06.21.01
by: Press Release

Summer's Here, Action Hot at Vans Off the Wall Pro in San Clemente

SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA-USA - The first day of summer ushered in sunny skies, a clean 2'-3' southwest swell and heated competition in the shadow of San Clemente Pier on Day 1 of the Vans Off the Wall Pro, the third stop on the 2001 Professional Surfing Tour of America (PSTA).

With the incoming tide, surfers focused on the tight take-off area just off the north side of the pier, which provided long lefts to the beach and a short right into the pilings. Veteran Californian pro and tow-in pioneer Mike Parsons started things off early by snagging a good left away from the pack, scoring an incredible 8.5 to set the bar for the day.

"If you have a lot of patience, in 20 minutes you'll get one or two really good waves," said Snips. "I had three pretty good waves, waited and waited, and then the perfect left comes right to me. I got about five turns on it - that's the difference, with three big turns you'll get a six, with five big turns you'll get an eight-five or a nine. You gotta be in the right place at the right time, then you gotta surf good on top of that."

One of the most tightly contested early heats involved hot California amateur Darryl Goodrum and top pro longboarder Josh Baxter, trying his luck in the Shortboard division. The goofy-footed Goodrum, whose father Gary was one of the top California surfers of the 1970s, set the pace with a four-wave opening barrage culminating in a solid 6.0 score. The regular-footed Baxter meanwhile chose to sit farther north and took advantage of several rare, well-shaped lefts hitting the next peak north of the pier. Goodrum held off Baxter in the last seconds to win 15.25-15.0.

At 16, Goodrum is already a contest veteran and one of the new crop of young Californians looking to unseat the Australians and Brazilians now dominating pro surfing's WQS and WCT circuits. Goodrum was the NSSA [National Scholastic Surfing Association] 14 & under champ and this year won the NSSA High School State Championships. "This is good experience, being so young and competing against the older guys," said Darryl. "It will really help me in the long run, and it will show in my results. It takes a lot of focus, I hope I get there."

Also advancing was Gustavo Reataguy of Peru, who is attending college in San Diego. Reataguy, 18, is Peru's four-time Junior Champion and a native of wave-rich Punta Hermosa. Like many PSTA competitors, Reataguy is making the jump from amateur to pro, balancing competing, school and work, and at the same time catch the eye of potential sponsors. "There's a good group of kids surfing in Peru, but there's not so much sponsorship," explained Gustavo. "The economy is not so good like here. In Peru you have to travel to do professional contests, so I have more opportunities here."

The Vans Off the Wall Pro draw is stacked with young talent this week, since the NSSA Team Season finals and Nationals start this weekend at nearby Salt Creek and Trestles. Julian Mullins is currently third in the NSSA Open Juniors, and is using the Vans event to improve his confidence. Julian overcame an early interference in his heat on the strength of a powerful and precise floater-reentry combo scoring a 7.25--a highly impressive move for a 15 year old--and advance into the round of 64.

"I try to stay away from all the flicks and stuff," said Julian. "I'm trying to use more power in my turns. I'd rather do one good turn than six little ones. I think the judges are starting to look at that more." Julian says the PSTA events gives him a confidence boost for the amateur circuit. "The NSSA doesn't seem as difficult after surfing against the pros."

Conditions remained glassy with a building south swell during the afternoon.

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