What Makes Huntington Beach Surf City

Starting this week, two back-to-back surfing competitions stop at Huntington Beach Pier -- the 2000 World Championship Tour begins Wednesday and the U.S. Open of Surfing and Beach Games starts a week later. A closer look at why Huntington Beach has earned the nickname “Surf City”.

Building the Perfect Wave

Surf City’s legendary waves originate from a combination of factors. During ideal conditions, a South Pacific swell glides up a gently sloping sea floor. The swell strikes a tapered speed bump, shoving the wave upward as an offshore wind pushes against its face. After a moment of flatness, a second break rises up before crashing on the shore.

Speed Bump

Ocean currents cause sand to build up along either side of pier in the shape of tapered fan, boosting waves as they approach shore.

Return Trip

Surfers take advantage of riptide, using “conveyor belt” to quickly return to line-up.

Huntington Hop

Sea floor trench causes wave to flatten, forces surfers to “hop” between breaks.

Winds

Winds blow between mountains, funnel across flat terrain. 10-15 mph winds push in wave’s face.

Catcher’s Mit

Huntington Beach lies in the center of a “bay” between Long Beach and Dana Point, absorbing the brunt of waves from South Pacific storms.

First Break

Ideal wave breaks at 6-to-7 feet high.

Second Break

Creates a longer ride and better score for competitors.

Ocean Floor

Gentle slope creates a spilling wave, longer ride.

Rock Reef

Built to attract fish, kicks up waves as they approach pier.

Comparing the Breaks: Huntington vs. Newport

Gentle, shallow sea floor off Huntington Beach creates a spilling wave with a longer ride.

Steep, sloping floor off Newport Beach creates a hollow, plunging wave.

Circles smaller deeper down.

Circles bigger near the surface.

As wave approaches shore, circles get closer together and create taller swell.

Long Beach

Boasted large waves before a breakwater was built to protect the harbor.

Dana Point

Construction of Dana Point Harbor wiped out legendary break known as “Killer Dana.”

Touring the World’s Waves

Professional surfer Tim Curran of Ventura describes the surf at various stops along the Bluetorch Pro tour.

Southern California -- Wave size: 3-4 feet. “The waves are not very powerful in Huntington, usually head high. Trestles is one of the most ripable waves in California, a very, very good spot to see performance rides.”

Hawaii -- wave size: up to 20 feet. “More life threatening because of the reefs and size of the waves. A lot more fun for people on the beach because it raises the level of surfing and shows who can ride the biggest waves the best.”

South America -- wave size: 2-3 feet. “A small beach break, mainly a performance wave.”

Tahiti -- wave size: 8-10 feet. “A very dangerous wave, only a barrel. The reef is very dangerous. You’re in survival mode.”

Spain -- wave size: 4 to 6 feet. “A long, world-class wave. The shape of the wave is very hollow. Both a performance and a tube ride.”

France -- wave size: up to 6 feet. “A good variety of tube rides and performance surfing. Not as big as Hawaii, but if the sand bars are good, you can get tubes or barrels and performance waves.”

Africa -- wave size: 4 to 6 feet. “A long, right (facing) wave. A little bit of both performance and ride.”

Australia -- wave size: 3-4 feet. “A little smaller, more of a performance wave.”

Tour leaders

Top men’s and women’s pro surfers competing in the WCT tour stop at Huntington Beach:

Men’s

Sunny Garcia: Age: 30; Home: Hawaii; Stance: Natural; Career Victories: 7

Luke Egan: Age: 30; Home: Australia; Stance: Goofy; Career Victories: 1

Flavio Padaratz: Age: 29; Home: Brazil; Stance: Goofy; Career Victories: 2

Jake Paterson: Age: 27; Home: Australia; Stance: Natural; Career Victories: 1

Cory Lopez: Age: 23; Home: Florida; Stance: Goofy; Career Victories: 0

Women’s

Megan Abubo: Age: 22; Home: Hawaii; Stance: Natural; Career Victories: 1

Layne Beachly: Age: 28; Home: Australia; Stance: Natural; Career Victories: 18

Lisa Andersen: Age: 31; Home: Florida; Stance: Natural; Career Victories: 20

Tita Tavares: Age: 24; Home: Brazil; Stance: Natural; Career Victories: 0

Serena Brooke: Age: 24; Home: Australia; Stance: Natural; Career Victories: 5

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Source: Bill Richardson, Huntington Beach lifeguard (retired); Meg Bernardo, MKM; Jennifer Ramsay, Bluetorch

Graphics reporting by BRADY MacDONALD and RAOUL RANOA, Los Angeles Times

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WHAT AND WHEN

WHAT: The Bluetorch Pro, the first of two Southern California stops on the 2000 World Championship Tour (WCT). Features the world’s top 44 male and 15 female surfers in a “sudden death” format.

WHAT THEY’RE COMPETING FOR:

Men’s Top prize: $15,000.

Women’s Top prize: $6,000

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Wednesday, July 19th 7 a.m. -- 8:40 a.m. Pro Women’s Rd1 Heats 1-4 8:40 a.m. -- 3:20 p.m. Pro Men’s Rd1 Heats 1-16 3:20 p.m. -- 4:10 p.m. Pro Women’s Rd1 Heats 5-6 Thursday, July 20th 7 a.m. -- 7:50 a.m. Pro Women’s Rd1 Heats 7-8 7:50 a.m. -- 2:30 p.m. Pro Men’s Rd2 Heats 1-4 2:30 p.m. -- 4:10 p.m. Pro Women’s Rd2 Heats 1-4 Friday, July 21st 7 a.m. -- 10:20 a.m. Pro Men’s Rd3 Heats 1-8 10:20 a.m. -- Noon Pro Women’s Rd3 Heats 1-4 Noon -- 3:20 p.m. Pro Men’s Rd3 Heats 9-16 Saturday, July 22nd 8 a.m. -- 9:40 a.m. Pro Women’s Qtr. finals Heats 1-4 9:40 a.m. -- 1 p.m. Pro Men’s Rd4 Heats 1-8 1 p.m. -- 1:50 p.m. Pro Women’s Semi-finals Heats 1-2 1:50 p.m. -- 2:15 p.m. Air Show Heat 1 2:15 p.m. -- 2:45 p.m. Pro Women’s Final 2:45 p.m. -- 3:10 p.m. Air Show Heat 2 3:15 p.m. Women’s Awards Sunday, July 23rd 9 a.m. -- 10:40 a.m. Pro Men’s Qtr. finals Heats 1-4 10:40 a.m. -- 11:10 a.m. Jack Haley Meml. Final 11:10 a.m. -- 12:10 p.m. Pro Men’s Semi-finals Heats 1-2 12:10 p.m. -- 12:40 p.m. Air final Final 12:40 p.m. -- 1:10 p.m. Pro Men’s Final 1:20 p.m. Men’s Awards

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