Small Surf No Problem For Big-Wave Parsons

Mike Parsons can usually be found surfing the big waves at Mavericks or Todo Santos, but he showed his small-wave prowess Saturday at San Onofre to win the first stop of the Professional Surfing Tour.

Parsons, of Dana Point, dominated the finals held in three-to four-foot waves, holding off Jessie Merle Jones of Hawaii, Jason Senn of San Clemente and Jeff Hurley of Huntington Beach. Parsons finished with a score of 27.65. Senn was a distant second with 19.85 points. Hurley was third (18.95).

“It’s a challenge to go out and surf in these heats against these really good up-and-coming surfers,” Parsons said. “Today, I had to rely on my experience.”

Parsons prefers bigger waves, but he attacked the smaller surf with the right attitude.

“San Onofre is like home to me,” he said. “It’s not the best and I prefer bigger waves, but surfing is just fun for me. And I’m here to just have fun.”

Jeff Deffenbaugh of Huntington Beach, who will be competing in next week’s U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach with Parsons, was eliminated Saturday morning in the semifinals.

In the women’s final, Holly Beck of Palos Verdes won with a score of 22.40, Ashley Carney of Cardiff-by-the-Sea was second (17.60), Kim Hall of Capitola (Santa Cruz) was third (14.60), Erin Edwards of Oxnard was fourth (10.15) and Heidi Holso of Treasure Island, Fla. was fifth (7.50).

A Juniors Trans World division was also contested. Laguna Beach High’s Mike Todd won the event with a score of 22.75. Bron Hussenstamm, also of Laguna Beach High, took second (21.80). Cole Anderson of Cocoa Beach, Fla. was third (21.50) and Brandon Tipton of Huntington Beach was fourth (19.60).

The next stop on the PST is Aug. 16 at Seaside Reef in Cardiff.