Californian wins at Malibu but Hawaiian takes US Title

Malibu, California - (Sunday, September 21, 2003)- In yet another day of surprises and upsets, the Converse California Classic, the third and final event of the Westfield United States Professional Longboard Surfing Championships, ended today with 33-year-old Josh Baxter of San Clemente taking the $4000 first place prize in the men's open division.

The big story of the day, however, was not so much the victory of the seasoned professional as it was the amazing ride to this prestigious final of a virtually unknown 13-year-old, Christian Wach, also from Baxter's hometown of San Clemente. The diminutive blond tow-head, ranked number 69 in the ratings prior to this event, surfed his way to the top echelon of the sport in a series of five heats, starting out with humble beginnings in the first round and ending in the company of world champions.

Wach was shut out in the finals by the more experienced competitors, including former world champion Joel Tudor (San Diego, Ca) who took second place, and C.J. Nelson (Santa Cruz, Ca) who took third. But Wach won the hearts of spectators and judges alike with a skillful display of noseriding and solid turns on his nine-foot-plus board in a performance that earned him $1000 for his weekend at the beach.

The major upset of the day occurred in the men's quarter finals when current world champion and defending U.S. champion Colin McPhillips (Capistrano Beach, Ca) was eliminated, beaten among two other contestants by eventual finalist C.J. Nelson.

In the women's open division Hawaii's Desiree DeSoto (Makaha, Oahu) took top honors with another Hawaiian surfer, Janna Irons (Hanalei, Kauai) in second place, Schuyler McFerrin (Encinitas, Ca) third and Kim Hamrock (Huntington Beach, Ca) in fourth.

DeSoto turned in consistent performances throughout the heats with superb noseriding and well executed turns, occasionally switching her stance from right foot forward to left foot forward to give herself an advantage in Malibu's right-breaking point break surf, an extremely difficult and risky maneuver in surfing, and one that is attempted in competition only by a few of the sport's most accomplished riders.Julie Whitegon 2003 US Womens Champion : photo Carol CunninghamIn the specialty noseriding segment of today's competition, Santa Barbara's Oliver Parker took the $1000 first place prize, while open finalist Schuyler McFerrin took first in the women's division.

Surf conditions for the event could hardly have been better for the longboarders with 3-4 foot swells, calm wind conditions, hazy sunshine, and air temperatures in the mid-70s.

The Converse California Classic was the richest longboarding event ever to be staged on the U.S. mainland and the Westfield United States Professional Longboard Surfing Championships is the only professional surfing series in the world to stage both men's and women's divisions at the same time and place, and surfing's only contest format with equal prize money for both sexes.

With the Converse California Classic concluded, awards were also handed out today in the U.S. Championships. As expected, Hawaii's Bonga Perkins (Haleiwa, Oahu) was crowned men's champion, and Julie Whitegon (Oceanside, Ca) successfully defended her title in the women's rankings. Perkins was eliminated yesterday at Malibu but still had sufficient accumulated points in the series to take top honors. Whitegon, eliminated today in her quarter final heat, also had enough points to make her unbeatable.

The 2003 United States Professional Longboard Surfing Championships are presented and produced by Longboard Magazine with sponsorship from Westfield Shopping Towns. The California Classic event is sponsored by footwear maker, Converse, with supporting sponsorship from Hobie International, O'Fish'l Surf Products, Coolies, Duke's Restaurant Malibu, Toes On The Nose, Downing Hawaii, Reyn Spooner, Gidget, Chan's, and Duke's Canoe Club Waikiki.

RESULTS:

Converse California Classic Men's Open:

1. Josh Baxter (San Clemente, Ca) $4000
2. Joel Tudor (San Diego, Ca) $2000
3. C.J. Nelson (Santa Cruz, Ca) $1500
4. Christian Wach (San Clemente, Ca) $1000
5. Tanner Beckett (Santa Cruz, Ca) $ 500
5. Vince Felix (Santa Barbara, Ca) $ 500
7. Josh Mohr (Huntington Beach, Ca) $ 250
7. Lance Hookano (Haleiwa, Hi) $ 250

Converse California Classic Women's Open:

1. Desiree DeSoto (Makaha, Hi) $4000
2. Janna Irons (Hanalei, Hi) $2000
3. Schuyler McFerrin (Encinitas, Ca) $1500
4. Kim Hamrock (Huntington Beach, Ca)$1000
5. Daize Shayne (Hollywood, Ca) $ 500
5. Ashley Lloyd (California) $ 500
7. Heather Wolf (California) $ 250
7. Belinda Baggs (Newcastle, Aust.) $ 250

2003 Westfield United States Professional Longboard Surfing Championships

Men:

1. Bonga Perkins (Haleiwa, Hi)
2. Joel Tudor (San Diego, Ca)
3. Tommy Lloy (Dana Point, Ca)
4. Colin McPhillips (Capistrano Beach, Ca)

Women:

1. Julie Whitegon (Oceanside, Ca)
2. Summer Romero (Encinitas, Ca)
3. Daize Shayne (Hollywood, Ca)
4. Keliana Woolsey (Waimanalo, Hi)

— Taken from http://www.globalsurfnews.com/.

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