Local foursome a smash at U.S. Open of Surfing

Mike Sciacca

Wednesday proved to be a good day for three local surfers, each of

whom made their presence known at the Philips Electronics U.S. Open of

Surfing at the Huntington Beach Pier.

Jeff Deffenbaugh and Micah Byrne both won their respective heats

Wednesday morning in the Men’s Open main round of 160.

Deffenbaugh won Heat 2 in Men’s round 1 by scoring a three wave total

of 22.77 points, blowing past Japan’s Masatoshi Ohno (17.60).

“I was happy with my performance, but disappointed in the small

waves,” Deffenbaugh said. “But everybody has to work with the same

conditions. I feel confident and I’m just taking it one heat at a time.”

Byrne, who also won his heat on Tuesday, finished with 16.03 points in

his first heat on Wednesday to beat out Shaun Burrell (14.76), Erick

Taylor (12.10) and Nathan Curran (10.54).

Through 74 heats as of Wednesday morning, Byrne was the men’s best

heat points leader with 23.50, and Deffenbaugh was second with 22.77

points.

Japan’s Teppei Tajima scored the best wave (8.83) through 74 heats.

Byrne, Deffenbaugh and Tim Reyes, another outstanding local surfer,

were all scheduled to compete in Wednesday afternoon’s continuing-heat

action.

Reyes and Byrne are pulling double duty, as both are also competing in

the Billabong Pro Jr.Reyes, who won his first heat on Monday, came back

Tuesday and just missed winning Heat 6 of round 3. He finished second

(20.00) to Hawaii’s Dustin Cuizon (20.41).

Through 34 heats as of Wednesday morning, Reyes still held his grip as

the best heat points leader (23.50), which he scored during Monday’s heat

victory.

Huntington Beach High grad Danny Nichols also advanced by finishing

second (12.87) to Josh Curran (16.53) during Tuesday’s Men’s competition.

Nichols saved his best for last in the deteriorating conditions, as he

reversed direction, initially going from left into the pier to work his

final wave all the way to the shore.

First and second place finishers advance in the World Qualifying

Series four-person format.

Looking for wins at home

Five years ago, Deffenbaugh was already performing well when he used

the U.S. Open of Surfing as a springboard to a big year. His performance

on his home turf was a boost not only to his confidence, but it brought

him more notice, especially by sponsors.

Deffenbaugh is not attempting to get back on tour. As an eight-year

professional, he’s looking to win as many events and money as he can at

home -- meaning the U.S.

Deffenbaugh has competed in nearly every single event on the U.S. tour

in the past six years. He’s won in California, Hawaii and at Virginia

Beach, but the one place where he has yet to make a final is in his own

backyard.

Deffenbaugh, who still is making it as a sponsored surfer, has two

semifinal and a pair of quarterfinal U.S. Open finishes under his belt.

“My goal, obviously, is to make it to the finals. I’ve never been

there, but it’s something I know that I can do,” said Deffenbaugh, who

has proven himself as a top-notch athlete in one- to 10-foot surf. “My

initial goal is to get to the seeded guys then, after that, I hope to

plow right along.

“I’ll do everything in my power to do my best, but what’s out of my

control is the water. The biggest disappointment for everybody competing

is when the waves aren’t that good. It’s not an enjoyable surf

experience.”

This week’s forecast calls for tepid surf conditions, so Deffenbaugh,

once again, will try to make the most of it in this, his eighth U.S. Open

competition.

“I feel like I’m surfing better than I ever have,” he explained. “I

feel that I’m stronger, and even though I’m not rated as high, that

doesn’t mean that I can’t be a factor.”

While he isn’t generally mentioned in the same breath as Hawaii’s

Sunny Garcia or Rob Machado of Cardiff, both considered favorites for the

Men’s title, Deffenbaugh will present a formidable challenge.

He’s been the one to beat in the Pro/Am Division of the Huntington

Beach Pro/Am Surf Series for nearly four years. He’s been the overall

points ratings winner three years running and currently leads the pack

with three more competitions remaining on the 2001 series schedule.

How much longer will the 28-year-old father of two continue in the

world of competitive surfing?

“I think a few more years,” he said. “Realistically, though, I think

I’ll always compete in some way, shape or form.”

TODAY’S SCHEDULE

(Subject to change)

(Events run from 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m.)

Philips Men’s Open Round of 128, Heats 5-16 (7-11 a.m.)

Philips Men’s Open Round of 96, Heats 1-12 (11 a.m.-3 p.m.)

USO Women’s Bodyboard Round 1, Heats 1-8 (3-5:40 p.m.)

FRIDAY

(Events run from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.)

Deesse Women’s Open Quarterfinals (7-8:20 a.m.)

Philips Men’s Open Round of 96, Heats 13-16 (8:20-9:40 a.m.)

Philips Men’s Open Round of 64, Heats 1-16 (9:40 a.m.-3 p.m.)

WWIII Skate, First Obstacle (11 a.m.-2 p.m.)

Norelco Contour Park Bike Qualifier (2-4 p.m.)

USO Women’s Bodyboard Qualifier (3-4:20 p.m.)

WWIII Skate, Second Obstacle (3-6 p.m.)

Concert Stage: Common Sense (4-7 p.m.)

SATURDAY

(Events run from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Norelco Contour Park Bike Final (11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.)

Philips Soul Bowl Masters Final (12:30-1:30 p.m.) Philips Soul Bowl Young Guns Final (1:30-3 p.m.)

USO Women’s Bodyboard Final (1:40-2:10 p.m.)

Deesse Women’s Open Final (2:10-2:40 p.m.)

Philips Soul Bowl Inline Final (3-5 p.m.)

SUNDAY

(Final day events begin at 7 a.m.)

Philips Soul Bowl, Bike Final (11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.)

Billabong Pro Jr. Final (12:20-12:50 p.m.)

USO Longboard Final (12:50-1:20 p.m.) Philips Men’s Open Final (1:20-1:50 p.m.)

Norelco Contour Park, Inline Final (2-3:30 p.m.)

WWIII Skate, Second Obstacle Final (2-4:30 p.m.)

Awards Ceremony, 2:15 p.m.