Collins Posts Best Score at Lower Trestles

Richie Collins of Newport Beach seemed right at home in the six-foot surf, posting the best overall score Friday in the Body Glove Surfbout at Lower Trestles in San Clemente.

In the fourth day of the competition, Collins, who had a disappointing finish last month at the U.S. Open, scored an overall total of 27.20 points and three individual scores of 9.33, 9.0 and 8.87 in the second round of the Main Event.

Also advancing were Jeff Booth of Laguna Beach, Jeff Deffenbaugh of Huntington Beach and Mike Parsons and Shane Beschen of San Clemente.

Other top performers included Hawaiians Shane Dorian, who had the second-best overall score and the best wave score of 9.50, and Conan Hayes. Carlsbad’s Taylor Knox, ranked third in the world, also advanced.

Beschen, ranked fifth in the world on the shortboard, surprised some longboarders by winning his first two heats of the first and second round of the Main Event and upsetting top longboarders Ted Robinson and Chris Schlickenmeyer.

Three San Clemente longboarders, Josh Baxter, Jim Hogan and Israel Paskowitz, advanced, as did U.S. Open champion Joel Tudor of Cardiff by the Sea.

Lisa Andersen will be surfing today as the women’s heats begin. Also resuming will be the third round of men’s surfing, longboarding and bodyboarding.