Local Champions Look Hungry to Defend Vans Pier Classic Title

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California (Friday, March 27, 2009) – The top seeds hit the water today in the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 2-Star Vans Pier Classic presented by Jack’s Surfboards in peaky two-to-three foot (1 metre) conditions at South Huntington Beach Pier. The day’s action saw former Vans Pier Classic champions and local favorites Shaun Ward (Huntington Beach, CA), 26, and Micah Byrne (Huntington Beach, CA), 27, battle through their opening heats in an attempt to keep the title in Surf City.

All surfers competing in the Vans Pier Classic are looking to better their seed on the ASP WQS in an attempt to qualify for the prestigious ASP Dream Tour. The top 15 seeds at year’s end advance on to the coveted tour where they earn the chance to battle for the title of ASP World Champion.

Ward got off to a slow start in his heat and was pushed down to third place, which would have eliminated him from competition, crushing his chances of a repeat Vans Pier Classic crown. The defending event champion battled back though, earning two impressive scores in the latter half of the heat to advance through to Round 5.

“I was caught in between the peaks and I couldn’t find a wave,” Ward said. “I couldn’t find the right peak. I started to waste all of my energy and go on ones that were only alright.”

The Huntington Beach local talked about using his familiarity of the often-infamous beach break conditions in order to advance through his heat.

“Surfing Huntington, you have to create your own speed, because the wave has no speed,” Ward said. “Sometimes you have to work at it just to keep going on the wave, otherwise you’re just doing round houses.”

Byrne, who won the Vans Pier Classic in 2007, also made a last-minute advancement into Round 5. The former event champ clinched the score needed in the dying minutes of his heat to keep his hopes of a second Vans Pier Classic title alive.

“I didn’t know what score I needed,” Byrne said. “I got a medium sized wave and my turns were kind of just cut backs. I wasn’t sure if I got the score or not and would not have been surprised either way. I knew it was close. It was a scramble-fest and I’m glad it’s over. My legs were burning and you get so nervous because you know you need the score.”

Although Byrne is a local surfer, the numerous events held at Huntington Pier allow outsiders to become familiar with the tricky conditions. The regular-footer expressed the importance of acclimating to the unique waves on offer at South Huntington Beach Pier in order to achieve success at the beach break.

“You get used to this place quick because everyone surfs here a million times,” Byrne said. “It’s definitely good for guys that live north or south of us to come here a day early to adjust to the conditions.”

Nick Rupp (Ocean Isle Beach, NC), 16, who has been a dark horse in the event thus far, donated an impressive performance today when he posted a heat win over Hawaiian talent Jason Shibata (Oahu, HI), who advanced in second, and Floridian standout Asher Nolan (Jacksonville, FL), 30, in his Round 4 heat. Although Shibata jumped out to an early lead with a 9-point-ride, Rupp smashed an impressive heat total of 16.15 to take out the win.

“With two minutes to go Jason (Shibata) only needed a 3-point-score, so I tried to go sit on him,” Rupp said. “I saw a wave and started paddling as hard as I could and I thought Asher (Nolan) was going to go on the right and he ended up going left, so I took the right and it ended up being a good one.”

In addition to today’s Vans Pier Classic action, the opening round of the Ezekiel Pro Junior pres. by Jack’s Surfboards hit the water this afternoon with the Round of 72. Today’s action saw the Ezekiel Pro Junior complete Round 1 and the first four heats of Round 2.

Tyler Newton (Kauai, HI), 18, kicked off his Ezekiel Pro Junior campaign in impressive fashion when he matched the event’s highest single wave score of 9.60 out of 10 by linking several huge frontside turns on a Huntington right-hander. The Hawaiian finished the wave off with a clean air-reverse to claim the score. His impressive 17.60 out of 20 heat total saw him advance easily into the Round of 64.

“That wave felt good,” Newton said. “Sometimes the waves just come to you out there and it’s a lot of luck. I’m happy to get off to a good start in the juniors because I’m focusing on the junior this year and hope to go to worlds, because that’s the spot.”