NSSA Southwest  Explorer #2

National Scholastic Surfing Assn.
Goldenwest Street Huntington Beach
3 - 4 October 2009

Big south swell & gusty winds

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 8 October, 2009 : - - The 2009-10 Southwest Conference Explorer Season continued with the second stop at Golden West Street in Huntington Beach. A solid 3-5 foot south swell pumped into HB on Saturday with good waves but strong sideshore currents.

On Sunday, the conditions got even more challenging as the swell made a complete about-face compliments of a potent burst of Northwest wind swell powering 4-8 foot waves down the coastline accompanied by HB's notoriously heavy-duty sweeping currents and strong gusty onshore winds.

It was a family affair as HB locals Christian and Jake Saenz delivered a 1-2 punch clinching victories in their respective divisions. After being put out in the semis in event #1, Christian would not be denied this time in his home court. Hitting a practice session at the contest site the day before, Christian was tuned up and ready to go and it showed as he won every heat en route to the Men's victory.

"The waves were really fun for Golden West," Christian said. "I think practicing here yesterday really helped me out. I figured out the whole lineup and just had fun with the conditions. The current was gnarly but I wasn't fazed at all because I'm used to it. Living in HB, I have to deal with conditions like this a lot." Finals appearances and first place decisions are not unfamiliar territory for Christian who is the reigning Southwest Open Men's Champion, but for younger brother Jake, the road to the finals has been more of a challenge.

At this contest and in the demanding conditions he is accustomed to, Jake finally hit his stride. Using a little hometown experience and taking full advantage of the bigger lefts that pumped through he blasted a pair of 7-point rides in the Boys final to secure his first victory of the year. "It feels great to win a contest, I don't know what to say, it just feels amazing," Jake said smiling ear-to-ear after his breakout win.

"I tried to put everything together in all my heats today and just give it my best. Whenever there is a swell in HB, there is usually current so you have to paddle as hard as you can for waves. Every day we have to surf this so I'm glad I'm used to it. This is a total confidence boost for me because it's the first final I've made this season. And to win it, I can't even explain how happy it makes me."

It was an all San Diego final in the Juniors division with impressive surfing by 17-year-old Mason DeRieux who pulled off his first victory of the season. In the Menehuenes, Jake Marshall was the standout of the division attacking the overhead waves and effectively battling the rough currents. He set the bar high in the final ripping two excellent 8-point rides for the win.

Rick Takahashi has had a sizzling start to the season as he continued to wear down his opponents in the Masters and Seniors divisions securing back-to-back double wins. Tim Senneff was in strong form and stepped it up in the challenging conditions to make three finals in Super Seniors, Seniors and Masters. In the Super Seniors final, Tim went out there and executed solid moves netting an excellent 16.0 combined two-wave total.

In the Duke division, Patrick Schlick unloaded on a set left and the judges rewarded him with a near perfect 9.8 point ride-the highest single score of the entire event. Schlick backed it up with another solid 7.5 score which gave him a 17.3 combined total-the highest of the finals. The Doherty sisters were successful in each of their categories with Lani winning her second consecutive in the Womens and 13-year-old Kulia charging the bombing sets securing her first NSSA Southwest victory in the Girls.

This sister act is going to be fun to follow as both are improving at a rapid pace. Ironman Mike Gillard cashed in on the heavy swell action taking first in the Longboard along with double runner-up finishes in Seniors and Super Seniors.

COMING UP IN CALI: The Southwest Open will head to Surf City for event #3 at Huntington Beach Pier. Then the Cali action will venture north to the chilly waters of Morro Bay on October 17-18 for Gold Coast Conference #5 and Northwest Conference Open #2. The Southwest Open Season will be continue with event #4 at Oceanside Pier followed by Southwest Explorer October 31-November 1 at San Onofre Trails.

RESULTS

EXPLORER MENS
1. Christian Saenz-Huntington Beach 13.0
2. Ryan DeLegge-Encinitas 10.5
3. Porter Hogan- 9.5
4. Stefano Esposito-San Clemente 9.0

EXPLORER JUNIORS
1. Mason DeRieux-San Diego 11.5
2. Joe Diamond-Carlsbad 9.3
3. Cody Sherman-San Diego 8.5
4. Sam Zaiser-Cardiff 7.7

EXPLORER BOYS
1. Jake Saenz-Huntington Beach 14.0
2. Brady Ruysschaert-La Jolla 12.5
3. Skip McCullough-La Jolla 11.0
4. Matt Passaquindici-Huntington Beach 6.5

EXPLORER MENEHUENE
1. Jake Marshall-Encinitas 16.0
2. Cody Clemens-Carlsbad 9.5
3. Kanoa Igarashi-Huntington Beach 9.0
4. Colin Deveze-San Clemente 7.1
5. Jacob Baker-Long Beach 4.0
6. Keone Betanzos-San Diego 2.7

EXPLORER MASTERS
1. Rick Takahashi-San Diego 13.5
2. Aaron Magness-Santa Ana 6.0 tiebreak
3. YuFu Penrose-San Clemente 6.0 tiebreak
4. Steve Moore-San Diego 5.0
5. Tim Senneff-Del Mar 1.0
6. Jeff Dana-Carlsbad 0.0

EXPLORER SENIORS
1. Rick Takahashi-San Diego 10.0
2. Mike Gillard-Coronado 7.0
3. Tim Senneff-Del Mar 5.5
4. Mike Olson-Manhattan Beach 5.0
5. Jason Granger-San Diego 4.8
6. Tom Matthews-San Diego 0.0

EXPLORER SUPER SENIORS
1. Tim Senneff-Del Mar 16.0
2. Mike Gillard-Coronado 14.0
3. Kyle Twitchell-San Clemente 9.0
4. David Winslow-Encinitas 7.0
5. Chris Escobosa-Huntington Beach 4.5
6. Rick Fignetti-Huntington Beach 4.0

EXPLORER DUKE
1. Patrick Schlick-La Mirada 17.3
2. Scott Lewis-Malibu 8.5
3. Terry Carmadella-Huntington Beach 7.5

EXPLORER WOMENS
1. Lani Doherty-San Clemente 11.5
2. Kulia Doherty-San Clemente 8.0
3. Harley Taich-La Jolla 5.0
4. Lisa Tuttle-Torrance 4.0
5. Kylie Loveland-Carlsbad 3.0
6. Filippa Ferrara-Rolling Hills Estates 1.5

EXPLORER GIRLS
1. Kulia Doherty-San Clemente 14.0
2. Danielle Wyman-Laguna Niguel 12.0
3. Harley Taich-La Jolla 4.5
4. Avalon Johnson-Carlsbad 3.0
5. Tiare Thompson-La Jolla 2.5
6. Natalia Palmatier-Imperial Beach 0.0

EXPLORER LONGBOARD
1. Mike Gillard-Coronado 11.5
2. Tony Bartovich-Huntington Beach 10.0
3. Shaun Thompson-Huntington Beach 6.0
4. Brian Biggins-Brentwood 5.0
5. Kelly Watson-San Juan Capistrano 4.5
6. Dane Petersen-Trabuco Canyon 3.0

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