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As Surfing America has evolved from fledgling new
organization to the International Olympic Committee-recognized National Governing
Body for surfing in the United States, the SIMA Surfing America U.S.A.
Championships have taken on increased importance. Held each August at
Huntington Beach Pier, CA, the event serves as the training camp for junior
surfers interested in making the coveted PacSun U.S.A. Surf Team, and with the
NSSA rejoining the ESA, HSA, WSA, and TGSA under the Surfing America umbrella
this year, the competition at this year’s U.S.A. Champs was more intense than
ever. Hell, even Huntington Beach Pier stepped up to the challenge when the
contest swept through town the week of August 25th-30th, offering clean,
sizeable, and consistent surf in its last year on the job (the entire contest
will move to Lower Trestles in 2010).
Like 2008, when a host of East Coast underdogs won
divisions at the U.S.A. Champs, another strong showing from the Right Side
proved that we’ve got what it takes to stand shoulder to shoulder with the
nation’s best surfers. Jacksonville Beach, FL, shredder Evan Thompson suffered
an excruciatingly close loss to Kolohe Andino in Boys Under 18, much as he did
earlier this year at the 2009 NSSA National Championships. On the Girls side of
the draw, Southern North Carolina’s Darsha Pigford continued her ascent up the
competitive ladder, finishing 4th in both Girls Under 16 and Girls Under 14,
while New York rising star Quincy Davis placed 3rd in Girls Under 16 and Central
Florida up-and-comer Rossi Klein earned 2nd-place in Girls Under 12.
Yet it was in adult competition where a host of Right
Coasters shined the brightest. Relatively unknown Mendham, NJ, wahine Morgan
Gore dominated the Women’s division to claim her rightful spot as U.S.A. champ,
edging out Orange Park, FL’s, Mallory Turner, who followed up her Women’s
2nd-place showing with a victory in Women’s Longboard. And Lone Star State stylemaster
Cody Canzoneri claimed a win in Junior Longboard over a trio of bummed
Californians. Other high-placing East Coasters include Texas’ Brittany Tupaj
(4th-place Women’s), Meagan Callaway (3rd-place, Women’s Longboard), Albert
Shannon (4th-place, Legends), and Frank Floyd (2nd-place, Senior Longboard);
Florida’s Rodrigo Miranda (4th-place, Masters); and South Carolina’s Kai
Dilling (4th-place, Senior Longboard).
Rounding out the 2009 SIMA Surfing America U.S.A.
Championships was the announcement of the 2009-10 PacSun U.S.A. Surf Team,
helmed by legendary Australian surfer and coach Ian Cairns. Right Coasters
making the cut in Under 18 Boys were Sunshine State standouts Evan Thompson and
Evan Geiselman, along with South Carolina’s Cam Richards on the developmental
squad; in Under 18 Girls, New York/ Puerto Rico half-timer Quincy Davis got the
nod, along with Central Florida’s Jasset Umbel on the developmental squad.
For more on the 2009 SIMA Surfing America U.S.A.
Championships, along with full results and a detailed 2009-10 PacSun U.S.A.
Surf Team roster, visit www.surfingamerica.org
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