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Peninsula, South surfers dominate final surf meet
Their car got stuck behind a funeral procession. At least that's the story Peninsula High shortboarders Matt Kelly and Chris Del Moro told coach Danny Williams when they showed up five minutes after the start of their finals heat.
Fortunately, those heats in Saturday's All South Bay Surf League contest were 20 minutes long. That was time enough for Kelly to paddle out and score enough waves to win first place, ahead of fellow Peninsula surfer Ted Travers. Mike Garcia of Redondo placed third. Other finalists in the short board division, in order of finish, were South's Barry Fuson, and Peninsula's Chris Grey and Chris Del Moro
The weather was balmy and offshore, and the surf a comfortable two- to three-feet at Torrance Beach. But the waves were also very fast and walled. Walled waves generally work against longboarders, but not Peninsula's Chris Bredeson. The league's defending champion ran to the nose faster than most surfers get to their feet to repeat his first place finish. South's Shawn O'Brien placed second, followed by Peninsula's Mark Evans, Mira Costa's John Balk and Tommy Osterhoff, and South's Jason Rasmusson.
Not surprisingly, the body board division saw the day's best surfing. South's Johnny Joseph 21 points put him in a tie with Bredeson for the day's top point earners. Other body board finalists, in order of finish, were Redondo's Vinnie Franco, South's Matt Ronan, Bishop's John Scully, Mira Costa's Steve Defoya and San Pedro's Billy Gresheim.
The women's division was won by South's Erika Bracy, followed by Peninsula's Christy Carrouth, Redondo's Ellin Sielcki and Jill Jensen, Torrance's Karla Vogtman and South's Kelly Moore.
Peninsula, South and Redondo, the top three league finishers, will compete next month in the CISF State Championships at Oceanside.
South Torrance coach John Joseph said Saturday that the league owed much of its success this year to assistance from the Los Angeles County Lifeguards. ER