SOUP EXCHANGE

TB loves HB. PHOTO: RUSS HENNINGS

Has pro surf competition in boring beachbreak become obsolete? Has it always been? Today, off the south side of Huntington pier, as Taj Burrow went ballistic in the US Open of Surfing final -- did a muscular man wearing nothing more than a mullet wig and blazing yellow g-string garner the loudest crowd hoots of all? Yes, he did. But what does that say for our roaring sport?

In semifinal number two, Rob Machado sliced and diced just like he always does the pier, flowing and blowing by dead spots, snipping on the backhand and making it all look too easy. Then, in the dying seconds, Hawaii's Fred Pattachia snagged a right worth three straight up snaps to send Rob back to his longboard at Cardiff reef. So, what? Rob loses. Fred wins and makes his first major WQS final since signing his big-time contract with Quiksilver over four years ago. And, both are ripping -- at least well enough to win another chop comp under the pier. Rob's easily on par with what he did back in, let's say…95?

Taj Burrow just won fifteen thousand dollars, but displayed only a tiny glimpse of his full potential. Case in point: his winning wave was a nice backhand floater and vertical coping bash -- good stuff, but pretty standard for him. He handled the whole thing real smooth, of course, in the end collecting his cash prize, saying, " I'm so stoked; I'm over the moon" -- but also rode two extra waves after the final, trying airs, like saying, "I'm still looking to blow up."

Yesterday's US Open of Surfing was a great success -- tons of surf fans all pleasured to watch the world's finest surfers duel it out in the greatest game of soup exchange. One went left, the other right, and whoever works it best shall win! All the hot guys did their jobs: Cory Lopez with the layback lips; Timmy Reyes with the hometown rookie hammers; Trent Munro with the thick-boy cutbacks and TB with the totalitarian tail slides. Progressive or just passable, surf competition in sloppy beachbreak is here to stay. -- Hagan Kelley

RESULTS
HONDA US OPEN PRESENTED BY O'NEILL
1. Taj Burrow
2. Trent Munro
3. Cory Lopez
4. Fred Patacchia
5. Luke Stedman, Rob Machado
7. Taylor Knox, Timmy Reyes

LOST PRO JUNIOR
1. Adriano De Souza
2. Dustin Cuizon
3. Kekoa Bacalso
4. Jean Da Silva

WQS RATINGS
After the Honda US Open
1. Neco Padaratz 8155
2. Greg Emslie 8033
3. Marcelo Nunes 7205
4. Chris Ward 7043
5. Trent Munro 6998
6. Raoni Monteiro 6730
7. Travis Logie 6658
8. Fred Patacchia 6580
9. Luke Stedman 6570
10. Renan Rocha 6355

 

		THE BEST WAVES! THE BEST SURFERS! THE BEST PHOTOS! AND NOW THE BEST DEAL: SUBSCRIBE TODAY AND GET 1 YEAR OF SURFING MAGAZINE FOR ONLY $12.00! Take advantage of this special offer-act now! GIVE A GIFT
				Email: First Name: Last Name: Address Line 1: Address Line 2: City: State: Zip: Select a payment option: Charge my credit card Bill me later Do you have a promotional coupon code? Enter Code: Please send me special offers and exclusive promotions from Surfing's premiere partners.