SURFING / U.S. OPEN : Mearig Relaxes After Winning Heat

It was apparent that former world champion Kim Mearig was more at ease this week than last.

Last week, Mearig, 31, and a mother of two, had come out of retirement to compete in the Op Pro Surfing Championships. She was eliminated in the semifinals.

Tuesday, Mearig was talkative and smiling like a seasoned veteran, ready for the week’s competition in the first day of the U.S. Open of Surfing.

“I’m a little more relaxed,” said Mearig after winning her heat to advance to the second round of women’s trials. “After surfing last week with some of the best, I feel more confident.”

Patricia Rossi of Tahiti, who finished fourth in the Op Pro, also seemed more relaxed Tuesday.

“I know what to expect,” said Rossi, who advanced. “I know the area now, and I am feeling good.”

As they did last week, Rossi and Mearig will have to endure the long process of heat elimination before they make it to the money rounds.

“Of course, my dream finish would be to win the whole thing,” said Mearig. “But you never can be sure what will happen in surfing.”

Defending champion Lisa Andersen, who won the Op Pro, won’t start competing until Friday.

The second round of women’s trials start today, with Round 1 of the main event beginning in the afternoon.

In the first two rounds of longboard trials, Ron Althouse Jr. of Newport Beach was able to overcome Tuesday’s backwash and choppy conditions to post some of the day’s best rides.

Surfing in the first pro contest of his career, Althouse, 25, performed some stunning floaters on his nine-foot board to advance to the first round of the main event.

“It [the conditions] was better last week. But I’m pretty stoked with the waves today,” said Althouse.

San Clemente’s Brendan White also advanced. White, 15, has been getting a lot of attention after advancing to the Op Pro quarterfinals last week.

After the first three rounds of the men’s bodyboarding trials, Josh Magner of Huntington Beach advanced to the first round of the main event with some quick spins and rolls of the lip maneuvers.

“It’s not really that good for bodyboarding,” Magner said. “But this is where I surf all the time, so I know a lot about how it breaks.”

There is no question about Magner’s preference for bodyboarding.

“I tried surfing, but it wasn’t much fun,” Magner said. “There’s really not much you can do on a surfboard. You can do rolls, spins and get air. It’s so much fun.”

Bodyboarding continues on Thursday with the first round of the main event.

Notes

Patricia Rossi, the Tahitian who has a lot of folks turning their heads, has no sponsors, which is kind of amazing after watching her surf. “I really don’t know why,” she said. “I’ve been surfing for five years now, and nobody has really come down to say they would like to be my sponsor.” Rossi said she hopes she will be able to finish high enough at the U.S. Open to attract some sponsors.

While the best in men’s surfing are set to begin today in the first round, there’s no doubt world champion Kelly Slater is the man in the spotlight. “I think it’s fair to say there has been a lot of interest in Kelly,” said U.S. Open spokesman Mike Kingsbury.

The surf for the opening day of the U.S. Open was much better than opening day of last week’s Op Pro. Surf forecaster Sean Collins said it should remain the same, but he adds that the tropics are still active and there is a chance for better conditions. “If something doesn’t happen by today, then it won’t have an impact on us,” Collins said.

Today’s schedule: 7 a.m.-1:40 p.m.--Men’s first round. 1:40 p.m.-3 p..--Women’s surfing trials, second round. 3 p.m.-4:20 p.m.--Women’s main event, first round. 4:20 p.m.-5:40 p.m.--Longboarding main event, first round.