NEWS 9/21/06

Nate Yeomans is your 2006 Newport Beach Pro
presented by Jeep champion! 

The San Clemente superfreak, who secured the highest heat total of the event a 17.90 out of a possible 20 yesterday, capped off an incredible week of surfing with a convincing win in the finals. 

2006 Newport Beach Pro Champion Nate Yeomans

“I’m super stoked right now.  I haven’t had a win in a couple of years so this feels amazing,” Yeomans said.  “I feel like I’ve been building some really good momentum over the past couple of weeks – I had an OK result in Pantin (Spain), my boards feel good, and to get a win here is great.  I really hope I can keep this momentum up and have a good finish to the year.”

The progressive goofy-footer tore apart the shifting lefthanders in a star-studded final that included current leader in the Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series Dustin Cuizon, defending Newport Beach Pro champion Nathaniel Curran and Ventura wunderkind Dane Reynolds.

“I knew that if I could find the waves, I could do really well in the final,” Yeomans said.  “I got that good one about halfway through and felt that I could actually take it.  You can never count any of those guys out though.  Dane (Reynolds) is amazing and Nate (Curran) and Dustin (Cuizon) are both really good competitors.  I’m so stoked I came away with the win.”

Reynolds, who (at 21) collected the Best Male Video Performer of the Year award at Surfer Poll two weeks ago, looked poised for the podium throughout the event but came up short in the final, finishing third

“The waves weren’t that great during the finals,” Reynolds said.  “I’m happy that I at least got a result and hopefully that gets the ball rolling as far as my WQS campaign goes.”

Cuizon, whose hopes for the $33,333 Macy’s Trifecta prize (awarded to the surfer who wins all three events in the series), is still leading the Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series and should he stave off the competition at the O’Neill Cold Water Classic in October, will claim the $10,000 first place prize.

2006 Oakley Pro Junior Champion Killian Garland

Central coast ripper Kilian Garland blitzed the finals in the ASP grade-two Oakley Pro Junior taking down Casey Brown, Nick Rozsa and Granger Larsen in the process.

The lanky natural-footer dismantled the peaky, afternoon conditions for a long-overdo victory on this season’s ASP Pro Junior series.  Rated 16th on the ASP North America Pro Junior series prior to the Oakley Pro Junior, the victory here will surely give Garland a much-needed boost heading into the season championships at Santa Cruz in October.

“I’m really very happy with my result here,” Garland said.  “I haven’t had the best season this year.  I always seem to stumble before I can get the result I need.  I would love to qualify for the ASP World Junior Championships, but we’ll just see how things pan out in Santa Cruz.”

The final stop on the 2006 Macy’s Trifecta Surf Series will be the O’Neill Cold Water Classic featuring the Oakley Pro Junior in Santa Cruz from October 17-22, 2006.

PRO JUNIOR RESULTS
1. Killian Garland (USA) 11.75 pts.
2. Casey Brown (HAW) 10.25 pts.
3. Nick Rozsa (USA) 8.50 pts.
4. Granger Larsen (HAW) 8.30 pts.

WQS RESULTS
1. Nathan Yeomans (USA) 13.55 pts.
2. Nathaniel Curran (USA) 12.85 pts.
3. Dane Reynolds (USA) 8.75 pts.
4. Dustin Cuizon (HAW) 8.65 pts.

The 18th Annual Newport Beach Surfing Championships results:
Elementary Final – Taylor Clark (11.50), Colin Moran (11.25), Addison Giddings (4.50), Ren Kramer (2.65), Riley Peterson (2.15), Steven Puhonx

Middle School Final – Andrew Doheny (15.50), Porter Hogan (10.50), Kaleigh Gilchrist (9.75), Eric Heimstaedt (8.75), Jared Cassidy (8.75), Blake Davis (6.25)

High School Final – Chase Brady (13.75), Reed Zachman (9.20), Victor Dane (8.75), Keetin Devine (7.95), Stevie Farmer (6.75), Chase Wilson (5.15)

Masters Final – Ronny Nelson (12.0), David Giddings (11.50), Jason Bustillos (11.0), Alex Xagorarakis (6.35), Marc Beaty (2.90), Todd Miller (1.85)

Legends Final – Eddie Flores (6.75), Darren Limbach (6.15), Mike Estrada (4.95), Mark Giddings (4.50), Greg Ozimec (4.25), Kenny Clark (3.70)

Open Women’s Final – Kaleigh Gilchrist (11.25), Camille Collett (5.25), Erin Kieton (8.30), Tess Crane (2.90), Lauren Schrichten (2.30), Hailey Sandberg (2.30), Vanessa Barnes (2.10)