Seal Beach’s Simmons Advances to Quarterfinals

Ryan Simmons of Seal Beach took advantage of improving surf conditions Friday to record the highest overall score and advance to quarterfinals of the Main Event of the Bud Surf Tour Body Glove competition Friday at the Oceanside Pier.

Simmons, who had the third-highest individual wave score of 8.0, finished with a 21.17 in the two- to three-foot surf. North Hollywood’s Joey Jenkins, who earned the day’s highest individual wave score, finished second with a 20.37 to advance.

Veteran surfer Richie Collins of Costa Mesa joined Jay Larson and Craig Bechtloff of Huntington Beach in the quarterfinals. Also advancing were Chris Drummy, Corey Lopez, Chris Ward and Dino Andino of San Clemente along with David Post of Newport Beach and Scott Finn of Dana Point.

Californians Jeremy Sommerville of Solana Beach, Eric Viscosi of Temecula and Keith Malloy of Ventura join Andy Irons of Hawaii, Ben Bourgeois of North Carolina and Larry Rios of Hawaii in the quarterfinals.

In the closest heat of the day, Barry Deffenbaugh of Huntington Beach was eliminated by Benji Weatherley of San Diego.

In the Main Event of bodyboarding, world champion Guilherme Tamega of Brazil easily advanced to the second round of the Main Event. Spencer Skipper of Hawaii and Jordan Hetrick of Encinitas also had notable rides and scores during their heat to advance.

The women’s competition begins today followed by the men’s quarterfinals and concluding with the Main Event in longboarding.