Andersen’s Early Work Pays Off

Lisa Andersen performed radical moves early and used sound strategy late in the 45-minute final on Saturday to win the U.S. Open of Surfing.

In 3- to 5-foot surf, Andersen defeated former world champion Frieda Zamba, who won the Op Pro last weekend. Both events were held at the Huntington Beach Pier.

Zamba, 29, took off on fewer waves in the beginning of the heat in an effort to pace herself. Andersen was less selective and surfed aggressively on the small waves she caught.

With 10 minutes left in the heat, Andersen had taken 14 waves, one short of the total each surfer is allowed. She paddled around the priority buoy and positioned herself close to Zamba.

Zamba needed to score 7.33, which would be tough for some surfers. Zamba, from Flagler Beach, Fla., already had done it in this contest with combinations of floaters and slashing turns. But with Andersen beside her and no sets coming in, even Zamba couldn’t manage a high-scoring ride.

“I may have been too picky early,” Zamba said, who was exhausted at the end.

The wind picked up and the current headed toward the pier. Both surfers had to paddle throughout the heat to stay in position. After a long ride toward the pier, Zamba left the water and ran down the beach to where the waves were breaking.

Once Andersen heard she had 14 waves, all she did was paddle.

“In the back of my mind I thought, ‘I’m not really pleasing the crowd,’ ” she said of her decision to stay close to Zamba.

“You really have to play the game with her,” Andersen said. “I know she has potential to get a nine at any time.”

The leader on the world championship tour, Andersen has won two events and finished second three times in five contests this year. Originally from Ormond Beach, Fla., she lives in Florianopolis, Brazil, with her husband and 1-year-old daughter.

In the longboarding final, Colin McPhillips of San Clemente used the quick cutbacks and vertical maneuvers of shortboard riders to beat Joel Tudor of Cardiff.

Tudor, who uses more traditional longboard moves such as nose rides, would have won anyway if he hadn’t paddled into one of McPhillips’ waves. The interference call cost him one wave score. Judges counted only four of Tudor’s waves instead of the usual five for final heats.

“It was a stupid move and I paid the price,” Tudor said. The loss snapped his eight-contest winning streak.

McPhillips, 19, was surprised to hear the interference call.

“It was the normal paddling hassles,” he said. “It was a battle between Joel and me.”

It was McPhillips’ first major victory. He started surfing professionally two years ago and has made the quarterfinals and semifinals a couple of times. He believed he was due for a victory, but was stoked it happened in such an important contest in front of an estimated crowd of 35,000.

In men’s surfing, wild-cards Richie Collins and Jeff Deffenbaugh continued to eliminate seeded surfers. Newport Beach’s Collins, who has surfed the world tour in the past, beat Stuart Bedford-Brown of Australia and will face Sunny Garcia of Waianae, Hawaii, at 9 a.m. today in the first quarterfinal heat.

Deffenbaugh of Huntington Beach surfed aggressively and used the priority buoy to defeat Australia’s Matt Hoy. Deffenbaugh will face Michael Barry of Australia in the fourth quarterfinal.

Shane Beschen of San Clemente and Australia’s Dave Macaulay meet up in the second heat. Kelly Slater of Cocoa Beach, Fla., faces Damien Hardman of Australia in the third.

Notes

Today’s schedule: 8-9 a.m.--Bodyboarding semifinals; 9-11 a.m.--Men’s quarterfinals; 11 a.m.-12 p.m.--Men’s semifinals; 12-12:45 p.m.--Bodyboarding final; 12:45-1:30--Men’s final; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.--U.S. Open Beach Expo; 2-4 p.m.--Award ceremonies.

WOMEN’S FINAL

1. Lisa Andersen, Brazil (28.87); 2. Frieda Zamba, Flagler Beach, Fla. (25.96).

LONGBOARDING FINAL

1. Colin McPhillips, San Clemente (31.10); 2. Joel Tudor, Cardiff (29.39); 3. Israel Paskowitz, San Clemente (27.50); 4. Jeff Kramer, San Clemente (25.03).

WOMEN’S SEMIFINALS

Heat 1--1. Andersen (24.94); 2. Nea Post, Huntington Beach (21.60).

Heat 2--1. Zamba (26.53); 2. Kylie Webb, Australia (22.80).

LONGBOARDING SEMIFINALS

Heat 1--1. Kramer (24.59); 2. Tudor (24.37) 3. Ted Robinson, Manhattan Beach (23.10); 4. Joey Hawkins, Huntington Beach (21.37).

Heat 2--1. Paskowitz (25.44); 2. McPhillips (23.94); 3. Steve Farwell, Costa Mesa (19.77); 4. David Nuuhiwa, Anaheim (18.89).

MEN’S ROUND 4

Heat 1--1. Richie Collins, Newport Beach (27.70); 2. Stuart Bedford-Brown, Australia (24.56).

Heat 2--1. Sunny Garcia, Waianae, Hawaii (27.61); 2. Todd Holland, Cocoa Beach, Fla. (27.33).

Heat 3--1. Shane Beschen, San Clemente (27.20); 2. Taylor Knox, Carlsbad (25.91).

Heat 4--1. Dave Macaulay, Australia (25.03); 2. Kaipo Jawuias, Hanamaulu, Hawaii (21.63).

Heat 5--1. Kelly Slater, Cocoa Beach, Fla. (26.43); 2. Rob Bain, Australia (20.10).

Heat 6--1. Damien Hardman, Australia (28.10); 2. Ross Williams, Haleiwa, Hawaii (26.84).

Heat 7--1. Michael Barry, Australia (26.04); 2. Mark Bannister, Australia (24.83).

Heat 8--1. Jeff Deffenbaugh, Huntington Beach (26.60); 2. Matt Hoy, Australia (25.34).