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Pipeline
High schools adopt Ironman contest
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South Torrance’s Kelly Moore established herself as the area’s top woman surfer by winning both the women’s longboard surf and ironman divisions at the Pacifica Surf League’s Kickoff Classic at Torrance Beach on Saturday. Photos by Kevin Cody |
South High’s John Joseph took first place, Peninsula’s Scott Bredesen finished second and Mira Costa’s Mike Soridia finished third in the inaugural South Bay High School Surf League Kick-off Classic Iron Man. The competition was held Saturday at Torance Beach
South High coach and former lifeguard John Joseph got the idea from the lifeguard surf festivals. In the lifeguard competition, the Iron Man is a run paddle, swim, and dory race. The high school version consisted of a paddle race, followed by three ten minute surf heats. The first was a longboard heat, then a shortboard, and finally a bodyboard heat. The glassy two- and three-foot surf provided an ideal setting. Everyone caught plenty of waves.
Longboard competition followed with South High's Kelly Moore as the only female. She ripped. Moore surfs better against the guys then she does against the girls. It would have been interesting to see Kelly's chief competitor, Redondo's Ellen Sielicki in the same contest. Moore perched herself on the nose and flew down the line. She even did a headstand on her final wave, just missing the finals.
Chris Bredesen Senior and Junior were absent due to a surf trip to Tavarua, so youngest son Scott took over. Palos Verdes High School is once again the team to beat. Scott has this cool Hawaiian type style that works in small waves.
On an outside left he banked into a radical floater as the wave closed out.
Mira Costa's Mike Siordia looked just like the legendary Dewey "Little Man on Wheels" Weber. He ran up and down the board so fast I thought he was wearing skates. In the finals Mike was on the tip dropping into an outside. He made it back in time to explode off the lip. It was one of the rides of the day.
Another hot PV High surfer is Nick Fox. Nick looked a lot like David Nuuiwhia on several long lefts. He was almost at attention, arching on the nose as he flew down the beach.
South’s John Joseph Jr. looks ready to turn pro. He has mastered the bodyboard, looks great on a longboard, and is pretty good on a shortboard. John excited the crowd with a few fin first take-offs. He also got several hot nose-rides in every heat.
The South Bay High School Surf League starts with Bishop Montgomery High School versus South Monday morning at Avenue A in Redondo Beach. With John Joseph's new "Iron Man" event and the surf teams looking hot, we are in for a great season.
Results:Longboard — John Joseph (South), Scott Bredesen (Peninsula), Mike Soridia (Mira Costa), Jake Schoenfield (Peninsula), Nick Capp (San Pedro), Nick Fox (Peninsula). Ironman: John Joseph (Sough), Mike Soridia (Mira Costa). Ironwoman: Kelly Moore (South). ER