TEAM HSS GOES OFF AT THE SOUTHWEST EXPLORER #9 AT SAN CLEMENTE PIER

NSSA SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE
EXPLORER SEASON EVENT #9
SAN CLEMENTE PIER NORTHSIDE
APRIL 19-20, 2008
CONDITIONS: Consistent 3-4 foot waves with fun lefts and rights

The Southwest Conference Explorer Season continued with event #9 on the northside of the San Clemente Pier. A building southwest swell served up plenty of good chest to shoulder high lefts and rights throughout the two day event with sunny weather prevailing. With one stop remaining on the Explorer tour, most of the conference title races are still too close to call but there were a couple clinchers at this one.

Colton Larson took out the Men’s division in an exciting come-from-behind triumph in the closing minutes of the final. A good left came through and Larson took advantage exploding with big backside maneuvers earning 8’s from the judges. No. 1 ranked Nick Suhadolnik placed fourth and will rack up enough points to more or less wrap up the conference crown. All he has to do is basically show up to event #10. Brent Reilly continued his banner year winning his fifth event in the Juniors division while firing off the contest’s only perfect 10. In Juniors Round 2, Reilly asserted his barrel magic once again pulling into another stunning, crowd-roaring deep tube on a set left, emerging from the chamber and finishing it off with a big vertical blast. The victory was a title clincher for Reilly and now he will set his sights on the prestigious Southwest Open crown next weekend at Oceanside’s South Jetty. That race is down to a four man showdown with No. 1 ranked Dane Zaun holding down an 800-plus advantage over Andrew Bennett, Conner Coffin and Reilly. The competition should be intense as the four contenders could make a run. Zaun has been pumped up to take the title since he jumped out to a head start with his opening day heroics back in September, Bennett is longing to close out his amateur career with a title, Coffin is the youngster in the crowd with nothing to lose and Reilly’s momentum and motivation could prove to be a major threat.

Luke Davis was unstoppable in the Boys category winning every heat including the final and locking up the conference title. He also put in a solid performance in the competitively steep Juniors division with a fourth place showing. In the Menehuenes, Kanoa Igarashi was back in the winners circle capturing his second win of the season. Igarashi will remain in the No. 3 position in the ratings, while No. 1 and No. 2 ranked Colin Moran and Taylor Clark will have to battle it out at the season finale for the conference title. Jenna Balestar claimed her first win of the season defeating top seeds Alexa Frantz and Taylor Pitz in the Women’s final. In a clutch situation, Anise Guzman ripped a 9.0 score on her last wave in the Girls final to capture her second win of the season. Rick Takahashi and No. 2 YuFu Penrose went one-two in the Masters final and they will be going head-to-head in the season finale for top conference honors. Barry Deffenbaugh took his third consecutive victory in the Seniors division while runner-up Neil Bern will leapfrog to the top of the leader board. Jeffrey O’Donnell has been on a roll stringing up three straight first places in the Super Seniors which will essentially secure him the conference crown. In Longboard competition, Cole Robbins collected his second win in a row. Division leader Scott Brandenburg took fifth in the final and will remain the frontrunner for the title.

THE SCOREBOARD
RESULTS
SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE EXPLORER #9
SAN CLEMENTE PIER, NORTHSIDE

EXPLORER MENS
1. Colton Larson-Huntington Beach 13.5
2. Dane Zaun-Hollyglen 10.5
3. Kyle Kennelly-Huntington Beach 9.5
4. Nick Suhadolnik-Solana Beach 8.5
5. Graham Chesnie-Newport Beach 7.5
6. Tanner Long-Encinitas 0.0

EXPLORER JUNIORS
1. Brent Reilly-Carlsbad
2. Gabe Garcia-Carlsbad
3. Christian Saenz-Huntington Beach
4. Luke Davis-Capistrano Beach
5. JD Lewis-Encinitas
6. Evan Kane-Huntington Beach

EXPLORER BOYS
1. Luke Davis-Capistrano Beach 13.5
2. Jared Thorne-Newport Beach 12.5
3. Derek Peters-Huntington Beach 12.0
4. Taylor Thorne-Newport Beach 8.0
5. Blake Davis-Newport Beach 7.5 tiebreak
6. Kelly Zaun-Hollyglen 7.5 tiebreak

EXPLORER MENEHUENE
1. Kanoa Igarashi-Huntington Beach 12.0
2. Colin Moran-Costa Mesa 10.0
3. Johnny Elles-Huntington Beach 9.0
4. Taylor Clark-Encinitas 8.5
5. Jacob Davis-Capistrano Beach 8.0
6. Jake Saenz-Huntington Beach 7.5

EXPLORER WOMENS
1. Jenna Balester-Huntington Beach 10.5
2. Marissa Shaw-San Clemente 9.0
3. Taylor Pitz-Laguna Beach 8.5
4. Heather Jordan-Oceanside 7.5
5. Alexa Frantz-San Diego 7.0
6. Cassidy Wehsener-Encinitas 5.5

EXPLORER GIRLS
1. Anise Guzman-Huntington Beach 13.0
2. Shelby Detmers-Long Beach 6.0
3. Emmy Merrill-San Clemente 5.5
4. Melina Smith-San Clemente 5.0
5. Harley Taich-La Jolla 4.5
6. Charlotte Shanahan-San Clemente 3.5

EXPLORER MASTERS
1. Rick Takahashi-San Diego 12.5
2. YuFu Penrose-San Clemente 9.5
3. Eduardo Kill-Huntington Beach 6.5
4. Jon Warren-Costa Mesa 6.0
5. Barry Deffenbaugh-Huntington Beach 4.0
6. Tim Senneff-Del Mar 3.0

EXPLORER SENIORS
1. Barry Deffenbaugh-Huntington Beach 9.0
2. Neil Bern-Carlsbad 8.0
3. Mike Gillard-Coronado 8.0
4. Jeffrey O’Donnell-Canoga Park 7.5
5. Jeff Marder-San Clemente 7.0
6. Terry Gillard-Imperial Beach 6.5

EXPLORER SUPER SENIORS
1. Jeffrey O’Donnell-Canoga Park 9.0
2. Bill Macleod-Rolling Hills Est. 7.5
3. Kyle Twichell-San Clemente 7.0
4. Mike Gillard-Coronado 6.5
5. Dale Baker-San Clemente 5.5
6. Rick Fignetti-Huntington Beach 2.5

EXPLORER LONGBOARD
1. Cole Robbins-Carlsbad 11.0
2. Mike Lallande-Long Beach 8.5
3. Mike Gillard-Coronado 8.0
4. Terry Gillard-Imperial Beach 7.5
5. Scott Brandenburg-San Clemente 7.0
6. Cody Ulrich-San Clemente 6.5