Newport Beach’s Kaleigh Gilchrist defended her PacSun USA Championship title today in pumping surf at Lower Trestles, while San Clemente’s Kolohe Andino walked away with another under 16 title, but came up short in the under 18 division.

It was the last year for Gilchrist to compete in the contest, as she ages out and heads to the University of Southern California. Santa Ana’s Courtney Conlogue – the US Open of Surfing Champion – came up second in the 18 and under heat after scoring 14.23 in her heat.

“One of my biggest goals surfing-wise this year was defending this title,” she said. “I wanted to go big and get the results.”

Gilchrist – also a stellar waterpolo player - caught two strong waves early in the heat, but then a big lull came between sets.

“That was probably the longest 17 minutes of my life,” she said.

SEE A SLIDESHOW FROM TODAY HERE.

The waves delivered for the event – a mix of south swell and tropical storm brought 4-to-5-foot surf, with some overhead waves under overcast skies.  

In a heated battle, Andino lost out in the boys 18 and under division to Florida surfer Evan Geiselman, who scored a heat total of 15.37.

“It’s the best feeling ever right now, I’m really happy,” Geiselman said. “That was probably the hardest final I’ve ever had, everyone was ripping.”

 Geiselman said taking the title from Andino – who won last year – wasn’t easy.

 ”I always want to beat him, it’s always like we have this little rivarly. Surfing against him makes me surf my best,” he said.  

Kolohe – who still had reason to celebrate after defending his 16 and under title – said he was stoked for Geiselman.

“He’s a really great surfer. I felt like there was nothing I could do, he surfed amazing. I’m stoked for him,” he said.

 It’s the seventh year for the contest, and the first year it has been held in San Onofre. The contest started with preliminaries held on the south side of the Huntington Beach pier last weekend, with the remaining heats and finals held at Trestles the past few days.

The hundreds of surfers came from around the nation, from top amateur organizations in the United States including Hawaii Surfing Association (HSA), National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA), Western Surfing Association (WSA), Surfing America Prime Series
Surfing America Wildcards (includes East Coast and Texas Gulf competitors).

For more info, go to surfingamerica.org

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