Surf World

Surf City revels in role of host to junior championships. ‘It’s been a great week, mate,’ said U.S. coach P.T. Townend.As the final moments ticked away during the last competition at the 2005 Quiksilver International Surfing Assn. World Junior Championships on Sunday, members of the U.S. team walked the American flag down to the shoreline south of the Huntington Beach Pier, just out of reach of the incoming surf.

They were there to root on boys’ under-18 competitor Tanner Gudauskas of San Clemente, who was challenging for the division title -- which would have given the U.S. its first individual gold medal at the championships.

The flag, which waved under stormy skies pierced by rays of sunshine, also symbolized that the U.S. was hosting the event for the first time.

Last year, the world junior championships were held in Tahiti. In 2003, South Africa hosted the juniors.

Surfing America, a group based in Huntington Beach, hosted this year’s championships.

“It’s been a great week, mate,” U.S. coach Peter “P.T.” Townend said of the competition, which began Oct. 8 with opening ceremonies that included a Parade of Nations and Sands of the World ceremony involving the 27 competing countries.

“Seeing all these nations come together here to surf is just awesome,” he said. “The whole thing has been phenomenal, and Surfing America did a great job as host of the event.”

Prior to the start of the surfing competition on Oct. 9, Townend didn’t promise any gold medals for his team, but he did say his squad would win some medals.

He was correct on both counts. For the second straight year, the American athletes finished among the top three in their divisions.

Gudauskas claimed a silver medal, edged out by Jéferson Silva of Brazil, 15.77-14.37, in Sunday’s boys’ under-18 final. Karina Petroni won the other silver medal for Team USA, finishing second to Stephanie Gilmore of Australia in the girls’ under-18 final.

Hawaii’s Torino Benson won the boys’ under-16 title, and Hawaii -- which competed independently of the U.S. team -- won the team gold.

Brazil took the silver, followed by the U.S. and Australia.

Last year in Tahiti, the U.S. won the team silver medal.

“This is only the second year of a new program,” Townend said. “The kids fought really hard, and it was tighter all around than a year ago. I think this shows that the U.S. is back among the surfing elite. Other countries who came did well and really seemed to enjoy the experience.”

Jamaica was one nation that got the most out of the experience. Three Jamaicans advanced to at least the third round of the repechage during the competition. The island nation brought 11 athletes for the competition, up from the three they took to Tahiti for last year’s world junior championships, Jamaican coach Luke Williams said.

“Just coming here was an accomplishment in itself for Jamaica,” he said. “It was very important for this team to experience all this. We were all so super stoked. Our surfers had their eyes opened to just how big surfing is worldwide, especially junior surfing. It was awesome to see it in a setting like Huntington Beach.”

The world junior championships were something of a dry run for the 2006 World Championships, which Surf City will host next October.

“I think the junior championships set the tone for next year,” Townend said. “We had great success with this competition, and we expect the same with the World Championships coming up. Surf City’s definitely the place to be for big-time surfing competitions.”DANIEL CARAPELLOTTI / INDEPENDENTHawaii’s Torrey Meister prepares for landing after ripping big air during boys’ under-18 repechage heat at junior championships. Jordy Smith of South Africa explodes off the top and throws some spray during the boys’ under-18 final. Stephanie Gilmore of Australia rips one off the top during the final heat of the girls’ under-18 competition.Team Hawaii’s Clay Marzo gets inverted during 2005 Quiksilver International Surfing Assn. World Junior Championships.Australia’s Stephanie Gilmore celebrates with teammates after claiming girls’ under-18 title Sunday.Flags fly in support of athletes from around the globe on Sunday at the 2005 Quiksilver International Surfing Assn. World Junior Championships at Huntington Beach Pier. 20051020iol5qakn(LA)Stephanie Gilmore of Australia rips one off the top during the final heat of the girls’ under-18 competition.20051020iol8w5kn(LA)Jordy Smith of South Africa explodes off the top and throws some spray during the boys’ under-18 final. 20051020iol5neknNo Caption20051020iol5pbknPHOTOS BY DANIEL CARAPELLOTTI / INDEPENDENT20051020iol5pzkn(LA)Team Hawaii’s Clay Marzo gets inverted during 2005 Quiksilver International Surfing Assn. World Junior Championships.20051020iol5pnknNo Caption