Early Maneuver Wins It for Slater

It was supposed to be the showdown between the two top surfers in the world. But it turned controversial with world champion Kelly Slater almost apologizing after winning the U.S. Open men’s title.

Slater won with 21.00 points and earned $14,000. Shane Beschen was second with 16.75.

Throughout the week, Slater and Beschen talked about their quest for the title. For Beschen, this was his chance for a second U.S. Open title.

Sunday, in front of more than 50,000 people, the championship was determined early in the 30-minute heat when Beschen, ranked No. 2 in the world, and Slater took off on the opening wave. The judges ruled Beschen was guilty of interference.

Beschen said he looked at Slater to see which way he was going. Thinking he was safe in taking the wave to the right, Beschen didn’t know Slater had paddled furiously for the same wave, only to pull back.

“He snaked me when he saw me paddling for that wave,” Beschen said.

“He did it on purpose, I think it’s pretty clear that he was using the ruling in his favor. And even though there isn’t anything illegal [in what] he did, I still think it was wrong and still pretty [expletive].”

The rules state that in a man-on-man heat, the surfer who has the inside position has “unconditional right of way for the entire duration of the ride.”

As a result, Beschen would only be judged on his two top wave scores instead of three.

“I didn’t even realize I was called for interference until after my second wave,” Beschen said.

Said Head Judge Renato Hickel, “We [the judges] did not make up this interference rule. It was made up by the surfers themselves. It was pretty clear to us that Beschen did interfere.”

When Beschen found out about the penalty, he hit the water with his hand. With five minutes left in the heat, he rode his last wave and scored 9.0.

Clearly frustrated with the outcome of his heat, Beschen made an obscene gesture when he came out of the water.

“It speaks for itself,” Beschen said. “There was nothing I can do to change what happened. That’s the way I felt.”

After receiving his trophy, Slater apologized to the crowd.

“It looked like a good right [break] to me,” Slater said afterward. “I’m not happy to win like this. This is not the way you want to win. But this is the way it went. We both made our choices.”

Ian Cairns, one of the contest organizers and the director of the North American Assn. of Surfing Professionals, was not happy.

“We put a lot of time and effort into this event. There are a lot of people who come down here to watch this. I’m disappointed that the finals ended like this. But I think this will be a championship that Slater will not be proud of winning.”

In longboarding, Joel Tudor of La Jolla won his second consecutive U.S. Open title with a final score of of 22.25.

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Results

U.S. OPEN OF SURFING

at Huntington Beach

Men’s Finals

1. Kelly Slater (Florida); 2. Shane Beschen (San Clemente).

Semifinals (winner advances)

HEAT 1--1. Slater; 2. Taylor Knox (Carlsbad). HEAT 2--1. Beschen; 2. Michael Barry (Australia).

Quarterfinals (winner advances)

HEAT 1--1. Knox; 2. Luke Egan (Australia). HEAT 2--1. Slater; 2. Rob Machado (Cardiff). HEAT 3--1. Barry; 2. Victor Ribas (Brazil). HEAT 4--1. Beschen; 2. Jeff Booth (Laguna Beach).

Longboarding Finals

1. Joel Tudor (La Jolla); 2. Geoff Moysa (Huntington Beach); 3. Josh Mohr (Huntington Beach); 4. Colin McPhillips (San Clemente).