In Bodysurfing, Antibodies, He Knows What He’s Doing
Rather than saying bodysurfer Hal Handley works as a research scientist, maybe it should be said that research scientist Hal Handley works at bodysurfing.
He’s made a name for himself in both.
Handley, who lives in La Jolla, says he was the first person to clone a human antibody.
The year was 1982, three years before he won his first of two world bodysurfing titles in the men’s 35-44 division.
“It’s unfortunate, but I’m better known for my bodysurfing,” Handley, 40, said Saturday, after advancing to today’s semifinals of the 14th World Body Surfing Championships (WBSC) at the Oceanside Pier.
Handley was a research technician at UC San Diego working on various projects dealing with the human immune system. Over time, he says, he discovered a way to clone human antibodies. At the time, only the antibodies of laboratory mice had been cloned.
Antibodies are produced naturally in humans but sometimes not fast enough to defend against some diseases, such as cancer. Cloning and fusing them with other cells could be a help in treatment of such diseases.
A Japanese scientist collaborated with UCSD on the project. All the work was patented, according to Handley, and the Japanese scientist was granted permission to use the antibodies in research only.
“To make a long story short,” Handley said, “he didn’t.”
Handley said the Japanese scientist’s father, who owned a multimillion-dollar corporation, began mass-producing them.
“It became an international scandal,” Handley said. “A reporter caught wind of the incident, and it came out on the front page of the San Diego Union. Then it came out on (network television).
“It was an unfortunate end to a successful project.”
Because of his work, however, Handley became recognized. He received a fellowship to Virginia, from which he graduated in May, 1989, with a Ph.D in cell biology. Handley now works for UCSD after a year at Scripps Clinic.
Handley, who swam and played water polo for Rolling Hills High, said he’s been involved in water sports all his life. His father, Hal Sr., and Hal Sr.’s cousins, Lee and Gene Handley, were professional baseball players. Hal Sr. played in the Cubs’ and Angels’ minor league systems. Lee played for Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia for 10 years. Gene played for the Philadelphia Athletics for two years.
Hal Jr. liked the water, though. His father taught him to bodysurf at the age of 4.
Handley began competing in the WBSC in ‘83, making the semifinals that year. He was knocked out early the following year but was somewhat distracted. The finals were to be held on the day before Handley was to begin his first day in graduate school in Virginia.
He wanted to compete, though, and ended up taking a red-eye flight late Sunday.
“I made it to my first class with 15 minutes to spare,” he said. “Needless to say, I didn’t learn that much that day.”
In school on the East Coast 11 months out of the year, Handley planned his vacations around the WBSC and some other local contests.
Saturday, Handley qualified for this morning’s semifinals in the closest heat.
John O’Neill Jr. of Chula Vista was first with a four-wave score of 86. Handley was second at 85, and David Hazard of Los Angeles was third at 84. Only the top two advance.
“It’s terrible to be in that third position,” Handley said. “I’ve been there before. There’s a lot of second-guessing yourself, if you’re inclined to do so.”
Handley knows a little about second-guessing. After winning his age division in 1987, he competed in the Grand Championship (winners of all age divisions) and lost on the last wave to Tim Casinelli of Leucadia.
“I was in perfect position for the last set,” Handley said. “Tim was on my inside, and I had the advantage. I chose the first wave, and it ended up closing out on me. Tim took the second one, and he ended up riding it all the way to the beach. Needless to say, he won.”
In ‘85, it was a different story. Handley had won his first title after just two years of competing.
“I was just shocked and elated to be there,” he said. “It was more of an honorarium thing.”
Handley actually attributes bodysurfing to helping him in his research career.
Said Handley, “Winning the bodysurfing championship really taught me about concentrating on my goals and how to attain them. In that regard, the contest has contributed to my work.”
He added, “Being back in California is wonderful because I can bodysurf all year long. Out here, it’s wonderful to come home after a hard day’s work, step out the door and be on vacation.”
Surfing Notes
Today’s semifinals begin at 6:30 a.m. on both sides of the Oceanside Pier. The finals, in eight men’s and three women’s divisions, begin at 10, followed by the women’s and men’s Grand Championships for the winners of each division. . . . In Saturday’s competition, Chris Lafferty of San Diego had the highest score (101) and won his heat in the men’s 25-34 division. Tom Cook of Carlsbad tied five-time Grand Champion Mike Cunningham of Gardena with a score of 88, but Cunningham won the heat based on the next best wave. Kirt Finley of Oceanside and Jack White of San Diego also won their heats in the 25-34 division. Grant Leone of Oceanside, Gary Perkins, Bruce Robbins and Corey McCleland of San Diego, Peter Rombold and John O’Neill of Chula Vista, Tim and Rob Pearce of Imperial Beach and Joseph Lane of Del Mar won their heats in the men’s 35-44 division. Defending Grand Champion Bob Burnside of Palm Desert won his 55-64 heat. In the only women’s division in competition Saturday, Virginia Cartwright of Encinitas and Rebecca Richardson of Vista advanced to the semifinals with their first-round heat victories.
