The best of competition

Paul Clinton

Shredding his way through the first two rounds of the men’s

shortboard trials over the weekend, Bryan Doonan tasted some early

success at the Philips U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach.

The 29-year-old West Newport resident entered the competition with

twin brother Kent. By Monday afternoon, Doonan had reached the third

round of an event that had been reduced from about 250 to a little

more than 100 hopefuls.

“The competition is really tough,” Doonan said. “These guys aren’t

just hanging 10. It’s more like doing a 50-yard dash.”

The Doonans and Geoff Moysa, 27, represent Newport Beach in an

event that draws the best surfers on the West Coast and many top-line

competitors from all over the world.

Competitive events began Saturday -- with the shortboard trials,

longboards and juniors divisions -- and will continue until Sunday.

The event also doubles as a musical festival with local punk bands,

as well as a skateboarding and bicycle skills competition.

Now in its ninth year, the event, sponsored by a U.S. subsidiary

of Royal Philips Electronics, draws top surfers such as C.J. Hobgood,

Kelly Slater, Holly Beck and others.

Cash prizes are offered in the various categories, including a

$150,000 prize in the top men’s competition.

Hurricane Elida has brought big, towering surf to the competition,

which is rare for the event. Doonan said he’s used to hearing

out-of-town surfers complain about the usually 4- to 6-foot waves.

“It’s much more interesting when the waves are good,” Doonan said.

“Right now, the waves are at least 5 feet and very contestable.”

Doonan didn’t grow up in Newport Beach but now lives near 49th

Street Beach, close to his favorite surf spots at 54th and 56th

streets and the Point. He has surfed since he was 11.

Doonan won a handful of amateur competitions before heading off to

medical school -- he now works at UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange.

Over the past few years, he has returned to a sport in which he loves

to compete against other pros.

As of Monday, Doonan’s brother Kent had been knocked out of

competition.

Moysa, who also lives in West Newport, was still alive in both the

longboard and shortboard events. Moysa also competes in a handful of

surf competitions and works at Becker Surf & Sport in Corona del Mar.

In the U.S. Open, surfers are judged based on their three best

waves out of a maximum of 10 in each round. They’re judged on basic

wave-riding skills and can earn extra points for aerials, power turns

and other high-skill techniques.

Moysa battled past competitors Saturday and Sunday in the

longboard event. He’ll face seven others on Saturday to reach the

finals.

He was also competing, along with Doonan, in the men’s shortboard

trials Monday afternoon.

“It’s much more aggressive,” Moysa said about the shortboard

event. “You see guys really battling for waves.”