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!
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