Mira Costa remains undeated in the local High School Surf League

Mira Costa's Chad Parks
PV's Jack Rowan slashes off the top.

PV’s Jack Rowan slashes off the top.

by Ed Solt

All photos by Saul Zaragoza

After a wave abundant winter break, the South Bay Scholastic Surfing Association presented by Subaru Pacific resumed its season at Torrance Beach on Friday, January 14th. With a four and one record, Palos Verdes High School took to the water against undefeated Mira Costa.

“It is the most important contest of the year,” said league director Dickie O’Reilly. “PV beat Redondo and has a chance to tie Costa in the league rankings with this win. If Costa loses another meet, PV could possibly be the league champs.”

Luckily for O’Reilly, the El Nino XXL waves subsided and gave the competitors perfect three to five foot breakers.

“The big swells really created some nice sandbars,” said surf judge Codee Stamis. “I can’t wait to catch a few after the meet.”

Mira Costa's Cody Purcell on his backhand.

Mira Costa’s Cody Purcell on his backhand.

In the first heat of the boy’s shortboard, Mira Costa’s Chad Coons got things off right with a solid rock and roll floater to place second. Third place finisher PV’s Sean Ely rounded off the Sea Kings first assault by whacking a right all the way to the beach. His teammate Jack Rowan has been a dominating force in the Bodyboard, Boy’s Longboard and Boy’s Shortboard divisions. He won the heat with a radical rollercoaster.

Rowan’s partner in crime, Peter Healey, has been on the same tear in multiple divisions. He squared up against the league’s surfer to beat the undefeated Cody Purcell from Mira Costa. Purcell was snap, crackling, and popping all the way to the beach with his trademark slash, radness, and rocking. This did not deter Healey who used his local knowledge to snag the set waves. He connected from one contest boundary to the other by reading each wave perfectly and eventual upset Purcell. Purcell’s  teammate Nick Cerofeci added to the lead by placing third with a backside bash.

Mira Costa's Lauren Freidrich

Mira Costa’s Lauren Freidrich

Mira Costa’s Girls shortboard team continued what they have been doing all season, running up the score by placing in the top three spots. The lady mustangs love to shuffle standing places. This particular morning, it was Lauren Friedrich’s turn. She won the heat with a solid right and a couple of cruisey cutbacks. Charlotte Sabina placed second with a solid off the lip while Kyra Williams took a set wave all the way to the shore for third.

In the last couple of years, The SBSSA has seen the longboard style follow a more hotdogger aesthetic. Mira Costa’s top hotdoggers and brothers Peter and Andrew Neal have been trading first and second all season. Healey’s another hotdogger who know his way to the tip and is no stranger to hanging ten. He’d ended up third with a stretch five on a down the line right. Andrew stuck a sweet backside noseride in the critical section for second. Hanging ten through the soup, Peter won the heat.

Mira Costa's Andrew Neal

Mira Costa’s Andrew Neal

Bodyboarders crave thick lips and dredging barrels. On this morning, mother ocean greeted the spongers with flatness. Mira Costa’s Luc Jacquemetton made due with a couple 360s in the flats and finished each wave strong for the win. Rowan placed second with an El Rollo in the shorebreak.

The girl’s longboard division adds a touch of femininity to the league. PV’s Alica Stephan’s graceful style of light toed cross steps epitomizes the beauty of a ladies touch on equipment over 9’0”. She placed second with a hang five on the inside. Mira Costa’s Amelie Vergnolle won the division with a cutback on a set right. She followed up by riding into an incoming section for a rollercoaster.

Mira Costa's Chad Parks

Mira Costa’s Chad Parks

Boy’s shortboarder Chad Parks has been another surfer that’s been one to notice all season. The mustang brings cheers to the judges and the spectators on the beach with his radical slashing style. On a set left, he threw the tail out and wafted through a section for  the highest wave of the day. He backed up his score for the highest heat total of the contest. His teammate Graham Armato followed him in second with a couple top turns while PV’s Sean Grip took third with a lip bounce.

In the final heat of the day, PV’s Rodney Buck placed third with a whack of the top. Mira Costa’s Alex Fry won the heat with a long right and a couple of carves while his teammate Pat Komick placed third with a snap in the critical section.

Final score: Mira Costa 99. PV 66.

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