Huntington Waves May Push Her to Elite Tour

If Julia Christian advances to Monday’s final round of the Hello Kitty Boardfest, she can count on at least two things: having actual waves to ride on and facing an actual opponent.

A month ago at Huntington Beach Pier, the Carlsbad surfer was matched in the U.S. Open final against Australia’s Rebecca Woods and, in essence, won by default during one of the flattest heats ever contested. Christian, who caught four small waves while Woods rode none, vaulted from eighth to third in World Qualifying Series tour points.

It was her first victory of the season in one of its highest-rated events, a crowning moment worthy of the champagne shower she received immediately afterward. But missing was the sense of accomplishment born of head-to-head competition. Woods, the series’ top-ranked surfer, was criticized afterward for failing to even attempt to catch one of the knee-high swells.

This week, Christian, 23, declined to discuss Woods’ behavior but said, “You have to be flexible and surf all kinds of waves on our tour. We don’t always get the kind of surf we want.”

During Boardfest, which runs through Monday just south of Huntington Beach Pier, waves are expected to build into the weekend with waist- to head-high sets Sunday and Monday. And the opportunity before Christian is substantial.

She is ranked fourth on the WQS, with two major contests remaining, and a top-three finish at Boardfest would probably secure Christian a berth on next year’s elite World Championship Tour, which has the world’s top 18 surfers.

The top six surfers from the WQS qualify for the WCT. The remaining positions are filled by the WCT’s top 10 finishers and two wild cards chosen by the Assn. of Surfing Professionals, which governs both tours.

Christian, who has four top-10 results this season, has shown how much she has matured since the last time she was in this position.

In 2003, she was at first unaware that she had qualified for the WCT. In doing so, she became the first female surfer from California to qualify for the tour in more than 10 years, and the first woman from the U.S. mainland since Lisa Andersen in 1986. But once there, she was clearly overmatched, failed to requalify and took a break to evaluate her career.

Today, Christian is looking again to become the only surfer from California on the WCT, but “with much more focus and experience.” She has been training extensively with noted Peruvian surfer Magoo de la Rosa as her coach and using videotape to help make subtle changes necessary to compete on a higher level.

“I’m just trying to be more radical,” she said.

Dylan Slater, manager of the Rip Curl team, said Christian has developed more speed, power and quickness, qualities that are vital in top-tier competition.

Of a possible rematch with Woods, who is ranked eighth on the WCT and first on the WQS, Christian said, “Bring it on. I’m ready for it.”

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Among other top surfers expected to compete are WCT athletes Jacqueline Silva of Brazil, Keala Kennelly and Melanie Bartels of Hawaii, Melanie Redman-Carr, Claire Bevilacqua, Serena Brooke and Pauline Menczer of Australia and Heather Clark of South Africa. They have been seeded into the round of 32, giving them a two-round bye, along with top WQS contenders Christian, Jessi Miley-Dyer and Kim Wooldridge of Australia and Holly Beck from Palos Verdes.