Big day for surfing, bad for locals

WET AND WILD WITH ROCKIN FIG

Surf City went huge last week with the Philips Fusion U.S. Open of

Surfing held on the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier over a

nine-day spread. The weather varied with some tropical monsoonal

cloudy days with some rain and some scorching, sunny days. It sure

was nice when the moderate afternoon winds kicked up, while we were

watching the shredding that was going on out in the water.

The surf was small at first, in the 2- to 3-foot range, but by the

end of the week, it was booming, with 4- to 6-foot waves and some

occasional 8-foot-plus sets. The southern hemi swell gave some long,

lined-up lefts, with an occasional right, which gave some of the

world’s elite surfers a chance to showcase their moves.

This year’s U.S. Open set records for attendance, with the most

spectators ever for a surf contest in the world. On Saturday, an

estimated 70,000 were watching the longboard and women’s finals, and

85, 000 surf fans showing up for Sunday’s men’s and juniors finals.

The tally over four days was an estimated 300,000 viewers. Wow,

and the good news was, it was under control and everybody was having

fun!

In Sunday’s “grand finale” men’s final, East Coaster Corey Lopez

was ripping every wave he got, to win it and pocket $15,000. He’s

part of the new school of surfers who bust airs with no problem and

kill it in small or big surf.

On one super-long ride, Lopez did an assortment of lip bashes and

cutbacks, shot the pier, connected onto a north side right and hit it

three times there too to post an 8.83, the high score of the final.

Aussie Taj Burrow finally got over his jinx of Huntington, tearing

apart lots of waves and throwing some of the biggest fan sprays of

water seen here in a while. But he couldn’t catch Lopez, who was

pretty much on fire.

World champ Andy Irons, was throwing some mean turns, but fell a

few times and even though he had some of the biggest moves of the

contest he had to settle for third. Santa Barbara’s Bobby Martinez,

who finished fourth, was stoked to make the finals with the big boys

and cash in on the big points given away to help him qualify for the

Assn. of Surfing Professional’s Championship Tour, where he’s near

the cut-off mark.

Equal fifth were Cardiff’s Rob Machado, who amazingly started on

the first day of the trials, went through something like 10 heats and

got some insane rides, a couple connectors, barrels and vertical

lippers; and North Carolina’s Ben Bourgeois, who was bashing, too.

Huntigton Beach wonder boy Tommy Reyes took a couple big names

down. Surfing insane, he finished equal 17th. Up and coming former

Huntington Beach High School star Brett Simpson was tearing, too, and

placed equal 25th.

A few other local notables, who were heroes in a few heats were:

Ryan Simmons, Danny Nichols, Jeff Deffenbaugh, Jay Larson, Ryan

Turner, Mike Hoisington and Brandon Tipton.

In the Lost Pro juniors final, the Hawaiians were the ones to

beat. Kekoa Bacalso, last year’s champ, was on a mission to make it

two wins in a row here, and he did! Second was fellow islander Dustin

Cuizon, who had some great rides, and third was another Hawaiian,

Sean Moody, with some carving turns.

The lone Californian was Dane Johnson from Carlsbad, who finished

fourth. A couple of our juniors from Huntington who went a few rounds

and had some good heats were: Brandon Guilmette, Brad Ettinger and

Willie Safreed.

On Saturday, Australian Chelsea Georgeson put on quite a

performance to take the title away from last year’s winner and

runner-up this year, Pauline Menczer. Brazil’s Jacqueline Silva was

third, while Carlsbad’s Julia Christian, the U.S.’ best, was fourth.

Women’s surfing has come a long way, with the gals ripping and

busting airs, too.

In longboarding, No. 1 in the world right now is Taylor Jensen

from Imperial Beach. He had stylish nose rides and cutbacks, to win

it. Current world champ Colin McPhillips was close, but came in

second. Third was South County’s Pete Johnson, and Huntington Beach’s

Dodger Kremel ripped to fourth.

See ya!