The NSSA West Coast regional championships presented by Nike kicked off on Thursday, and for the next few days will showcase the talents of hundreds of amateur surfers heading to Huntington Beach to try to claim their place as the best young surfers on the West Coast.
The event runs through Sunday, with finals held on that day. Organizers are saying the surf is looking promising for four days of heated battling on the south side of the pier.
There are more than 400 participants from along the entire California coast who show up for the event, which is in its 16th year.
This is a great opportunity to see which local surfers stand out, and you never know which one will one day join the ranks of the world’s best surfers. All of O.C.’s World Tour surfers – Patrick Gudauskas, Brett Simpson, Kolohe Andino, and Courtney Conlogue – have all claimed this title.
San Clemente’s Trevor Thornton will be defending his 2011 title for the open men’s division, while Newport’s Shelby Detmers will be looking to again win the open women’s title.
In 2011, seven West Coast champions went on to win national titles, including Parker Coffin, Jake Marshall, Tyler Gunter, Rick Takahashi, Rusty Phillipy, Breyden Taylor and Troy Mothershead, according to NSSA.
The presentations ceremony is at 5 p.m. Sunday at the contest site. After the West Coast championships wrap up, the NSSA National Interscholastic Championships go down at Salt Creek from June 16 to 18 and Huntington Beach Pier from June 26 to July 3. More Information: nssa.org.

NSSA West Coast Regional Championships is a post from: OC Beach Blog

Photog John Salanoa was out shooting River Jetties in Newport, while Jordan Anast shot down to Salt Creek to snap some shots.

CHECK OUT HOW THE WAVES WERE LOOKING WEDNESDAY:

River Jetties in Newport Beach was looking pretty fun today

Hope this guy got out in one piece!

Surf Shots: Newport River Jetties and Salt Creek showing fun south swell is a post from: OC Beach Blog

There are so many brands, it’s hard to know where to start when replenishing the warm-weather wardrobe for trips to the beach.

We hand-picked a few looks for our readers to check out, something for surfer girls searching for a new bikini, men who want to know the latest looks for boardshorts and, of course, we couldn’t forget the groms, who will no doubt be impressing their friends at summer surf camps.

We’ve featured the latest from Costa Mesa-based lifestyle brand Volcom, a new swimwear line focused on women surfers, and Billabong’s kids collection.

CHECK OUT A PHOTO SLIDESHOW OF THE SUMMER LOOKS.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY.

Summer beach trends: Volcom, Calavera, Billabong is a post from: OC Beach Blog

First, he grabbed the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing in his front yard in Hawaii last winter, and backed that up with one of the most exciting wins in surfing history at the Volcom Pipeline Pro last February.

But his win on Wednesday would officially stamp him into the big-boys club, showing the Hawaiian isn’t just someone to watch in big barrels, but that he can hang in any type of surf. He took out Australian Joel Parkinson – a World Tour veteran – in the final of the Billabong Rio Pro. 

CHECK OUT SOME SHOTS FROM BRAZIL THROUGH THE CONTEST.

Florence scored a 16.37 over Parko’s 11.44 to win.

More from ASP:

Florence, currently in his rookie year on the ASP WCT, proved unstoppable on the final day of Billabong Rio Pro competition, topping prodigious Australian Julian Wilson (AUS), 23, and Josh Kerr (AUS), 27, on his way to triumph over Parkinson.

“This is the best feeling in the world,” Florence said. “I had that bad heat at Arpoador to start and we had a couple of lay days and I had to just sit and think about it. I can’t even believe this right now. I’m in shock. I was just sticking to my game plan and not thinking about the other guys. I’m so happy right now.”

Florence, who now sits at No. 6 on the ASP WCT, will look to carry the momentum from today’s massive victory to the upcoming ASP WCT events in Fiji and Tahiti.

“This helps my confidence so much,” Florence said. “I have a lot of confidence going into events with barreling waves like Pipe. Obviously I have a lot of confidence in barrels from my experience at Pipe, but coming here, I wasn’t expecting a big result. I was just hoping to make a few heats.”

Parkinson utilized his complete skill set at Barra Da Tijuca, driving through barrels, lofting airs and unloading powerful carves en route to his Finals berth, but was unable to find a rhythm against Florence and finished runner-up overall.

“I’m a little bit disappointed as I never really got a start in that final, but overall, I’m stoked,” Parkinson said. “The quality of waves here were unreal. Yesterday, we had full barrels and good sections for turns and airs, it was good for the event.”

Parkinson’s finish today propels the Australian into the frontrunner position for the ASP World Title, but Parkinson was humble in claiming his spot atop the rankings.

“It’s a good feeling I suppose,” Parkinson said. “It’s a long way to go and I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself, but I’m stoked. I’ve had a couple of really nice consistent results. I have been in this position before though so I’m hoping to maintain my performance level throughout the rest of the year.”

Josh Kerr (AUS), 27, put in an amazing performance at the Billabong Rio Pro with an astounding array of barrels and airs to take an equal 3rd place finish. Kerr surfed strong on the Final day of competition, but was unable to surpass Florence in their Semifinal bout.

“I tried an air on the first wave I got and turned around and saw John John (Florence said) in the most perfect barrel,” Kerr said. “Out here in this beachbreak you’ve got to keep an open mind. The wind came up from the south in my heat so I was looking for the backhand airs. John John got the perfect barrel and there’s not much I could do about that.”

Kerr’s equal 3rd place finish at the Billabong Rio Pro matches his career-best result as he continues to build momentum against the world’s best surfers.

“I’ve had three Semifinals now, but it’s better than no Semifinals,” Kerr said. “I’ve had three back-to-back results and for me, going from 33rds on my previous years on tour until last year, it’s good progress and hopefully I can keep it going.”

Kerr was responsible for a big upset in the Quarterfinals, eliminating 2011 Billabong Rio Pro champion and local favorite Adriano de Souza (BRA), 25, when he took to the air in the back half of their bout.

“I was definitely on the back foot,” Kerr said. “Adriano (de Souza) had a 14 point heat total and I just relaxed and figured it’s a couple of 7s. I knew my airs could get me those scores. I was lucky to land that one at the end. I knew I had to launch into the flats because there’s no soft landing, it just dumps. I was lucky to keep it steady under my feet.”

Mick Fanning (AUS), 30, two-time ASP World Champion, eliminated Brazilian Alejo Muniz (BRA), 22, in the Quarterfinals but lost a hard-fought heat to close friend Joel Parkinson in the Semifinals to finish equal 3rd overall.

“It’s always fun surfing against Joel and we started out bang-for-bang,” Fanning said. “That’s just the way it goes, but it’s always fun. Even though you lose, your friend’s in the Final, so you win. I would have liked to make the Final but I just didn’t get the right waves and Joel (Parkinson) surfed great.”

Kelly Slater (USA), 40, reigning 11-time ASP World Champion, was absent from the Billabong Rio Pro, citing an ankle injury. The Floridian’s absence relinquished his former frontrunner status on the ratings and Slater now sits at ASP World No. 8.

To watch highlights from the Billabong Rio Pro log on to http://wctbrasil.com/

The Billabong Rio Pro is proudly supported by Monster Energy Drink and Xperia Sony Smartphone.

The next stop on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour will be the Volcom Fiji Pro, which holds a waiting period from June 3 through 15, 2012.

For additional ASP information log on to www.aspworldtour.com

BILLABONG RIO PRO FINAL:
1 – John John Florence (HAW) 16.37
2 – Joel Parkinson (AUS) 11.44

BILLABONG RIO PRO SEMIFINALS RESULTS:
SF 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.83 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.00
SF 2: John John Florence (HAW) 17.94 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 11.86

Check out more at: www.billabongpro.com

Follow reporter Laylan Connelly on Twitter @ ocbeaches, or at facebook.com/ocbeaches.

For more Orange County beach news:

John John Florence wins maiden World Tour event at Billabong Pro Rio is a post from: OC Beach Blog

A new swell filling in from the south started to show on Tuesday, and it should be a fun week for waves.

Photog John Salanoa was out shooting the surf in Huntington today, check out some of his shots below:

Chris Waring on a backside air reverse. Check out how the waves were looking on Tuesday

Here’s more on what to expect this week from Surfline.com:

Weather:

A weak coastal eddy will develop for the second half of the week. Therefore, look for wind to range from light/variable to light southerly each morning with overcast skies and a marine layer along the coast.

Ocean surface conditions will be mostly clean to lightly textured in the mornings with a southwest-to-west wind building each afternoon to around 8-11 knots as skies become partially to mostly sunny. Air temperature hangs in the mid 60s to mid 70s with water temperatures lingering in the low to mid 60s.

Swell:

Our primary source for surf will be a fun-sized south-southwest groundswell which will provide 3-4-foot surf (waist-shoulder high) at most exposed locations. Top summer breaks will hit head high/slightly overhead 5-6-foot sets.

There will also be some minor short period northwest windswell energy in the water, which should be just enough to cross up the south-southwest swell for some crossed-up peaks at times. Similar- sized surf and conditions look likely to prevail through the weekend.

Of note, but not really a swell maker, is the development of Tropical Storm Aletta which has pulled together roughly 1,300 miles west of Costa Rica. This system moved into the Southern California swell window on Tuesday on its westward track away from land. However, the storm is small, distant and will encounter a considerable amount of northwest windswell running down the Baja coast. Therefore, at this point we are expecting little, if any, swell from Aletta in the end.

Have fun, be safe and we’ll see you out in the water!

- Dave Sellin, Surfline.com forecaster

Surf report: New south swell starting to fill in, sticks around this week is a post from: OC Beach Blog

Postcards from Rio – Billabong Pro Rio Brazil is a post from: OC Beach Blog

The event will be held through May 20, with finals held on that day. Organizers are saying the surf is looking promising for four days of heated battling on the south side of the  pier.

CHECK OUT SOME PHOTOS FROM LAST YEAR’S EVENT:

NSSA shot us some fun facts about the event to get you hyped up about the event. Check it out:

1 – The 2012 NSSA West Coast Regional Championships presented by Nike is one of the largest surfing events in the nation with over 400 participants from Northern, Central and Southern California. Surfers will go all out to stake their claim as West Coast Champions while also qualifying for slots into the 2012 NSSA National Championships.

2 – The NSSA West Coast Regional Championships is an annual event, in its 16th year. “The Westerns” as it’s more commonly called, has always been held in Huntington Beach California in the famous high performance beach break peaks on the south side of the pier. The inaugural event in 1997 was a two day event and has now grown to four days of competition. The first champions in 1997 in the Open divisions were Matt Shadbolt in Mens, Micah Byrne in Juniors, Michael Taras in Boys, Kilian Garland in Mini Groms, Veronica Kay in Womens and Chris McEvoy in Bodyboard.

3 – The NSSA loves HB Pier but why wouldn’t we? It’s got the stadium, it’s got the consistent surf, it’s got the atmosphere and it’s got Main Street where all the parents and surfers can relax in between heats, get a bite to eat or visit the world’s greatest surf shop-Huntington Surf and Sport which is right across the street from the pier.

4 – The NSSA West Coast Championships has a history of being slammed with some of the largest waves of the year putting the west coast surfers to the test. Both Southwest and Northwest swells tend to pound the southern California coast during the calendared window of the event greeting the competitors each year with world class surf, pumping waves, adrenaline filled heats and memories that will last a lifetime. With a full year of regular season events under their belts, it always time for surfers to challenge themselves and up their games at the Westerns!

5 – Many West Coast Champions have gone on to qualify for the elite ASP World Tour. Those include Bobby Martinez, Dane Reynolds, Nathaniel Curran, Patrick Gudauskas, Tanner Gudauskas, Brett Simpson, Kolohe Andino, Courtney Conlogue, Sage Erickson and Lakey Peterson.

6 – Current ASP World Tour surfer Kolohe Andino put on the most inspiring and dominant displays ever witnessed at the West Coast Championships in 2008 when at 14 years and 2 months old, he became the youngest surfer to win the premier Open Men’s Regional title. He also won the Open Juniors that year becoming the only surfer in NSSA Regional Championship history to do this. Kolohe finished his amateur career with nine Regional titles, second on the all-time list to Evan Geiselman who owns 15 Regional victories. Current World Tour competitor Sage Erickson holds the female Regional record with seven titles.

7 – One year later in 2009, another outstanding performance was logged into the record books when Santa Barbara’s Parker Coffin at age 13 years and 7 months became the youngest surfer to make the Open Men’s final at a Regional Championships and the youngest surfer to triumph in the Explorer Juniors 17 & under division! The following year, Parker took it all the way to the top winning the premier Open Men’s division at 14 years and 7 months old.

8 – Many recognized people in the surf industry have triumphed at the West Coast Regionals. The list includes Dylan Slater (Rip Curl), Brandon Guilmette (Hurley), Scott Daley (Body Glove), Chad Wells (Quiksilver), Micah Byrne (DC shoes), Shaun Ward (O’Neill), Darren Brilhart (Brillo Productions) Jeremiah Klein (surf photographer), Ted Robinson (O’Neill), Sean Walker (World Surfaris, USA), Barry Deffenbaugh (D-baugh Surfboards), Chas Wickwire (Chas Surfboards), Rick Fignetti (Rockin Fig Surf Headquarters).

9 – 2011 REIGNING CHAMPIONS ON TARGET FOR MORE TITLES. Several surfers will be on quest to repeat their 2011 titles and/or add more West Coast titles to their performance resumes. San Clemente’s Trevor Thornton will go for back-to-back Open Men’s titles while Newport’s Shelby Detmers targets her second straight in the Open Womens. Malibu’s young female phenom Frankie Harrer pulled off a trifecta of titles last year winning the Open Girls, Explorer Girls and Explorer Women’s and will be back to defend those while also laying down a solid challenge in the premier Open Womens. Harrer, who will be competing in four divisions this year currently holds four Regional victories in her resume and could have a shot at breaking the female Regional title record. 12-year-old Griffin Colapinto from San Clemente made a statement in 2011 with a super impressive victory in the Open Juniors and he will enter the division as the number one seed in 2012 recently clinching the 2011/12 Open Juniors conference crown. Santa Barbara luminary Chris Keet went on a tear in 2011 claiming triple titles in the Mens, Masters and Seniors and will return to defend. Both Jake Marshall and Tyler Gunter took double titles in their age categories in 2011 (Marshall in Open Boys/Explorer Menehuene and Gunter in Open Mini Groms and Explorer Super Groms). Both have aged up and are now strong contenders in their respective age brackets. Duke division competitor Terry Carmadella pulled off his first championship victory in 2011 and will return to his home break for a shot at back-to-back victories. Breyden Taylor and Skip McCullough triumphed in their respective Explorer divisions last year and will pursue Open wins in 2012.

10 – In 2011, seven West Coast Champions went on to win National titles-Parker Coffin, Jake Marshall, Tyler Gunter, Rick Takahashi, Rusty Phillipy, Breyden Taylor and Troy Mothershead.

2012 WEST COAST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS: The presentation of the 2012 West Coast Regional Championship finalists and champions will be held Sunday, May 20 at 5pm at the contest site.

A COMPLETE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR THE 2012 WEST COAST CHAMPIONSHIPS IS AVAILABLE ONLINE ON THE NSSA WEBSITE WWW.NSSA.ORG:

More Orange County beach news:

NSSA West Coast Championships coming up is a post from: OC Beach Blog

OC Register reporter Fred Swegles was down catching all the action, SEE A SLIDESHOW HERE.

Meah Collins winning the 14 and under division.

Here’s more from Swegles:

This was the 10th and final contest of a season that began in August 2011. The two-day contest, held at San Onofre’s Church Beach, crowned season champions as well, and Orange County surfers claimed 13 West Coast titles based on season points.

Look for total results and ratings to be posted at surfwsa.org.

More Orange County beach news:

O.C. surfers shine at WSA championships is a post from: OC Beach Blog

By Jenna Belair for orangecounty.com

Photos: Tomorrow’s Tulips & Abigails in Laguna Beach is a post from: OC Beach Blog

The contest is being held in wobbly 3-5 foot surf. San Clemente’s Pat Gudauskas started the winning streak after taking down Damien Hobgood. Huntington’s Brett Simpson nabbed a 9.33 over Brazilian’s Jadson Andre’s 8.60.

Then World Tour rookie Kolohe Andino was up against Kieren Perrow, with the Aussie surfer having tough luck and breaking two boards early in his heat. Andino was able to get a solid 7.33 on the board, and took the heat over Perrow.

The contest was on hold the past few days, but the action is again flaring up. Watch it live here.

The women’s World Tour contest wrapped up over the weekend, with Santa Ana’s Courtney Conlogue nabbing equal fifth place. Sally Fitzgibbons won the event.

More Orange County beach news:

O.C. surfers surfing solid at Billabong Rio Pro in Brazil is a post from: OC Beach Blog