Team work

Mike Sciacca

The surfing talent gathered on the south side of the Huntington Beach

Pier Monday morning was staggering.

Timmy Reyes and several other professional surfers took their

turns out in the water. Others, including locals Jay Larson, Danny

Nichols and Brett Simpson, already tested the surf and were catching

up with each other on the sand.

“It’s pretty awesome to see so many guys here doing their thing,”

said Huntington’s Mike Hoisington as he got ready to ride the swells.

What was even more awe-inspiring was the fact they were practicing

as a team in a sport known for its individualism.

“We’re having fun right now, but we’re here to get ready to

compete,” Hoisington said.

The pros were gathered Monday for a Team Orange County “wet run”

in preparation for a three-day competition at the pier this weekend.

The Hurley Game Weekend is one of four regular season Game

weekends in the National Surf League’s California Cup.

The California Cup consists of four consecutive regular season

Game Weekends, pairing four teams composed of the region’s best

surfers from Orange County, San Diego, Santa Cruz and Ventura,

against each other.

Following the Hurley Game Weekend in Surf City, the California Cup

moves to Ventura for the Quiksilver Game Weekend, Santa Cruz for the

Billabong Game Weekend and concludes in San Diego with the O’Neill

Game Weekend.

The championship game weekend will be held June 4 to 6 at the

hometown break of the team leading in the standings at the regular

season’s end.

The weekend competition, which begins at 9 a.m. each day, marks

the debut of the National Surf League, developed by local Brad

GerlachGerlach, a former world No. 2, put a twist on the usually

individual sport of surfing with his revolutionary team concept, The

Game, which debuted last summer at the pier as part of the X-Games.

The team competition drew praise from surfers and fans.

“Brad actually began to form this idea almost 12 years ago,” said

Jeff Cutler, vice president of, The Game, and one of three partners

in the National Surf League Inc. “We’re excited to launch this league

and next year, we will open Hawaiian and East Coast divisions.”

Reyes welcomes the league and said it offers a nice alternative to

the solidarity of individual surfing.

“I think it’s going to be awesome, not only for us, but the fans

who come out to watch the competition,” said the 21-year-old, an

Edison High graduate entering his fourth year in the professional

surfing ranks. “It’s really cool to be a part of a team.

“Surfing is very independent and you only think about yourself out

there. But with this team concept, you catch your best two waves,

then sit back, and make sure to give your teammates room to catch

their best, too.”

Each three-day event consists of two teams squaring off in a

three-hour long, four-quarter battle similar to traditional sporting

events. Each team features 10 competitors -- eight starters and two

substitutes -- with head, assistant and in-water coaches.

All team members compete during each quarter, getting scored on

their best two waves. Team scores are totaled for a final result.

Included among the star-studded roster of surfers competing this

weekend include Rob Machado, Taylor Knox and Dean Randazzo of Team

San Diego, Tom Curren, Dane Reynolds and Bobby Martinez of Team

Ventura and Jason Collins, Kieran Horn and Adam Repogle of Team Santa

Cruz.

The teams will compete in three “home” and “away” games during the

course of the month-long regular season.

“Current professional surfing is great for people who understand

how it works,” Gerlach said. “However, most people have no idea

what’s happening while watching a contest. Our goal is to bring the

excitement of pro surfing back to the communities, so the fans can

give the sport the entertainment value it needs to grow, and give the

surfers the support they deserve.”

Team Orange County is Reyes, Larson, Nichols, Simpson, Hoisington,

Chris Ward, Pat O’Connell, Mike Losness, Mike Todd, Nate Yeomens,

Dino Andino -- who also will serve as assistant coach -- Shaun Ward,

Pat Gudauskas, Chris Drummy, Ryan Simmons, Bron Heussenstamm and head

coach Mike Parsons.

ESPN 2 will cover the event.