FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NSSA WEST COAST CHAMPIONSHIPS PRESENTED BY NO FEAR
MAY 14-17, 2009
HUNTINGTON BEACH PIER
CONDITIONS: 2-4 FOOT PEAKS ON THE SOUTHSIDE OF THE PIER, FUN AND RIPPABLE CONTEST CONDITIONS.
17 WEST COAST REGIONAL SURFING CHAMPIONS ARE CROWNED. LUKE DAVIS TAKES THE OPEN MENS AND COURTNEY CONLOGUE LOCKS UP HER SECOND CONSECUTIVE REGIONAL TITLE.
2009 WEST COAST CHAMPIONS! photo: Clifford
(Huntington Beach, Ca – May 21, 2009) The 2009 NSSA West Coast Championships went off with good chest high waves, big scores, a wealth of giant performances and a splash of history. The annual Regional championship showcased over 400 competitors in three separate categories-the NSSA Open Championships, the NSSA Explorer Championships and the NSSA Airshow Championships. The West Coast Championships serves as one of four Regional qualifiers for the 2009 National Championships to be held June 17-27 at Salt Creek and Lower Trestles.
WEST COAST CHAMPIONSHIPS RECAP
LUKE DAVIS photo: Santa Cruz Surf Shots
Luke Davis came out on top in a tiebreak decision over Christian Saenz to take the Open Men’s Regional title at the 2009 NSSA West Coast Championships. After struggling to find waves and being eliminated in the Open Juniors quarterfinals, Davis showed great poise and took his game a huge step forward in the fiercely competitive Men’s category. Also making it to the final round were Coffin brothers Conner, who looked like the man to beat all weekend and Parker, who at 13 years and 7 months old became the youngest surfer to make a Regional Championship Open Men’s final. In the 30-minute final Davis set the tempo right off the bat when he boosted a clean air reverse on a pier bowl set right and then reeled off a series of quality turns with the score dropping in at an excellent 8.5. Southwest Conference champion Chris Saenz answered Davis back annihilating one of the bigger set rights with huge backside turns to secure an excellent 8.33. Although Conner Coffin was in the game posting two solid scores of 7.83 and 6.33, it came down to a seesaw battle between Davis and Saenz. As Davis continued his strategy of surfing the Pier Bowl rights, Saenz chose to surf down the beach. A motivated Saenz fought back and at the 5-minute mark, he gave it all he had on a smaller left going vertical on every turn. His 6.17 score threw the final result into a tiebreak but Davis emerged as the champion on the strength of his excellent 8.5 high wave score. "It was pretty sketchy, it came down to the wire,” Davis said after the final results were announced. "I got a wave around 5 minutes left and got a 6 and then Christian got a wave right after that and got the 6.17 which forced the tiebreaker. I stuck to the Pier Bowl because it’s a wave where you can do airs and quality moves off the first turn. I know the judges like to see a big maneuver off the first turn so I knew I needed to do that to win.” Although Davis took an emotional loss in the Open Juniors quarters, the Men’s victory has firmly established him as a clear frontrunner for National titles in both the Men’s and Juniors. "I was pretty bummed at first losing out in the Juniors but you can’t get too disappointed,” Davis said. "It’s a contest, and there are going to be plenty more for me. I’m just stoked to do well in the Men’s. I’ve been on a roll lately in that division.” Davis will now set his goal to secure a long awaited National Championship title. "I surf Lowers a lot, so I know the place well,” Davis said. "I just really want to win a National title. I’m just going to work on getting my boards all tuned up.”
COURTNEY CONLOGUE photo: Santa Cruz Surf Shots
Courtney Conlogue once again ran the show in the Women’s and emerged successful in the bid to defend her Regional title. In a rising generation of Open Women’s competitors, Conlogue faced up with Lakey Peterson who had a superb Regional Championship performance nailing double victories in Explorer Women’s and Girls, boosting aerials in the Airshow and posting one of only two perfect 10 scores awarded at the event. Also competing in the final were Southwest standouts Taylor Pitz and Catherine Clark. In the 25-minute final marked with lulls and inconsistent sets, Conlogue rode only three waves but that’s all she needed. Despite the lack of waves, Conlogue surfed an amazing heat posting a 7.33 and then closed it out with a sensational 9.0 wave netting an outstanding 16.33 heat total to wrap up her second consecutive West Coast Open Women’s crown. "I definitely had a lot of strategy going into that final,” Conlogue said. "Any of my opponents could have pulled in a high score so I just to go out there and get on it fast. The last five minutes, I had to sit on Lakey. She’s got the potential to get those high scores so I just had to be on her the whole time. She could do some damage.” Conlogue now becomes the second surfer to nail consecutive Open Women’s Regional titles (Sage Erickson pulled off two straight in 2005 and 2006). "There were definitely some nerves and I had to have my focus and game on to defend the title,” Conlogue said. "I didn’t want it grabbed from me!” With both the 2009 Conference and Regional titles successfully in the bank, Conlogue will now aim higher as she heads into the Nationals to mount an emotionally intense quest for another trifecta. "The Nationals is going to definitely be a challenge and I’m going there with my eyes wide open,” Conlogue said. "It’s always a showdown between every surfer that has potential and winning the title is in anyone’s ballpark. I’m just going to have my top game on and prepare for it. I’m looking forward to a great show this year.”
Conner Coffin with his powerful and wicked snaps handily won the Open Juniors final over Ian Crane, Kanoa Igarashi and Jared Thorne. Coffin opened up the heat with a solid 7.17 and never looked back. He sealed it with a blistering 8.5 wave. Be sure to check out Conner’s rad interview on how he won the West Coast Champs on the Surfing Magazine website! http://www.surfingmagazine.com/news/surfing-pulse/how-the-west-was-won-conner-coffin-interview-052009/
It was a banner championship contest for 11-year-old Kanoa Igarashi. Entering the Regionals with a 30-win record over the regular season, Igarashi couldn’t be slowed down making four finals and winning the Open Boys and Explorer Menehuenes. In a super stacked Open Boys final, Igarashi faced off with young west coast standouts Patrick Curren, Jacob Davis, Brogie Panesi, Skip McCullough and Jake Marshall. Curren gave Igarashi a run for the money with a good 7.33 wave but came up short on his 4.67 backup score. Igarashi posted two 6’s before putting the nail in with a solid 7.5 ride. "I am super stoked with my performance,” Igarashi said. "This is my home break and it was typical Huntington conditions which made it a lot easier for me. I was just lucky enough to catch the right waves that lined up and reformed.” Igarashi’s finals showing in the extremely talented Open Juniors division was probably just as impressive as his double victories. "I have less pressure in the Juniors because it’s not my actual age division-I’m just surfing up so it makes me want to go for bigger turns,” Igarashi revealed. "The Juniors division is so hard but less pressure makes it more fun. I have to go for big.” After a sensational season, Igarashi will set his sights on winning his first National title. "I’m going to get as much time out at Lowers, get use to the all the conditions there and be as prepared as I can,” Igarashi said. "You can’t underestimate anyone at the Nationals. Anyone can be a contender. You can never go easy there. It would be the best day ever if I could win a title!”
JAKE MARSHALL photo: Santa Cruz Surf Shots
In the Open Mini Grom division, Jake Marshall highlighted his year by pulling off his first Regional title. After a terrific regular season where he notched up nine victories, Marshall slashed his way to a 14.17 total in the final to secure the victory. Trailing in third place to Tyler Gunter and John Mel for the majority of the heat, Marshall dropped a bomb on a clutch pier bowl right at the 3-minute mark which came in at an excellent 8.17. Marshall was overjoyed to claim his first NSSA championship title. "I wanted to win the Regionals, it was one of my goals from the beginning of the season so it’s a big accomplishment for me,” Marshall said. "Tyler Gunter was surfing really good in the beginning of the final. He got a nice 6 point left and had a couple solid backup scores. I already had a 6.17 under my belt so I knew I needed a good wave. I was studying the waves before my heat and the second wave was always better. So when that set came to me at the pier bowl, I grabbed the second wave and it ended up being a really good right that I got the 8.17 on. I’ve been training here since Monday getting use to the waves. To win this is so huge for me!”
In the Open Longboard, Scott Brandenburg continued to dominate locking up the Regional title with two solid scores of 7.5 and 6.33. Brandenburg will be the number one seed heading into the National Open Longboard Championships.
PERFECT 10 SCORES AT THE WEST COAST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
1. Lakey Peterson: Perfect 10 in the Explorer Girls semifinals
2. Kanoa Igarashi: Perfect 10 in the Menehuene final
HIGH SCORING HEAT TOTAL AT THE WEST COAST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Mike Gillard: 18.33 two-wave total in the Explorer Longboard final
REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD BOOKS
Stellar double record achievement for Parker Coffin in one of the best performances of his career: At 13 years and 7 months old Parker became the youngest surfer to make the Open Men’s final at the Regional Championships and the youngest surfer to claim the victory in the Explorer Juniors 17 & under division!
QUADRUPLE DUTY (four finals appearances!)
1. Kanoa Igarashi: Open Juniors, Open Boys, Explorer Boys, Explorer Menehuene
2. Lakey Peterson: Open Womens, Explorer Womens, Explorer Girls, Airshow
TRIPLE DUTY (three finals appearances!)
1. Parker Coffin: Open Mens, Explorer Juniors, Explorer Boys
2. Jake Marshall: Open Mini Groms, Open Boys, Explorer Menehuene
3. Mike Gillard: Explorer Seniors, Explorer Super Seniors, Explorer Longboard
In addition to title sponsor No Fear, the NSSA West Coast Championships is proud to have support from Nike 6.0, Huntington Surf and Sport, Surfing Magazine, WaveWatch, Sex Wax, No Fear Energy Drink and the Sugar Shack in Huntington Beach. The NSSA is a member of Surfing America, the ISA-recognized National Governing Body for Surfing in the United States.
The NSSA West Coast Championships is the fifth of seven events in the 2009 NSSA Championship Series presented by No Fear. The 2009 Championship Series events include the Interscholastic State Championships at Church March 6-8 (completed), the Hawaii Championships at Kewalo Basin, HI March 21-26 (completed); the East Coast Championships at Sebastian Inlet, FL April 16-19 (completed); the NSSA Jr. Championships at Huntington Beach Pier, CA April 18 (completed); the West Coast Championships at Huntington Beach Pier, CA May 14-17 (completed); the NSSA National Championships at Salt Creek and Lower Trestles, CA June 17-27; the Northeast High School Championships at Ocean City, NJ October 19.
PARKER COFFIN photo: Chris Keet/Surfhappens.com
THE SCOREBOARD
2009 NSSA WEST COAST CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL RESULTS
SCORES BASED ON TOP TWO WAVES
WEST COAST OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
OPEN MENS
1. Luke Davis-Capistrano Beach 14.50 tiebreak
2. Christian Saenz-Huntington Beach 14.50 tiebreak
3. Conner Coffin-Santa Barbara 14.16
4. Parker Coffin-Santa Barbara 11.00
OPEN JUNIORS
1. Conner Coffin-Santa Barbara 15.67
2. Ian Crane-San Clemente 13.66
3. Kanoa Igarashi-Huntington Beach 10.33
4. Jared Thorne-Newport Beach 9.67
OPEN BOYS
1. Kanoa Igarashi-Huntington Beach 13.67
2. Patrick Curren-Santa Barbara 12.00
3. Jacob Davis-Capistrano Beach 9.17
4. Brogie Panesi-Pacifica 9.00
5. Skip McCullough-La Jolla 6.17
6. Jake Marshall-Encinitas 5.34
OPEN MINI GROMS
1. Jake Marshall-Encinitas 14.17
2. Tyler Gunter-Newport Beach 12.16
3. John Mel-Santa Cruz 10.66
4. Kei Kobayashi-San Clemente 6.17
5. Griffin Colapinto-San Clemente 5.84
6. Nolan Rapoza-Long Beach 3.50
OPEN WOMENS
1. Courtney Conlogue-Santa Ana 16.33
2. Lakey Peterson-Santa Barbara 12.33
3. Taylor Pitz-Laguna Beach 11.17
4. Catherine Clark-Ventura 8.34
OPEN LONGBOARD
1. Scott Brandenburg-San Clemente 13.83
2. Michael Maddox-Newport Beach 12.50
3. Matt Elias-Calles-San Clemente 11.67
4. Shaun Thompson-Huntington Beach 10.16
5. Liam Hession-Redwood City 4.50
6. Kirra Kehoe-Santa Monica 0.00
WEST COAST AIRSHOW CHAMPIONSHIPS
1. Conrad Carr-Malibu
2. Sam Orozco-Laguna Niguel
3. Ian Crane-San Clemente
4. Luke Davis-Capistrano Beach
=5. Andrew Jacobson
Lakey Peterson
WEST COAST EXPLORER CHAMPIONSHIPS
EXPLORER MENS
1. Kokoro Tomatsuri-Carpinteria 14.66
2. Conrad Carr-Malibu 13.34
3. Tanner Kehl-Oxnard 10.00 tiebreak
4. Britt Galland-Rancho Santa Fe 10.00 tiebreak
5. Nick Rowe-Cardiff by the Sea 5.00
6. Brent Bowen-Hermosa Beach 4.84
EXPLORER JUNIORS
1. Parker Coffin-Santa Barbara 13.84
2. Derrick Disney-Cardiff by the Sea 10.83
3. Theo Lewiit-Venice 8.33 tiebreak
4. Porter Hogan-Laguna Beach 8.33 tiebreak
5. Andrew Jacobson-Malibu 5.67
6. Shayne Nelson-Huntington Beach 2.67
EXPLORER BOYS
1. Jacob Halstead-La Jolla 14.50
2. Parker Coffin-Santa Barbara 11.17
3. Kanoa Igarashi-Huntington Beach 10.00
4. Breyden Taylor-San Juan Capistrano 8.83 tiebreak
5. Trevor Thornton-San Clemente 8.83 tiebreak
6. Nic Hdez-Santa Cruz 8.50
EXPLORER MENEHUENE
1. Kanoa Igarashi-Huntington Beach 17.83
2. Patrick Curren-Santa Barbara 13.84
3. Jake Marshall-Encinitas 11.00
4. Brogie Panesi-Pacifica 10.50
5. Skip McCullough-La Jolla 9.50
6. Decker McAllister-Santa Barbara 7.67
EXPLORER WOMENS
1. Lakey Peterson-Santa Barbara 14.66
2. Natalie Anzivino-Torrance 10.33
3. Shelby Detmers-Newport Beach 9.00
4. Chloe Buckley-San Diego 8.67
5. Alex Ross-Arroyo Grande 5.17
6. Catherine Clark-Ventura 5.01
EXPLORER GIRLS
1. Lakey Peterson-Santa Barbara 11.50
2. Shelby Detmers-Newport Beach 7.84
3. Frankie Harrer-Malibu 7.00
4. Jordan Hundley-Hudsonville, MI 6.34
5. Harley Taich-La Jolla 5.50
6. Melina Smith-San Clemente 0.00
EXPLORER MASTERS
1. Rick Takahashi-San Diego 13.67
2. Chris Keet-Santa Barbara 12.17
3. Chris Munsterman-San Diego 11.17
4. Tim Senneff-Del Mar 9.00
5. Kevin Frederick-Pacifica 7.16
6. Neil Bern-Carlsbad 6.00
EXPLORER SENIORS
1. Rusty Phillipy-Cardiff by the Sea 15.50
2. Rick Takahashi-San Diego 12.83
3. Mike Lamm-Oxnard 10.84
4. Jeff Marder-San Clemente 10.00 tiebreak
5. Neil Bern-Carlsbad 10.00 tiebreak
6. Mike Gillard-Coronado 9.83
EXPLORER SUPER SENIORS
1. Rusty Phillipy-Cardiff by the Sea 16.50
2. Mike Lamm-Oxnard 12.83
3. Mike Gillard-Coronado 11.50
4. Tim Senneff-Del Mar 6.67
5. Masaki Kobayashi-San Clemente 6.00
6. Robert Weiner-Oxnard 0.00
EXPLORER LONGBOARD
1. Mike Gillard-Coronado 18.33
2. Terry Gillard-Imperial Beach 15.83
3. Shaun Thompson-Huntington Beach 12.33
4. Rory Golden-La Mesa 8.67
5. JP Garcia-Santa Barbara 7.33
6. Christian Stutzman-San Clemente 7.33
