Teenager Makes the Most of His Big Break

When Asher Nolan was told last week at the U.S. Open that he had qualified for the Op Pro, he looked like a petrified rookie.

But any fear was washed away Wednesday as the 19-year-old Florida surfer handled himself like a World Championship Tour veteran on the first day of the Op Pro in Huntington Beach.

Although Nolan didn’t win his heat, he had a good showing to take second. Winners in Wednesday’s heats advance to the third round and don’t surf again until Friday. Second- and third-place finishers surf today in the second round. Danny Wills of Australia, ranked first on the WCT, won Nolan’s heat.

“After it all settled in last week, that I got a wild-card seed, I had to get away and take some time off,” Nolan said. “I went down to Carlsbad and stayed with a friend. I had to get away and think and surf.”

Considering that Nolan’s objective when he came to California last week was to get some experience in major surf contests, making the Op Pro was numbing.

Nolan’s achievement--advancing from the U.S. Open trials to the quarterfinals and qualifying for the Op Pro--isn’t an everyday occurrence, but it happened to Pat O’Connell of Laguna Beach in 1989.

“I advanced from the opening round and made it in as a wild-card for the Op Pro. So I can understand what he’s going through,” said O’Connell, who won his heat Wednesday. “The U.S. Open and the Op Pro is a great proving ground for young surfers coming up.”

Nolan has a monumental task today. He’ll be facing five-time and current world champion Kelly Slater in the first heat of the second round. Only one will advance.

Said Nolan: “It’s kind of funny. When I paddled out today and was surfing against these guys, I was a little nervous. But after I got my first wave, I thought to myself, ‘I can surf with these guys. And I can win.’

About the Slater matchup, Nolan smiles and nods.

“Well, I’m going to surf my best. But considering where I am now, and where I was last week. . . . I’m still stoked. I mean, I’m surfing in the Op Pro. It’s a dream come true.”

Slater is surfing today and not Friday because Tom Curren of Laguna Niguel defeated the Cocoa Beach surfer Wednesday, 23.05 to 21.75.

Orange County surfers Shane Beschen of San Clemente and Jeff Deffenbaugh of Huntington Beach, each finished second in his heat. They will face each other today in the second round.

Other heat winners were Mark Occhilupo of Australia, Rob Machado of Cardiff-by-the-Sea and Kalani Robb of Hawaii.

In the first round of the women’s division, it was all Australia as Pru Jefferies, Melanie Redman, Layne Beachley and Neridah Falconer each won her heat. Jefferies scored the highest heat score of the day with 23.05. Tita Tavares of Brazil, the women’s champion in last week’s U.S. Open, and Lynette Mackenzie of Australia, didn’t score a point in their heats.

Notes

Lisa Andersen, the women’s defending world champion, was scheduled to surf the Op Pro but withdrew because of a herniated disc, according to Jody Young, media director of the Assn. of Surfing Professionals. “This could be a potential career-ending injury,” Young said. If Andersen, ranked eighth on the women’s world tour, misses the remaining WCT events, she would be dropped from the tour and would have to requalify. . . . Pat O’Connell of Laguna Beach had a great opening round Wednesday. He had the highest heat score (25.30) and the highest wave score of the day (9.0). . . . Induction ceremonies for the Surfing Walk of Fame, honoring those who have made significant contributions to the sport and its lifestyle, begin at 11 a.m. today at the corner of Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway. This year’s inductees are “Doc” Ball (surf pioneer category), Peter Townend (surf champion), Frieda Zamba (woman of the year), Chuck Dent (local hero) and Jack O’Neill (surf culture).

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Surfing Contest

* What: Op Pro

* When: Today-Sunday

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

* Today’s schedule: 7-8:40 a.m.--women’s surfing Round 2, heats 1-4; 8:40 a.m.-3:20 p.m.--men’s surfing Round 2, heats 1-16.

* Admission: Free

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

* Information: (888) 672-6737, Ext. 224

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