All photos by Saul Zaragoza
The word around the South Bay is the El Porto bars have been going off. Name your street, and there’s a most cooperating right or left hander. South Bay Surf League director Dickie Reilly understands the sensitivity locals feel about contests and elected to hold this week’s contests away from the happening bars. While the shape wasn’t as clean,” it was pretty good, with three to five foot rights and lefts as South Torrance High defeated El Segundo High in the closest contest of the season.
It was a clash of two teams who had been in competitive doldrums. South, after losing its top surfers by expulsion after a school prank and being spanked by both Costa and Redondo the previous two weeks, were on the hunt for a “W.” Last season wasn’t kind to El Segundo, and the team was just as eager to turn things around.
“If anything, El Segundo is the most improved team from last year,” South’s coach, Leigh Mcarthur said to El Segundo coach Daniel Truax.
The first shortboard mens heat started of with a gnarly riptide and right at high ride.
“The key is to use the riptide to your advantage and to keep in position,” O’Reilly said, “The current has a tendency to drift competitors from the peak.”
El Segundo’s Chris Thoman utilized the lefts with backside hacks for the heat win while his teammate Tim Martin milked a right into the inside for second.
South’s Chris Stimpfl has been no stranger to first or second place all season. In the shortboard mens heat two, he was uncharacteristically out of rhythm and couldn’t get into a good wave. His teammate Will Hayward won the heat with a solid coaster on an outside set. El Segundo’s Mason Bernis placed second with a high scoring cutback.
The women’s shortboard division was dominated by El Segundo’s Danielle Montrose, who dropped into a set left taking it all the way to the inside. South’s Hunter Richardville followed suit for second place.
El Segundo High has a deep tradition in longboard stemming from the Tyler Surfboards and Tyler Hatzikian influence. As a result, if there was a “best of show” category in the South Bay Surf League, El Segundo’s team would win with highlights like a Tyler Surfboards “Double Deuce” and a mid 60s, Hap Jacobs Donald Takayama model, shaped by Takayama. This did not deter South Torrance’s Kirk Provin, who won the division with a solid noseride. El Segundo’s Noah Hale placed second with a good backside cutback. At the midway point of the contest, South started a cutback with the score of 37 to 45.
In the bodyboard division, South’s Liam Trodden won with an El Rollo on the inside. Zac Montrose of El Segundo, who’s gifted on anything he rides, placed second.
The women’s longboard division was a vicious heat. With a lowering tide, competitors battled for the more pronounced left hander. The line-up resembled a gladiator pit. A few surfers collided with each other to the hoots of the crowd. South’s team took the lead with their women’s team taking top three positions with in order, Kelly Gibson, Jessie Gaudet, and Elise Takashima.
With two heats remaining, the last two shortboard mens heats, the contest could go any way.
“With the lowering tide, it’s easier to get a high score by connecting to the inside,” said head judge Chris Wells. “The trick is to find the section to complete those critical turns and cutbacks.”
In the third shortboard mens heat, El Segundo’s Noah Hale won with a solid off the lip. South’s Bram Sprokkerreef and Clayton Tilung kept South in the lead by placing second and third.
In the last heat, El Segundo had their rally hats on. Although Drake Vasquez won the heat with a big lip smash and Montrose placed second with a scorching left, South’s Robert VanLingen placed third, cementing the victory.
Final Score: South 80, El Segundo 78. For more league info check out: southbayscholasticsurfingassociation .com. ER
