It’s Funny, but Encinitas’ Gerlach Is Talented in the Water, Too : Surfing: The class clown of the world pro tour is also a serious competitor with a social conscience.

If there was such a thing as a signature surfing contest for Encinitas’ Brad Gerlach, this might be it.

Gerlach and most of the other top surfers in the world are here at the Oceanside Pier for the $112,500 Life’s A Beach contest.

For Gerlach, life is a beach. He looks, sounds and often acts every bit the stereotypical surfer.

Stories are animated, with hands flying and hips moving and grooving as he rips through an explanation of a tooootally raaaad maneuver.

Every sport has a hot-foot guy, a Hawkeye Pierce, a practical joker who always seems to make life a bit funnier and more interesting.

In surfing, that’s Brad Gerlach.

“The tour wouldn’t be the same without Brad Gerlach. That’s for sure,” Hawaii’s Sunny Garcia said. “He definitely makes people happy. He can even take something personal and turn it into a joke.”

Adds Australia’s Marcus Brabant: “He’s a guy you can sit down for hours and just laugh with. He’s also the only American that can do an Aussie accent really good.”

So what does Gerlach think of all this funny business?

“What’s happened is, I haven’t had an article in a long time,” he said. “People think I’m still the same brash, loud, wild and crazy, young man.

“Well, I still am, but I know how to channel that energy now. I know when and where not to do it. I’m just a lot more mature now. I cringe at a lot of the things I’ve said before. Maybe we all look back and go, ‘Geez, what was I, cretin?’ ”

Australia’s Robbie Bain, the current points leader on the Assn. of Surfing Professionals world tour, knows a little of what Gerlach is going through.

“I think one of the reasons he’s doing that is that I think subconsciously it has an effect on the judges. I used to do things like that, you know, go out and have a few too many beers. Unfortunately, a lot of times I’d go out and run into the judges, ‘cause we’re usually in such isolated places.

“I think he’s trying to get away from that, you know, ‘cause he definitely can surf. He’s a great competitor.”

Garcia went a step further: “He’s one of the best competitors. You know if you go against him, you’ve got your work cut out for you. You’re not going to have an easy time.”

Gerlach, 23, has been on the world tour for five years. Last year, he finished 11th after bests of 10th in 1986 and ’88. Aside from Tom Curren and Joey Buran, Gerlach has had more top 16 finishes than any other Californian.

In 1985, he became only the sixth surfer to win an ASP contest coming out of the trial rounds, here at the Oceanside Pier.

But despite all his accomplishments in the water--last year, he became the 17th surfer to surpass $100,000 in career prize money--Gerlach might best be known for his sense of humor.

Of course, when you do a stand-up routine as he and Robbie Page did in a nightclub a couple of years ago overseas, you get that kind of reputation.

For example, in the ASP media guide, it reads: “His comic, colorful and provocative personality make him one of the nation’s most popular wave riders.”

While that is probably true, Gerlach has a serious side, too, and it would seem to make him a good role model.

Last year, he donated 25% of his U.S. winnings to the Surfrider Foundation, an ocean environmental group.

“I figure I have a lot of influence with young people,” Gerlach said, “and if they see me doing something like that . . . “

Gerlach didn’t quite know how to finish. It wasn’t a punch line. It was serious, but sincere.

Surfing Notes

Brad Gerlach is the only San Diego area surfer left in the contest. He will take on Australia’s Robbie Bain in Saturday’s third round of the main event. Oceanside’s Mike Lambresi lost in Friday’s second round of the main, 70-65.5, to Hawaii’s Derek Ho. Encinitas’ Tricia Gill and San Diego’s Lisa Carulli both lost in the first round of the women’s main event. . . . Competition continues today at 7 a.m. Sunday’s finals begin at 8 a.m.