpkins from the weigh-off, will be on display at the world-famous Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival on October 13-14 from 9am to 5pm.
On a picture perfect Monday, Steve Daletas, an airline pilot from Pleasant Hill, Ore., took top honors at the Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off and his Goliath gourd, beautifully shaped with a creamsicle orange sheen, made him a four-time winner of the prestigious Super Bowl of Weigh-Offs.
His behemoth rocked the scales while the audience roared with anticipation, finally settling in at an astounding 2,170 pounds with a circumference of 218”.
A good size girth indeed.
It was the second-heaviest pumpkin ever weighed at Half Moon Bay, one of twelve gargantuan gourds that weighed in over 1,000-pounds making it their deepest field in history. Complete results below.
Daletas won out over a formidable field of accomplished veteran growers, pocketing a cool $15,190 ($7/pound) and donning the coveted Mel Mello Sr. Grand Champion Growers Jacket.
The great and magnificent Daletas' prodigious pumpkin (along with the other top 4 pumpkins) will be displayed with pride and play a starring role in this weekend’s Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, October 13-14 from 9am to 5pm on Main Street.
Steve Daletas and family pose for photos
Presentation of the Mel Mello Sr. Grand Champion Growers Jacket
Top 4 Giant Pumpkins
2018 WEIGH-OFF RESULTS |
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Open Division |
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| PLACE | NAME | CITY/STATE | WEIGHT | PRIZE MONEY |
| 1st | Steve Daletas | Pleasant Hill, OR | 2,170 lbs | $15,190 |
| 2nd | Josiah Brandt | Rudolph, WI | 2,136 lbs | $2,000 |
| 3rd | Ruben Frias | Napa, CA | 1,805 lbs | $1,500 |
| 4th | Leonardo Urena | Napa, CA | 1,707 lbs | $1,000 |
| 5th | John Hawkley | Napa, CA | 1,654 lbs | $500 |
| 6th | Jim Sherwood | Mulino, OR | 1,617 lbs | $500 |
| 7th | Vince Zunino | Los Altos Hills, CA | 1,513 lbs | $500 |
| 8th | Charity Marshall | Castle Rock, WA | 1,458 lbs | $500 |
| 9th | Ian Sigman | Honeydew, CA | 1,456 lbs | $500 |
| 10th | Gary Miller | Napa, CA | 1,434 lbs | $500 |
| 11th | Jack LaRue | Tenino, WA | 1,317 lbs | $100 |
| 12th | Lupe Carillo | Aptos, CA | 1,102 lbs | $100 |
| 13th | Eric Carlson | Portola Valley, CA | 794 lbs | $100 |
| 14th | Scott Stamp | Camino, CA | 639 lbs | $100 |
| 15th | George Armanino | Pescadero, CA | 617 lbs | $100 |
| 16th | Mary Pezzini | Salinas, CA | 607 lbs | $100 |
| 17th | Bonnie Armanino | Pescadero, CA | 581 lbs | $100 |
| 18th | Art Martinez | Fremont, CA | 579 lbs | $100 |
| 19th | Tom Bedecarre | Woodside, CA | 544 lbs | $100 |
| 20th | Bradley Wittke | Pacifica, CA | 475 lbs | $100 |
Special Prizes |
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Biggest from State of California |
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| 1st | Ruben Frias | Napa, CA | 1,805 lbs | $1,000 |
Biggest from the Coastside |
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| 1st | George Armanino | Pescadero, CA | 617 lbs | $500 |
| 2nd | Bonnie Armanino | Pescadero, CA | 581 lbs | $250 |
| 3rd | John Szabo | Half Moon Bay, CA | 431 lbs | $100 |
Most Beautiful Pumpkin/Howard Dill Award
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| 1st | Eric Carlson | Portola Valley, CA | 794 lbs | $500 |
