Longboarder Tudor Goes for a Walk and a Great Ride

It has been a great ride for Joel Tudor.

At 22, the La Jolla longboarder became the youngest surfer to be inducted Thursday into the Surfing Walk of Fame in Huntington Beach.

“I’m still waiting for someone to pinch me and wake me up,” said Tudor, who won his two heats Thursday to advance to the semifinals of the longboard competition of the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach.

Tudor said he’s still in shock about the nomination.

“When I got the call, I didn’t believe it. To be included on that list of names that are on the walk . . . it’s a great honor.”

Tudor, who has surfed every U.S. Open since its inception in 1994, has won the longboard event all but one year. He’ll be going for his fourth title Saturday.

“Surfing Huntington is very special to me. The history, the pier, all the things that makes this sport so great are in Huntington Beach,” Tudor said.

During his two heats Thursday, Tudor almost seemed a part of his 9-foot-4 longboard, as he walked to the front of his surfboard, rode the nose and then struck the classic pose.

“He’s got his own style,” said longtime longboarder David Nuuhiwa of Huntington Beach. “His induction is well deserved. He’s won just about every contest he’s been in. He has taken the classic styles to develop his own style. He’s probably the most recognizable longboarder and he’s great for our sport.”

Orange County surfers Derek Erickson of Dana Point and Josh Baxter and Colin McPhillips of San Clemente advanced to the quarterfinals.

In the men’s open, former world champion Tom Curren made his debut Thursday, taking second in his first heat and then winning his second, to advance to the first round of the main event.

Curren, who’s trying to qualify for next week’s Op Pro, is recuperating from a knee injury suffered while surfing.

“I’m doing a lot of pool swimming to get back into shape. But it only really hurts when I’m sleeping, when I’m not doing anything,” Curren said.”

While Curren said the injury has forced him to change his style of surfing to a small degree, it wasn’t evident in his surfing Thursday as the three-time world champion pulled some amazing maneuvers.

Curren had one of the highest heat scores of 22.75 to win his second heat. Kurt Jacobs of Australia finished second.

“It’s actually better than last year, when the waves were so big and it was a bit out of control,” Curren said. “At least I don’t have to battle those strong currents.”

Curren will be surfing today against Eneko Acro of Japan and Australians Jacobs and Mark Bannister.

Orange County surfers had a rough time Thursday as most were eliminated in the seventh and eighth rounds of the trials.

Ben Bourgeois, who’s from North Carolina but lives most of the time in Newport Beach, advanced with Curren, as did David Pinto of San Clemente.

“I know it’s going to get tough today, but I’m just trying to get that wild-card spot,” Bourgeois said.

Top surfers like San Clemente’s Shane Beschen, who’s ranked second on the World Championship Tour, Rob Machado of Cardiff, Pat O’Connell of Laguna Niguel and Taylor Knox of Carlsbad start competing today in the second round of the Main Event.

In the third round of the Wahine trials, defending champion Rochelle Ballard advanced to the quarterfinals.

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Surfing Contest

* What: U.S. Open of Surfing

* When: Today-Sunday. Surfing begins at 7 a.m. each day and ends at 5 p.m.

* Where: South side of the Huntington Beach Pier, Pacific Coast Highway and Main Street

* Today’s schedule: 7 a.m.--men’s main Round 1; 12:20 p.m.--men’s main Round 2

* Parking: Paid parking in lots by the pier and in the downtown area.

* Information: (714) 366-4584

* Web site: https://www.surflink.com