Epic conditions fade out for finals

As the sun-kissed waves died down from the behemoths of the last few

days, the final eight surfers took to the men’s and women’s finals of

the Association of Surfing Professionals Op Newport Classic.

And while only one winner from each gender class claimed a crown,

the entire field, spanning all divisions, finished the week on top,

enjoying the best surfing conditions Newport Beach, or even

California, has seen in a long time.

It was Nathaniel Curran and Melanie Bartels that claimed the pro

division crowns, both finishing first in their four-person final

heats Sunday at 56th Street.

“I’m so stoked,” said Curran, 21, of Oxnard, who took home a

$5,000 prize. “I can’t even explain it, I’m so stoked right now. The

waves have been really fun the whole time.”

Bartels, 23, of Hawaii, was awarded $2,000 for first in the

women’s division.

“This was pretty big,” she said. “It put me in a really good

position in the [World Qualifying Series], which is good for me ...

This is the best I’ve seen Newport, ever, actually. I’ve never seen

it so sick. The past three days have been awesome.”

Sunday’s finals were held in 5- to 6-foot conditions, but Friday

and Saturday’s rounds saw nearly 10-foot, glassy, perfectly shaped

waves.

Most of the competitors were impressed with the conditions.

“The waves were absolutely perfect all week,” said Brett Simpson,

20, of Huntington Beach, who placed second in the men’s final. “So, I

was pretty stoked.”

Sitting in fourth almost the entire 30-minute round, Simpson, a

local favorite, caught two clutch waves with just minutes remaining

to propel himself into the second spot. “It was hard, but I did what

I could,” he said.