Surfing Event Coming to Newport

It’s an expensive proposition for local surf pros to score points for the World Qualifying Series, since they have to find ways to travel to events in Australia, France, Brazil . . . Newport Beach?

The Professional Surfing Tour of America will bring an Assn. of Surfing Professionals four-star WQS event to Newport Beach, Sept. 4-9 at 56th Street. The ASP will hold its World Championship Tour event at Lower Trestles in San Clemente Sept. 10-15.

The Rip Curl Pro at Newport will have a purse of $65,000 and is a one-star rated event for the women.

San Juan Capistrano’s Chris Drummy, ranked 37th in the WQS, said the four-star rating makes the event even more worthwhile for local pros chasing their WCT dreams. Surfers who finished among the top 16 of the 2000 WQS series earned a spot on the 2001 WCT tour.

“I was really stoked when I heard about Newport,” Drummy said. “Last year, when they had the Rusty Pro-Am there, I won. That time of year at Newport, you can get really good surf.

“It’s nice since it just seems like we have to chase points traveling around the world. Except for [The U.S. Open at] Huntington Beach, which is a six-star, you’ve really got to travel.”

Drummy said he’s leaving Monday for Australia, where there are three WQS events over the next month.

“California surfers have been at a tremendous disadvantage,” said Bill Sharp, publisher of Costa Mesa-based Surf News. “In terms of someone sponsoring a local event, this is a tremendous step forward by Rip Curl to help put an American surfer back at the top of the ratings.”

And it will also provide a local stage for some of the sport’s best.

Hawaii’s Bruce Irons is one of the sport’s most popular and talented surfers, but he’s most visible on magazine covers and videos rather than on tour. But he should be among the stars competing at Newport.

“We’ve based Bruce’s schedule around four-star events and above,” said Brad Dougherty, the surf team manager for Costa Mesa-based Volcom, one of Irons’ sponsors. “To have an event like this in our backyard is great. And with that four-star rating, it will also bring out a lot of the top guys who don’t really travel much.”

MONSIEUR DRUMMY

Drummy grew up surfing Salt Creek and he has stayed nearby, making his home in San Juan Capistrano. But he has found his celebrity overseas.

“It’s weird,” Drummy said. “You go to Europe, everybody is so excited about the surfers. I think we’re more popular in France.”

RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY

Last week’s stormy weather contributed to the postponement of the opening of Irvine Lake’s new lagoon, General Manager Steve Miller said.

The scheduled opening was today, but Miller said the opening has been pushed back to March 17.

“The water level has come up about a foot,” Miller said. “Yeah, we need the water. But it’s just muddy as heck around the new lagoon.”

If you have an item or idea for the On the Go notebook, you can fax us at (714) 966-5663 or e-mail us at martin.beck@latimes.com

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

BASKETBALL

April 7

* Registration for Three-on-Three Stop ‘N’ Pop youth basketball tournament continues until March 16 at Travis Ranch Activity Center in Yorba Linda. Boys and girls 10-14 are eligible. Details: (714) 961-7167.

BICYCLING

Saturday

* Orange County Wheelmen Spring Metric, 8 a.m., Yorba Regional Park, Anaheim Hills, features 32- and 64-mile rides through hilly Orange County. Details: (714) 956-2453 or https://www.ocw.org

* Orange Coast Velo cycling club meets at Worthy Park, at 17th and Main Street in Huntington Beach. Rides vary from 25 to 50-plus miles and begin at 7:30 a.m. with periodic regrouping and rest stops. After-ride socializing at Noah’s Bagels on Main Street. For further information call Jerry, (714) 960-4214 or Peter (714) 848-7618.

March 17

* The Warrior’s Society Mountain Bike Pow Wow features three tough rides in the Santa Ana Mountains. The Vision Quest, recommended for experts only, is 52.5 miles with 11,500 feet of elevation gain and two miles of hike a bike. The Counting Coup, for intermediate to expert riders, is 40 miles with 8,000 feet of gain and the Seek the Peak, for novice to intermediate riders, is 24 miles with 5,000 feet gain. Details: (714) 894-8211 or https://www.warriorssociety.org

RUNNING

March 10

* March Mayhem 5K at Concordia University in Irvine. Benefits Kids Cancer Connection and the university’s cross-country and track and field teams. Details: (949) 854-8002, ext. 1845

March 11

* Spirit Run starts at Fashion Island in Newport Beach and features a 5K and 10K run. Proceeds benefit several Newport Beach elementary schools. Details: (949) 451-4568 or https://www.kinaneevents.com

TRACK AND FIELD

March 10

* Saddleback Masters Relays at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo. Benefits Saddleback’s track and cross-country teams. Details: (949) 831-5935.

VOLLEYBALL

Ongoing

* Registration for JVB Youth Volleyball League continues for play that starts this month in Anaheim. Instructional leagues for children in fifth through eighth grades. The cost is $95. Details: (714) 974-7907.

* Registration for U.S. Youth Volleyball League continues for play that starts this month in Aliso Viejo and Laguna Niguel. Instructional leagues for children 8 to 14. The cost is $90. Details: (888) 988-7985.