O’Connell’s Board Work Better Than His Yard Work

If ever there was a global business, it’s the Assn. of Surfing Professionals’ World Championship Tour. Already this year, pro surfers have worked in Australia, Tahiti, Fiji, South Africa, France, Spain and Portugal.

But Thursday at Lower Trestles, a bizarre thing happened. Two surfers who spent the night in their own beds were in the same heat in the Billabong Pro.

Laguna Beach’s Pat O’Connell, struggling near the bottom of the world rankings, and Cardiff’s Rob Machado, the hottest surfer on the tour after victories in two of the last four events, put on a consistently strong show despite continued inconsistent conditions.

The waves rose to new heights, but high-tide lulls again played a major factor as No. 41 O’Connell edged No. 4 Machado in a battle that featured the world’s best doing what they do best: make the most of what the ocean has to offer.

A head-high two-wave set midway through the heat was a perfect example. Machado took the first, carving huge roundhouse cutback turns and rebounding off the whitewater. O’Connell responded with tight-arcing snap turns off the lip and a long floater over a breaking section.

With five minutes left, Machado needed only a 6.16 to overtake his longtime friend, but the Pacific wasn’t cooperating. He caught two small waves before time ran out.

O’Connell, doing yard work over the weekend, missed a tree stake and hit the last two toes on his right foot with a sledgehammer. He said the injury helped him focus.

“Pro surfing is all about catching the right waves,” said O’Connell, “and sometimes I’m like a little kid, I just want to catch as many waves as possible. [The injury] doesn’t bother me much because I put most of the weight on the ball of my foot, but I kept telling myself I had to make every wave count.”

OVERCAST, BUT SUNNY

And then there were two.

Machado and No. 3 C.J. Hobgood, who lost to South Africa’s Paul Canning, were mathematically eliminated from winning the world title this year.

If No. 1 Sunny Garcia were to lose in Round 2--the first elimination round--in the last two WCT events and Hobgood won them both, Hobgood would come up 70 points short.

Garcia, who received a walk-through to the fourth round when Australian wild-card Joel Parkinson withdrew, will meet No. 19 Michael Lowe, of Australia, today. Australian Luke Egan, the only man left with a chance to catch Garcia, lost to Hawaii’s Conan Hayes.

WINNERS AND LOSERS

San Clemente’s Shea Lopez, No. 11 in the world, beat Damian Hobgood and will meet Hawaii’s Shane Dorian, No. 6, today. Also advancing were San Diego’s Taylor Knox (No. 24) and Oxnard’s Tim Curran (No. 30). San Clemente’s Cory Lopez (No. 10) and Shane Beschen (No. 33) lost.

The fourth round and quarterfinals are scheduled today.