The stage for a showdown in the open mens division of the Surf Concepts/South Bay Boardriders contest on Saturday in El Porto was set last month.
The South Bay’s two most highly regarded surfers, Dane Zaun and Shaun Burrell, both had disappointing showings at the Body Glove SB Boardriders contest in March. Zaun, who recently turned pro, failed to advance out of his preliminary heat. Burrell, a recently retired pro, made it to the finals but had to settle for second behind amateur Derek Brewer.
Saturday’s open finals was a loaded heat, with not only Zaun and Burrell, but also former pro Ted Robinson, who earlier in the day won the master’s division (40-49), Dane’s brother Zaun, who earlier in the day won the junior boy’s division (18 and under), Body Glove/Jack’s team rider Matt Pagan, Rich Silva, winner of the Dive N’ Surf /SBBC open in January, and Brewer.
Conditions had deteriorated from small and mushy to small and junky by the time the men’s open finals began in mid afternoon.
Burrell scored first with his signature speed on a long, small left. The two Zaun brothers followed with equally long, but similarly unremarkable lefts. Finally halfway through the finals heat, a decent wave came in and Burrell and Dane Zaun paddled into it, side by side. Both are goofy foot, and both wanted to go left. Burrell had the priority position, but Zaun was quicker to his feet, forcing Burrell to abandon the wave. Zaun attached the wave aggressively all the way to the sand. But the judges called him for interference, pushing him back into sixth place in the six man heat.
That was small consolation for Burrell, who appeared to think Zaun had stolen a potentially heat-winning wave from him. Burrell chased after Zaun in the water and was still yelling at him after the final horn sounded and the two were walking up the beach. Burrell had to settle for fourth.
While the two goofy-footers eliminated one another, regular footer Matt Pagan worked the rights to win the heat. Kelly Zaun was second, Brewer third and Robinson fifth.
The tension had eased by the time of the awards presentation, but it illustrated the importance top surfers have assigned to the South Bay Boardriders Contest Series, which is in just its second season.
Another measure of the contests’ growing prestige is its broadening reputation among upcoming surfers.
Last month Huntington Beach phenom, 11-year-old Ben Seaberry won both the boys (14 and under and groms (12 and under) divisions. This past weekend, Venice surfer Noah Hill won both the boys and groms divisions. Palos Verdes’ Will Reed was second in the boys and Dylan Hord was second in the groms.
Hermosa Valley Middle School student Shane Moseley scored his third first place finish of the series in the micro groms division. Billy Atkinson was second.
Pro prospect Natalia Anzivino continued her domination of the women’s open division with her third contest series win. But Mira Costa High team rider Rachel Tominaga showed promise with a second place finish in the open and first place in the junior girls (18 and under). Fellow Mira Costa teammate Sara Sohrogi was second.
In another finals loaded talent, former South Bay pro Ted Robinson edged out former South African pro Warren Kushner to win the masters division (40- to 49-year-olds). Last month Kusher won the division and Robinson placed second.
In the legends division (50 and over) Scott Daley racked up his fourth series victory, followed by Nick Christensen with his third second place finish of the series.
In the longboard division, Dave Schaefer kept a step ahead of 13-year-old Hudson Ritchie. It was Schaefer’s fourth win of the series and Hudson’s third second place finish.
Schaefer is organizing a South Bay Boardriders longboard team to compete in contests up and down the coast. Interested surfers should contact him at lafdmedic@aol.com or at (310) 938-4938.
The final contest of the South Bay Boardriders Contest Series will be sponsored by Spyder Surf on May 12 at the Manhattan Beach pier. For more information visit SouthBayBoardriders.com. ER
