Three O.C. Bodyboarders Advance at Surfbout

Three Orange County bodyboarders advanced to the first round of the Main Event on Thursday, the first day of bodyboard competition of the Body Glove Surfbout at Lower Trestles.

Billy Cummings of Costa Mesa, Brian Pearson of San Clemente and Joe Grodzen of Lake Forest took advantage of the four- to five-foot sets to advance through three rounds of trials. Cummings had the third-best score of the day with 22.16 points.

As expected, U.S. Open champion Spencer Skipper of Hawaii dominated the field, scoring the best wave score of 9.10 and the top overall score of 25.26.

Bodyboarder Richard Pata of Newport Beach gave officials a scare after passing out from heat exhaustion after advancing to the third round of trials. Though Pata is reported to be in good condition, according to Body Glove officials, he was eliminated from the competition.

In Round 1 of the longboard competition, Brendan White, 16, of Capistrano Beach, and Derrek Erickson of San Clemente, advanced to the first round of the Main Event.

Today, Jeff Booth of Laguna Beach, ranked fourth in the world, and No. 5 Shane Beschen of San Clemente will start surfing as Round 2 of the Main Event of men’s surfing begins. Longboarding also resumes with U.S. Open champion Joel Tudor of Cardiff by the Sea, Colin McPhillips of Capistrano Beach and Israel Paskowitz of San Clemente set to begin with the Main Event.