Huntington Beach Seeks Major Surf Event to Fill in Blank

Now that the state Parks and Recreation Department has approved a world-class professional surfing event May 6-10 at Lower Trestles in San Clemente, U.S. Surfing Executive Director Ian Cairns is apparently apprehensive about moving the event, formerly known as the U.S. Open, out of Huntington Beach.

Last November, the Assn. of Surfing Professionals announced that the event was relocating from Huntington Beach because, according to ASP Executive Director Graham Stapelberg, a growing number of participants and organizers wanted it held at a beach that provided consistently better waves.

Ron Hagen, director of community services for Huntington Beach, said the city has not been able to replace the U.S. Open with another surfing event, but still plans to stage the AirTouch Pro/Am in the first week of August.

“We [Huntington Beach] have an application to the Bud Surf Tour to get something for the slot that the U.S. Open occupied,” Hagen said. “But if nothing happens this year, we’ll almost certainly have something for 1998.”

The U.S. Open, which has yet to be renamed, moves to Lower Trestles, where Cairns, a former world champion surfer, said there is no doubt the waves will be better.

However, Cairns also believes the strict guidelines that the Parks and Recreation Department has established at Lower Trestles might do the contest more harm than good.

Cairns said the majority of championship surfing events run five days, but have an 11-day window of opportunity, meaning if the surf isn’t very good, the competition can be postponed a day or two.

“In the case of the Trestles event, [Parks and Recreation] is only giving us five days to complete the contest,” he said. “So if we have some days when the surf is not good, it won’t matter, surfers will have to compete anyway.”

Cairns also expressed concern that Lower Trestles is too isolated--it takes a 1 1/2-mile hike from a tiny parking lot to the contest site--to draw large crowds.

“The thing about the U.S. Open [at Huntington Beach] was that we were able to bring the sport to the people,” he said. “But in this case, only the true aficionados will make the trip.”

Mike Tope, chief ranger for Parks and Recreation’s Orange County District, agreed, saying it will be a low-key event without the sideshow and festivities. “Nothing like the U.S. Open,” he said.

As for Cairns’ concern about the strict timetable, Tope said it’s unfortunate, but it can’t be any other way if the contest is to remain at Lower Trestles. “We’re [Parks and Recreation] firmly locked into the five-day schedule,” he said.

Last year, Lower Trestles hosted 10 surfing contests, but locals claimed the events left them standing on the beach when they wanted to surf. After a survey by Parks and Recreation and Surfing magazine, the number of events has been reduced to three: the National Scholastic Surfing Assn. finals in June, a Bud Surf Tour event in September and the former U.S. Open event.

If the guidelines at Trestles prove too strict, could we see the return of the event to Huntington Beach?

“No, I don’t see that happening,” Cairns said. “Once we surf this event, it will be part of the tour forever.”

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Kelly Slater of Cocoa Beach, Fla., who had unofficially won the world title in September, was officially named the men’s world champion when the ASP World Tour award winners were announced late last month.

Shane Beschen of San Clemente was named runner-up, Bonga Perkins of Hawaii was named world champion in longboarding, and Nathan Webster of Australia was named rookie of the year. Hawaiian Conan Hayes was awarded most improved.

Lisa Andersen of Ormond Beach, Fla., won her third consecutive world championship and Australian Pauline Menzcer was runner-up. Trudy Todd of Australia received the most improved honors.

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The Hal Rosoff Classic paddling race, featuring canoe and kayak athletes from all over the world, will be Feb. 15 in Newport Beach.

Men and women in six categories will paddle 8,000 meters, beginning off Lido Isle and finishing at the Newport Aquatic Center in Newport Beach.

The event draws many U.S. Olympians and top international athletes. Last year’s single-man kayak champion, Mikko Kolehmainen of Finland, was the gold medalist in the event at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Kolehmainen will not defend his title this year. Adrian Bachmann, a member of the Swiss national team, is expected to be a top competitor.

For more information, call the Newport Aquatic Center at (714) 646-7725.

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Winter in Southern California doesn’t bring an end to water activities. The Newport Aquatic Center holds rowing and kayak classes throughout the winter months.

The next round of four-week classes starts at the beginning of February. Introductory rowing classes meet on Saturdays and introductory kayak classes meet on Sundays. The center also offers intermediate classes. Membership at the center is not required for classes.