Beschen, Knox Take Another Step Toward the Finals

Shane Beschen and Taylor Knox of the U.S. team advanced to the seventh round, taking one more step toward the finals of the men’s open title Saturday at the World Surfing Games.

Knox of Carlsbad won his heat against Brazil’s James Santos, who also advanced. On one wave, Knox caught a forehand barrel that gave him one of the highest scores of the day.

Beschen of San Clemente finished second to Australia’s Todd Prestage, who edged Beschen, 19.27 to 19.16.

Beschen and Knox will compete today in two heats of Round 8. Knox will face Japan’s Takaiuki Fukuchi, Prestage and Rizal Tanjung of Indonesia. Beschen will go against Michael Barry, Santos, and Didier Piter of France.

San Clemente’s Geoff Moysa, who has been giving the U.S. team a good performance in the longboard division, advanced to the final heat, where he will face Brazil’s Marcelo Fretis, Jason Blewiit from Australia and France’s Alexies Gauzzo.

In the junior division, it will be a United States-Australian final heat as North Carolina’s Ben Bourgeois and Damien Hobgood of Florida won their heats to advance. The two Americans will face Troy Brooks and Taj Burrow.

In the women’s open division, Brazil’s Tita Tavares and Jacqueline Silva, who both pulled upsets Friday over Australia’s Neridah Falconer and Wendy Botha of New Zealand, won their heats and advanced to the final rounds.

In the team standings, Brazil moved into first place followed by Australia and the United States.