Competing on Home Surf
To be able to surf for a living is a dream shared by girls as well as boys; the allure being the sun and the waves, the prospect of wealth and fame and, perhaps most enticing, the travel.
But young women, who don’t receive as much financial support from corporate sponsors, often find that the lifestyle is not always as glamorous as what they had envisioned.
The sun doesn’t always shine, the waves are sometimes small, wind-blown and break beyond familiar shores. Wealth and fame are elusive, and the travel, while often enlightening, can be nightmarish.
The surfers, at least early on, pay most of their own expenses -- and the accommodations they can afford aren’t always desirable.
Julia Christian of Carlsbad, a veteran of the qualifying circuit, said she was once confronted by a man who charged out of a South African alley with his head split open and blood gushing over his face. Prue Jeffries of Oceanside said someone was killed in the lobby of her South African hotel five minutes after she checked out.
Then there’s the schedule, which has been particularly demanding for mainland U.S. surfers who have had to travel the farthest -- to South Africa, South America, Australia, Europe and Hawaii -- for the highly rated events that are stepping stones to the Assn. of Surfing Professionals’ elite World Championship Tour.
The tide may be turning, however.
The Hello Kitty Boardfest at Huntington Beach Pier, which runs today through Sunday, was recently upgraded from one-star to four-star, -- the third-highest rating possible. The following weekend’s season-ending O’Neill Coldwater Classic, at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz, was also upgraded to four stars.
That means West Coast surfers trying to advance in the standings or boost their stature can enjoy something they haven’t had for years: home-water advantage in events that mean something.
California this year has four of 10 World Qualifying Series events rated four stars or higher. The others were the six-star Honda U.S. Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach last summer and the four-star SG Magazine Queen of Surf at San Diego’s Pacific Beach.
(The highest rating is six stars, worth 2,500 points to the winner. A five-star event is worth 2,000; a four-star 1,500. A one-star is worth 250 points.)
“For everyone but U.S. surfers, the change is somewhat of a nightmare since they are required to fly back and forth from the U.S.,” said Palos Verdes surfer Holly Beck, who is ranked 28th in the World Qualifying Series standings. “I love being at home, so it’s great for me.”
Whether this represents the beginning of a trend or is the result of corporate sponsors testing local waters remains to be seen. To upgrade an event, they must pay a higher ASP sanctioning fee and increase prize money. The payoff, they hope, is greater exposure.
“Now American girls have an opportunity to get not only qualifying points but competition experience against some of the world’s best surfers,” said Michael Kingsbury, promoter of Boardfest, a women’s event that also includes a longboard contest and surf clinics.
Bret Muhlitner, marketing director for O’Neill, said the Cold Water Classic, which had a one-star rating last year, was upgraded in an attempt to restore its former prestige and “to give something back to the surfing community.”
Whatever the reasons, the sudden emergence of California is being cheered by women young and old.
“It’s really important for somebody her age and other gals aspiring to be pros because they don’t have to endure the constant travel,” said Tracy Conlogue of Santa Ana, whose 12-year-old daughter, Courtney, is a top amateur. “We need to help our athletes, and having big events here is the only way we can do that.”
Beck agreed. “The traveling is the best and hardest part of doing the tour,” she said. “The first two years it’s all fun and exciting and you say to yourself, ‘I’m a pro surfer, I get to travel the world and get paid for it, this is the greatest thing ever!’
“But after a few years it becomes a job. When I’m away I miss my boyfriend and my family. I miss simple things like skateboarding down to my home break to check the surf in the morning, showering in my own clean shower, and being on my own program for the day.
“Of course, it isn’t all bad. It’s an amazing lifestyle, but there are definitely downsides that people don’t realize.”
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Women’s Surfing
* What: Hello Kitty Boardfest.
* When: Today through Sunday.
* Where: Huntington Beach Pier.
* Admission: Free.
* Facts: This is the next-to-last stop on the women’s World Qualifying Series tour. The field of 64 includes Holly Beck of Palos Verdes, Serena Brooke of Australia and Jacqueline Silva of Brazil. Each are competing for an overall purse of $21,500. The event, which has a four-star rating, also includes a longboard competition.
* Details: www.boardfest.com or (714) 375-1132.