Briefly in the news

-- Danette Goulet

After more than a week with no surf to speak of, organizers of the

Vans Surfing Magazine Airshow Series were relieved to see the ocean kick

up some 3- to 5-foot waves Sunday.

The waves hit just in time, as the aerial surfing tour made its fourth

stop on the tour, sponsored by Body Glove, at 54th Street in Newport

Beach.

Aerial surfing is when the surfer actually catches air at the top of

the wave before cutting back into the water.

Taking first place in the contest was Eric McHenry, who has won two

events and made three finals this tour.

McHenry, who took home $3,000 for his victory, and second-place

finisher Randy Welsh, who earned himself $1,500 in prize money, dominated

the final round with variations of front side grabs and spins.

The two finished the final round having completed a total of six airs

apiece and averaging scores of six or higher out of a possible 10 points

in the 35-minute round.

But it was McHenry’s second air that won it all for him. He landed a

high and clean front side 360, which gave him nines across the board, for

a point total of 75.5 out of a possible 90, said contest director Darren

Brilhart.

In the ratings, Welch and McHenry are pulling away from the pack by

more than 1,000 points.

The top point holders at the end of the season will be invited to the

World Championships of Air presented by O’Neill in Pacific Cabo, Mexico.

The next stop is The Realm Airshow at Salt Creek in August, before the

tour returns to Newport Beach for the sixth stop, the Rip Curl Airshow in

September.