Team Surfing Challenge Begins Today in Huntington Beach

Big wave surfer Peter Mel from Santa Cruz and Huntington Beach’s Jeff Deffenbaugh will be among the top professional surfers participating in the Katin Team Challenge, beginning today on the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier.

About 250 surfers are scheduled to participate in the individual competition, but it’s the team portion of the contest that is most popular among spectators and surfers.

Four-member teams compete head to head, rotating all four members within a one-hour period. After catching three waves, each surfer must return to the beach and tag a teammate, who takes his turn in the water.

This year, 16 teams will try to qualify for Sunday’s finals. Surfing begins today at 8 a.m. and each subsequent day at 7.

Last year, Sunny Garcia won the individual competition, and the team title was won by Dr. G’s, composed of Todd Miller, Richie Collins, Dave Giddings and Todd Morcon.