Californians Make a Splash Among Serious Competitors

Yes, Christmas is almost here. But December is also an important contest month for surfing. The triple crown of surfing in Hawaii is winding down with the Pipeline Masters, after the Wyland Galleries Pro in November and the World Cup earlier this month.

In addition, the Assn. of Surfing Professionals has just published the new Top 28 international competitors who made the cut for 1994 competition on the World Qualifying Ratings.

Rockin’ Fig said it’s those 28, plus the Top 16 pros from the ASP world tour, that will compete for the 1994 title. Fresh additions to the tour include a contingent of Brazilians, Hawaiians, Australians and eight California surfers, four of whom are from Orange County.

The four, said Rockin’ Figster, are Mike Parsons, Mr. Consistent; Dino Andino , one of the floater king s in the Bud Surf tour , and Shane Beschen, another style master with a really great forehand slash . They’re all from San Clemente. The fourth is Jeff Booth of Laguna Beach, a g oofy-foot power slasher who made a strong run this year but was injured late in the season.

Figgy, who keeps his eye on both the world tour and the U.S. Bud Tour, likes to talk about the big run the Californians made this year.

Well, topping the list of Californians, is of course Rob Machado from Cardiff. He’s your 1993 Bud Tour winner, who is known as the Small Wave King. Then there’s Chris Brown from Santa Barbara. He’s a guy with a classic style and one of the hottest cutbacks around.

The other two surfers are Taylor Knox of Carlsbad and Joey Jenkins of North Hollywood.

Knox surfs with a lot of speed and power, and Jenkins is very consistent and likes to get vertical.

In Hawaii, the triple crown should conclude today at the Pipeline. I asked Fig, who’s plugged into the Hawaiian grapevine, why the crown is important.

It’s the triple slam of events. The Wyland is held at Haleiwa; the World Cup is at Sunset Beach and then, of course the Pipeline Masters. It’s been dominated for a lot of years by the Ho brothers, Michael and Derek. Last year, Sunny Garcia, another Hawaiian, took the crown. When you think of Hawaii, you think of big surf, and holding the crown is like being the king of perfect waves.

And with Garcia placing second at the World Cup two weeks ago, and taking the Wyland contest last month, he may again claim the crown, huh, Fig?

Yup. Sunny is looking good for the triple crown again. He was in the final of two out of three events. I think he’s probably guaranteed to win.

Edging out Garcia for the World Cup contest was Johnny Boy Gomes.

Gomes is the heaviest of the heavies. The guy’s just solid muscle. It’s good to see the power master in the winner’s circle. I believe that’s his first big win.

A sad note is that Richie Collins of Newport Beach, who had fought his way into the Top Five early in the world tour this year, didn’t make the cut for next year’s tour.

It’s bad about Richie, but he’s got medical problems. His back is tweaked. Rumor has it he’s not going to be doing the world tour qualifying series but just the U.S tour events. Maybe he’ll return after his back gets better.

Other surfers to fall out of the rankings are Australians Tom Carroll, Cheyne Horan, Graham Wilson and Ross Clarke-Jones.

It’s a changing of the guard. The up and coming youngsters are just surfing so hot. It’s like if you can’t set the pace, it’s time to step aside.

*

Meanwhile, Fig and I wish everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Hopefully, we’ll get some perfect waves, and the groms will give the vets a break during Christmas vacation.

Exhibit: Designed to be the most comprehensive surf exhibition ever produced, “COWABUNGA! The Santa Monica Bay Surfing Experience” will document the evolution of the sport and related myths and legends from 1907 to 1967.

Included are historical photographs, boards from various periods, early wet suits and surfer clothing, surf record album covers, surf movie memorabilia and artwork by the late Rick Griffin. Also, a small movie theater will screen classic surf films including “Endless Summer” and “Search for Surf.” At the Santa Monica Heritage Museum, through Feb. 20.

Taking Care of Business: The men from the Hawaiian surf magazine H30 were in Orange County recently. Reid Fujita, the publication’s 28-year-old publisher, said they were on a business trip, visiting 60 surf shops in Southern California.

Swell Santa: Speaking of Christmas, Santa Barbara shaper Al Merrick played Santa early. When Merrick saw a Newport Beach photog at the offices of a surf publication recently, he said, “Hey, I’ve got something for you.” They walked to a car and Merrick, one of surfing’s top shapers, took out a new, 6-foot-7 board from the car trunk. “Why don’t you try this for two months or so,” he said, “and let me know how you like it.”