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Photos by Mike Balzer
The worse the surf got, the more intense the competition became during the Spyder Surf/South Bay Boardriders contest Saturday at the Manhattan Beach pier.
Ratcheting up the intensity was an Air Pacific trip for two to Fiji for the competitor who finished with the most points in the six-contest series.
Derek Brewer started the day with a commanding, 200 point lead, after having surfed over his head in the previous three contests, racking up a first, a second and a third.
Another appearance in the finals would almost certainly have given him the series championship. But Brewer failed to advance out of his first round heat.
That opened the door for recently retired pro Sean Burrell, and former Mira Costa stand-out Kelly Zaun, who were in second and third place, respectively, in the series. Burrell advanced to Saturday’s finals with second place finishes in his first two heats. Zaun won his first two heats to advance to the finals.
The morning low tide, outside sandbars and waist high waves gave the competitors plenty to work with in the early heats. But by the time the open men’s finals began in the mid afternoon, the tide was high and the 10 knot wind made it tough to distinguish the small swells from the white caps.
With Brewer eliminated, the series title was Burrell’s to lose. He had beaten Zaun in the previous four contests and needed only a fourth place finish in the six man heat to win the trip toFiji.
But 10 minutes into the 20 minute heat, Burrell had yet to catch his first wave. Zaun, meanwhile got off to a quick start, with a series of small insiders he rode through the shore pound.
Zaun’s supporters on the Waterman’s team were cheering for anyone but Burrell. And whether it was deliberate or not, Burrell was repeatedly boxed out of the lefts by Body Glove team rider Matt Pagan, who camped out south of Burrell. And he was boxed out of the rights by Zaun’s brother Dane.
With five minutes to go, Burrell had caught just one wave, which he finished with a flourish of frustration by sending his leash-less board flipping through the air.
Burrell caught his second of the two required waves with under two minutes and had to settle for a sixth place finish.
Zaun finished third, behind Pagan and Spyder team rider Chris Broman. But third place was worth 563 points, enough for a trip for two to Fijii.
Zaun also won the juniors division (18 and under). Jordan Robinson was second and Dimitri Paparasslliou was third.
In the women’s open division, former Palos Verdes and South High surfer Natalie Anzivino continued her domination with her fifth consecutive first place finish. Rising Mira Costa star Rachel Tominaga was second and Becca Rosen was third.
Former South African pro Warren Kushner won the masters division (40 to 49), followed by Donny Wilson and Ted Robinson.
Mike Sirordia, who hadn’t competed in a contest since he graduated from Mira Costa five years ago, won the longboard division. Dave Schaeffer, who won the previous four longboard contests, was eliminated during an early round after being called for interference during a successful into a fin-first take off. Lifeguard Tom Seth was second and Spencer Parker was third.
Los Angeles County Lifeguard Roddy Williams took first in his first contest of the series in the legends (50 and over) division. Scott Daley was second and Scott Johnsen was third.
The top finishers in the boys division (14 and under) were Henry Kinson, Chris Stimphl and Jack Rowan.
The junior girls division (18 and under)was won bySara Kohrogi, followed by Jessie Rowan and Saralyn Troeger.
Nick Ferrara won the groms division (12 and under), followed by Dylan Hord and Sam Reichel.
HermosaValleySchoolstudent Shane Mosely won the micro groms division for the fourth time in the series. Luke Snyder was second and Noah Steinmetz third.
The South Bay Boardriders awards party is Friday night at American Junkie (formerly Sangria) on Pier Plaza in Hermosa Beach.
For more information visit South Bay Boardriders Club.com. ER
