Surf team takes honors at competition

Competition • Clay Barbosa, an A-Team Rider, takes on a wave in the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) Southwest College Competition held recently at the Huntington Beach Pier. Brandon Worrell

 

By Katherine Covellone
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer

The Cal State Long Beach surf team took third place at the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) Southwest College Competition recently at the Huntington Beach Pier. 

The Nov. 7 competition lasted two days. Out of 28 college surf teams, the CSULB A-team came in fourth place, the B-team came in 13th place and the C-team came in 12th place on the first day of competition. On the second day, the A-team moved up to third place, the B-team placed 16th place and the C-team placed 22nd.

Justin Hugron, CSULB A-team member, competed in back-to-back heats as a short and long boarder at the competition.  He placed first in the short board division and third in the long board division on event one. Hugron claimed his first ever win in a short board category in the college men's final according to the NSSA's Web site.

The CSULB surf team is directed by students and open to all CSULB students. Each team consists of six short boarders, one long boarder, one body boarder and one female short boarder. Alternates compete when needed.

DeeDee Chan, a member of the surf club said, "It's a fun hobby, and I would like to see surfing become a more competitive sport at CSULB."

The surf team's next contest is Jan. 17, 2005 at the Huntington Beach Pier. Anyone who wants to support the CSULB surf team is encouraged to come out to the contest and cheer on the team. The team arrives at the contest location early in the morning.  The competition lasts from dawn to dusk.  Each heat is 15 minutes.  There are six surfers competing in each heat.  Only the top three advance to the final round.  It is based on a scoring system from 1-10, 10 being the highest.  The judges take the top two highest scoring waves for each surfer.  There are usually three to four judges at the competition scoring the riders.  Judges are experienced surfers with judging knowledge.

President of the surf club, Justin Rodriguez says, "We are one of the most popular clubs on campus."

Billy Hanna, a third-year history major and B-team body boarder says, "All three teams are very strong this year, and we have a good shot at winning the 2005 NSSA Interscholastic Championships."  The championships will be held on June 17 and 18 at Salt Creek in Dana Point.

For more information, contact Justin Rodriquez at (805) 698-7612 or jrodri6@csulb.edu.