Winter Is Storming Back

When Russell Winter qualified for surfing’s World Championship Tour in 1998, he became the first European to make that claim.

Seven years later, he’s hoping to do it again.

The 29-year-old Englishman who grew up surfing in rain, snow and sleet, took another step Friday at the Honda U.S. Open of Surfing, winning his heat in the round of 48 alongside the Huntington Beach Pier.

Winter advanced to today’s round of 24 by earning a 7.77 wave score (10 is perfect) with about seven minutes remaining in his 20-minute heat, lifting him from third to first.

“I was just waiting for that wave and it came in,” he said. “I probably could have surfed it harder and a bit stronger, but I just thought, ‘Get the score.’ ”

Winter entered the event ranked No. 16 on the World Qualifying Series tour, which is right on the cutoff to qualify for the WCT. The U.S. Open is a six-star event on the WQS -- its highest rating -- allowing surfers who advance deep into the contest to earn a cache of points toward qualifying.

“I’m on my way,” Winter said.

Winter was born outside London and moved to Newquay, Cornwall, when he was a child. He began surfing when he was 9 and by 15 emerged as the European Junior Champion. He joined the qualifying tour at 18 and, three years later, became the first European to make the WCT.

The experience did not go well. He injured his knee early in his rookie campaign and finished near the back of the pack in the season standings, forcing his drop back to the WQS. He re-qualified for 2000, only to miss four months of the season because of blood poisoning. He was given a wild card to return in 2001 and remained for another year before dropping off the WCT again because of poor results.

Deciding it was time for a break, he returned to England and competed sparingly until last year, when he shot back up to No. 41 in the WQS.

“I sort of wanted to spend more time at home, but then I realized I can do that later on in life,” he said. “Now, I’ve got the drive back to really go for it again.”

Winter started strong this season, reaching the quarterfinals at a six-star event in Western Australia in March, and helped his points total by reaching the round of 24 at a six-star event earlier this month in South Africa.

“He’s still young,” said Sunny Garcia, the 2000 world champion. “I didn’t win a world title until I was 30.”

Winning a world title probably isn’t atop Winter’s list of goals, but he feels he has what it takes to get back on the WCT.

“Dropping off the last few years, I just want to get back out there,” Winter said. “I think that’s where I belong, so that’s what I’m going for.”

Also advancing from Winter’s heat was Patrick Gudauskas, 19, from San Clemente, who is in his first full season on the WQS. Dane Reynolds, 19, of Ventura, Brett Simpson, 20, of Huntington Beach, and Nathanial Curran, 20, of Oxnard also advanced.

Andy Irons of Hawaii, the three-time defending world champion, and Tim Curran, Nathanial’s older brother, also advanced from the same heat.