Brent Reilly : photo Courtesy of NSSA
NSSA Southwest Conference
Open Season Event #4
Church, San Clemente
10 - 11 November 2007
NSSA SOUTHWEST OPEN #4 AT CHURCH: RESULTS ARE IN!
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 15 November, 2007 : - - More than 200 west coast student surfers converged to San Clementes Church beach to compete in the fourth stop of the NSSA Southwest Conference Open Season. The cobblestone point offered fun waves, mostly rights with some occasional rippable lefts in the waist to chest high range.
The ratings races are heating up and things are getting interesting in all categories especially with the much anticipated five-star rated Seaside Reef Open coming up next month. After an injury plagued 2006-07 season, Brent Reilly has mounted a solid return to the new year. Currently ranked No. 1 in the Explorer Season, it was never a case of if but when the naturally talented 17-year-old from Carlsbad would take his first win in the Open Mens.
He seemed intent on winning this one from the get-go and his quick, loose carving snaps are deadly in Churchs long, down the line sections. Ive had a tough year in the Opens, Reilly said after his victory. I was just stoked to make it to the final. The 25-minute final had all the ingredients of a strongly contested heat with Reilly, Dillon Perillo (Malibu), Thomas -Grom Clarke (Encinitas) and Kolohe Andino (San Clemente) who had earlier sewn up the Juniors victory.
Without delay, Reilly was off to an early lead nailing a 5.83 score. Andino upped the ante with a 6.17 but Reilly stuck to his routine of fast turns and carving slashes earning a 6.83 for his second score. T-Grom got a 5.33 but never found another good wave. Dillon Perillo was shut down until the final minutes when he dropped a 7.17 score with a series of big frontside bashes but the ocean lulled the remainder of the heat.
All weekend, I just tried to get a couple good waves right off the bat so I wouldn’t have to stress towards the end of the heat,” Reilly said. That way I could try to better the waves I had. I got some fun ones in every heat. In the first couple contests, I’ve made some bad decisions and luckily everything came together at this contest.
Reilly made a substantial leap to the number three position in the ratings and this race has taken on a new life especially with division leader Dane Zaun’s quarterfinal exit. Reilly trails No. 2 ranked Andrew Bennett by less than 600 points and Zaun by approximately 1,300. That may seem like massive numbers, but if you factor in the upcoming Seaside Reef Open which is five star rated and worth double the points the climb up this steep ladder is within reach.
Especially for the goofy-footed Reilly who lives right up the road from one of Calis finest lefthanders. Both Kolohe Andino and Andrew Doheny (Newport Beach) were sharp weekend and were destined to meet in the Juniors final. Doheny was the top scorer of the weekend posting the highest heat total (18.00) in his Juniors Round 2 heat.
Sage Erickson and Parker Coffin : photo Courtesy of NSSA
Joining Andino and Doheny in the final was Shaw Kobayashi (San Clemente) who was polished and had his rhythm going in every heat and Taylor Thorne who is on a hot streak with three straight finals appearances. But there was no denying Andino on his quest to get his first win of the season. He really wanted to win this one, his dad Dino said.
We made it back from Scorpion Bay in a day so he could be here. In addition, it should be noted that Andino pushed it up to another level in his Mens Round 2 heat on Saturday with an impeccable combination of snaps, cutbacks and air maneuvers. He posted the highest score (9.0) and heat totals (17.0) overall in the Mens division.
Taylor Thorne is also deserving special attention as he is currently sitting on top of the leader board in the Juniors after four events. He finished last season ranked 16th. In the Boys, Parker Coffin (Santa Barbara) will rise to a substantial lead in the ratings capturing his second win of the season. Coffin was cracking the lip ferociously on his new CI MX model in the Boys and also stepped up to the plate in the Juniors division with an outstanding semifinal showing.
I have to give a shout out to Janice and my coach Toma who gave me some good advice about my boards Coffin said. "My board was turning in the pocket really good and that really helped in these waves. In the Mini Groms, Kanoa Igarashi (Huntington Beach) and Jake Davis (Capistrano Beach) have been swapping first and second places. This time it was Kanoa who took the win by a slim 0.5 margin.
The Women’s final matched up number two ranked Sara Taylor (Huntington Beach) with Sage Erickson (Ojai) who was fresh off a big win at the PB Open the weekend prior, Kaleigh Gilchrist (Newport Beach) and Tara Franz (San Juan Capistrano). Taylor wasn’t messing around and started off with a good 6.33 which set the tone for an exciting 25-minute showdown.
Erickson opened up with a 5.17 but then got the ball rolling with two solid back-to-back 6.33 rides leaving Taylor needing a 6.34 for the win. She was left holding a 4.33 second wave score for second place with Gilchrist and Franz taking third and fourth respectively. That was the most fun I have had in a contest all season,” Erickson said. Sara, Kaleigh and I were laughing and enjoying the heat.
It was a new vibe, I liked it.” Taylor liked it also as her runner-up placing was good enough to move her into the number one position due to a no-show by previous leader Courtney Conlogue. The win streak stayed alive for Cole Robbins (Santa Barbara) in the Longboard division. Cole is off to a sensational start as his record now improves to 4.0.
RESULTS SOUTHWEST OPEN SEASON EVENT #4
OPEN MENS
1. Brent Reilly-Carlsbad 12.66
2. Kolohe Andino-San Clemente 11.67
3. Dillon Perillo-Malibu 10.84
4. Thomas Clarke-Encinitas 9.50
OPEN JUNIORS
1. Kolohe Andino-San Clemente 12.84
2. Andrew Doheny-Newport Beach 11.67
3. Taylor Thorne-Newport Beach 10.50
4. Shaw Kobayashi-San Clemente 8.33
OPEN BOYS
1. Parker Coffin-Santa Barbara 11.50
2. Nic Hdez-Santa Cruz 9.50
3. Patrick Curren-Santa Barbara 8.50
4. Johnny Elles-Huntington Beach 8.00
5. Colin Moran-Costa Mesa 6.50
6. Taylor Clark-Encinitas 6.34
OPEN MINI GROMS
1. Kanoa Igarashi-Huntington Beach 13.50
2. Jake Davis-Capistrano Beach 13.00
3. Decker McAllister-Santa Barbara 9.17
4. Hunter Johnson-San Diego 5.83
5. Tyler Gunter-Newport Beach 5.17
6. Jake Marshall-Encinitas 4.50
OPEN WOMENS
1. Sage Erickson-Ojai 12.66
2. Sara Taylor-Huntington Beach 10.66
3. Kaleigh Gilchrist-Newport Beach 8.50
4. Tara Franz-San Juan Capistrano 5.67
OPEN LONGBOARD
1. Cole Robbins-Santa Barbara 11.33
2. Jerry Swearingen-Carlsbad 11.00
3. Scott Brandenburg-San Clemente 8.50
4. Steve Simpson-Malibu 7.16
5. Cody Ulrich-San Clemente 6.50
6. Brett Robbins-Santa Barbara 5.34
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Janice Aragon
NSSA Contests - Surfersvillage
