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Results from NSSA Southwest Conference Open Season at Church
November 20, 2009
PRESS RELEASE
For those who weren't at Churches for the past weekend you missed out on an exciting double rated event. The waves were typical Church, mushy chest high rights and occasional lefts that are oddly rippable if you have the right surfboard. However if you eat too much food before your heat there is a good chance the soft little waves won't float you. Anyways, here is how the weekend unfolded:
When the women hit the water it was Kaleigh Gilchrist who surfed her way all the way through the Open Women's heats to finally take her first win of the season. Kaleigh not only excels in surfing (she is the NSSA Surfer of the Week this week), but she is also a star water polo player with Newport Harbor High and just got accepted to USC and will be playing on the USC water polo team in 2010. Kaleigh scored a 6.67 and 6.33 in the final to beat Lakey Peterson who was surfing really well in her heats as well. Lakey put up the high scoring wave and totals in her Women's semi and almost pulled off a mental frontside helicopter spinny air. Lakey will remain on top of the ratings but Kaleigh gained some major ground and her win will shoot her up to the No. 4 position.
"It's my first final this year," Kaleigh said. "Luckily my heats had some really good rights coming in and there were actually a few fun lefts. I've been having some first round shockers so I really wanted to come out in the double rated event and do well."
Kairi Noro visiting from Japan and crashing on the Kobayashi family's couch, is getting some serious contest practice before he has to head back to the sushi empire in a few weeks. He took his second Mini Grom final in a row and also made the Open Boys final. Newport hot grom mini shredder Tyler Gunter took second and will move up to first in the ratings.
There was a changing of the guard in the Longboard division when Shaun Thompson who has been owning the division with four straight victories finally got dethroned by Jason Schechter in an exciting final. Jason was cruising the nose and hanging five on his way to a 9.00, 8.70, and threw away an 8.17. His 17.70 total heat score in the final was the highest point total of the entire weekend.
All eyes are on the intensely deep talent pool of the Southwest Open Boys division this year. This time it was Kanoa Igarashi who surfed really well in the final taking a decisive win for his second of the season. He squeaked his way into first place in the Boys ratings just over Jake Davis who was out of sync in the final and placed fifth. Kanoa dominated the final by a 4-point margin with a 9-point ride on a set right and a 7.67 back up score. "I'm so stoked on my win today," Kanoa said. "The waves got really good and glassed off in the Boys final. Everybody got really good waves."
Colin Deveze has been earning his nickname "Little Pat G". He was shredding at Churches taking second in the Boys final while nearly pulling off a crazy little air reverse. And now Kanoa, who won 30 contests in the 2008-09 season breaking the regular season win's record, recognizes the incredibly higher caliber of surfing going on in the division. "Everyone has really improved and is surfing so good this year," Kanoa said. "It seems everyone is pushing their surfing to the limit so it for sure pushes my level." Clearly Kanoa is eager to keep his momentum going. "I can't wait for the next contest which is Newport next weekend. I love that wave!"
Apparently my younger brother Parker and I had the highest scores from the weekend. I had the highest heat totals of the Open Men's division with a 17.50 in my semi final heat and Parker posted the highest heat total of the Open Juniors with a 14.33 total in one of his early heats.
"Porker" and Trevor Thornton have made four of five finals this year in the Juniors. Trevor will remain out in front in the ratings, but Parker gained some ground and will leap from fourth to second. Therefore, the title race is heating up and will hopefully get more interesting towards the end of the season. Parker was destroying the rights on his backside all weekend looking like a mini Bobby Martinez. He opened up the final with a solid 7.83 and a back-up wave of 5.5 while everyone else was a bit out of rhythm with the waves.
Unfortunately, right before the Men's final, Kanoa and the rest of the Open Boys stole all the waves. As soon as our heat hit the water, the ocean decided to go flat. Luke Davis pulled his usual Tom Curren antics and ripped the few good waves that came through in the heat. Our final ended in the dark and Luke took home his first win of the season. This coming Saturday, we will all go to battle again at Newport 54th Street.
COMING UP IN CALI: Next up the Southwest Open Season continues with Event #6 at Newport Beach 54th Street.
THE SCOREBOARD
RESULTS
SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE OPEN SEASON EVENT #5
CHURCH, SAN CLEMENTE
OPEN MENS
1. Luke Davis-Capistrano Beach 11.77
2. Conner Coffin-Santa Barbara 10.03
3. Parker Coffin-Santa Barbara 9.50
4. Josh Morse-Point Loma 2.93
OPEN JUNIORS
1. Parker Coffin-Santa Barbara 13.33
2. Jonah Carter-San Clemente 11.07
3. Trevor Thornton-San Clemente 9.84
4. Breyden Taylor-San Juan Capistrano 7.10
OPEN BOYS
1. Kanoa Igarashi-Huntington Beach 16.67
2. Colin Deveze-San Clemente 12.50
3. Jake Marshall-Encinitas 12.16
4. Colt Ward-San Clemente 11.10
5. Jacob Davis-Capistrano Beach 10.87
6. Kairi Noro-San Clemente 8.17
OPEN MINI GROMS
1. Kairi Noro-San Clemente 10.07
2. Tyler Gunter-Newport Beach 7.57
3. Ryland Rubens-San Diego 6.47
4. Eithan Osborne-Ventura 6.20
5. Nicholas Marshall-Encinitas 5.34
6. Sam Wickwire-Seal Beach 4.12
OPEN WOMENS
1. Kaleigh Gilchrist-Newport Beach 13.00
2. Lakey Peterson-Santa Barbara 9.56
3. Lani Doherty-San Clemente 8.27
4. Chandler Parr-Santa Monica 7.44
OPEN LONGBOARD
1. Jason Schechter-San Diego 17.70
2. Shaun Thompson-Huntington Beach 15.50
3. Nathan Thompson-Huntington Beach 7.57
4. Stephanie Schechter-San Diego 7.23
5. Justin Brand-Seal Beach 6.67
6. Bryn Lutz-Carlsbad 4.63
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