Classic resumes at Torrance Beach
The South Bay Surf League girls short and long board, body board and boys long board divisions of the Fall Classic took place last Saturday under ideal, summer like conditions. It was in the upper 80s, making for glassy mirror like conditions and perfect, four-foot tubes. Hundreds of spectators turned out for the contest at Torrance Beach. It was easy to tell the proud parents. I haven’t seen anything like it in years. At first I thought they were just happy to see their kids without their cell phones and video games, but soon realized they were into the contest. The parents were yelling, whistling, flagging their kids where to surf, and jumping up and down. It was like a Richard Simmons sweating to the oldies exercise class and that was while the heat was still paddling out.
League Director John Joseph was forced to run two areas at once because of the large turnout. I could only cover one area final at a time even though there was plenty of action in both, starting with the talented girl’s short board final.
El Segundo junior Alex Womack flew backside down an outside left while Mira Costa sophomore Indigo Monk kissed the lip down the line of a nice left. PV sophomore Jessie Dustin carved a deep cutback at the end of a long right and made some big drops on the outside sets. Savanah Werneck from South Torrance pulled up into some big tubes and Palos Verdes freshman Jessie Rowan got a long right, spanking the lip before slicing a deep cutback. Mira Costa freshman Jordan Wible took over the final going deep in the tube left and right finishing with good coasters.
In the men’s long board final Mira Cost junior Mike Cassen pulled into an outside barrel but couldn’t come out. South Torrance senior James Pratt got a long right bouncing off the top then pulled into the big barrel of the final but he couldn’t escape, either. Anthony Gamboa from El Segundo got a picture perfect tube ride half way to the beach while PV’s Justin Jones hung five through a diaphanous section.
Mira Costa’s sophomore Peter Vandros and senior Kelly Zaun were the stars of the finals. Peter was trying to look a little like progressive long boarder Joel Tudor. Kelly was looking like old school, ‘60s South Bay surf star Ricky Irons, who was my idol. Ricky was the uncle of world champion Andy Irons, who died last week. Ricky would run to the nose, hang five, do a spinner on the tip and end with a switch foot coaster. Kelly walked to the tip, arched into a silky smooth section, and then back peddled into a sweet cutback. It was very close impression of Ricky.
Every time I glanced over at the body board final I could see someone fly out of the tube getting air and landing a perfect roll. The girl’s long board final was just as exciting with the competitors charging every set wave. Unfortunately, for me and the spectators, the two finals couldn’t be watched simultaneously. ER
Kick Off Classic 2010-2011 Results
Short Board
David Slay MC
Kevin Piper PN
Connor Beaty RD
James Pratt ST
Nathan Quinn MC
Nick Green SP/Johnny Hobbs RD
Long Board
Kelly Zaun MC
Pete Vanadros MC
Justin Jones PV
Anthony Gamboa ES
James Pratt ST
Mike Cassen MC
Body Boarding
Jackson Cassidy MC
Mike Cassen MC
Kyle Kirby ST
Matt Picazo RD
Brian Kelly ST
Jeff Walker ST
Girls Long Board
Jessie Rowan PV
Jessica Dustin PV
Jorden Wible MC
Madie Hawks MC
Maddie Anvinzino ST
Ali Sheldon NW
Girls Short Board
Jorden Wible MC
Jessie Rowan PV
Savanah Wernick ST
Jessica Dustin PV
Indigo Monk MC
Alex Womak ES
