Last Wednesday, the Palos Verdes High School surf team handily defeated Torrance High in contest beset by rough conditions, including onshore winds and an occational drizzle.
The shortboard divisions at the Nov. 12 contest were dominated by Palos Verdes. PV’s Peter Healey won the first heat, connecting all the lefts with top to bottom turns. His teammate Sam Bark followed with a huge rollercoaster. Torrance’s Phillip Poulin kept Torrance in the mix with 3rd.
In the second heat of shortboard, PV swept the field. Jack Rowan, who’s been making a name for himself, earned the victory while Chris Ryan took second. Jon Schular placed 3rd with a good coaster.
Torrance’s Nestor Ramirez was the only surf team member to place first in all the divisions by winning the 3rd shortboard heat. PV’s Mathias Kelterborn took 2nd by connecting the rights with good hits. His teammate Nick Ferrara took 3rd back to the hill by whacking all the lefts.
In the last shortboard heat of the day, Torrance’s River Brainard placed 3rd with an off-the-lip. PV’s Chad Brown rollercoastered into 2nd while teammate Quinn Stoneman won with slashing cutbacks.
In the women’s shortboard division, the tricky conditions presented a challenge. PV’s Paula Knichrehm placed third with a good left. Her teammates Molly Leimbach and Cassidy Cushman were neck to neck. Cushman took the heat with a good left 30 seconds before the end of the heat.
Knichrehm continued surfing well and won the women’s longboard division with a spinner. Her teammates Paige Lindgren and Sophie Traversi followed in 2nd and 3rd.
In the men’s longboard division, Rowan showing he’s skilled in multiple surfing disciplines, winning the heat with a good backside noseride. His teammate Peter Healey placed 2nd with a good drop knee cutback. Brainard placed 3rd with a couple good lefts.
Traditionally PV’s lack of bodyboarders made their contestants a heat of whoever they could find to pencil in that day. The tradition continues with multiple division surfers. Healey won the heat with a good ARS. Rowan placed 2nd with a good 360 while Stoneman landed in 3rd.
When the final horn was blown, PV won 113 to Torrance’s 37
Contest footage shot by Marty Tueling, MartyCam
In the next contest zone, just north of the PV vs. Torrance competition, Mira Costa High battled with San Pedro High. Costa is pretty solid this season and won 109 to San Pedro’s 52.
 Results:
Men’s Shortboard
Heat 1: 1st. Chad Coon, MCHS 2nd. Walker Hale, MCHS
Heat 2: 1st. Pat Kornick, MCHS. 2nd. Aiden Farlo, SPHS
Heat 3: 1st. Shane Crow, MCHS 2nd. Tommy Millin, SPHS
Heat 4: 1st. Cody Purcell, MCHS 2nd. Ryan Ulrich, MCHS
Men’s Longboard
1st. Andrew Neal, MCHS 2nd. Aiden Farlo, SPHS 3rd. Peter Neal, MCHS
Women’s Shortboard
1st. Sara Kohrogi, MCHS 2nd. Emily Seth, MCHS 3rd. Audrey Steen, SPHS
Women’s Longboard
1st. Sarah Kohrogi, MCHS 2nd. Emily Seth, MCHS 3rd. Amelie Vergnolle, MCHS
BodyBoard
1st. Nick Coon, MCHS 2nd. Luc Jaquemetton, MCHS 3rd. Justin Matsui, MCHS
For more results visit: southbayscholasticsurfingassoc
