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Home Turf:
The Quiksilver Surf Shop Challenge Goes Off With Bragging Rights and $10,000 Dollars on the Line

Huntington Surf & Sport

The spirit of the 2006 Quiksilver Surf Shop Challenge could be Blackies to River Jetties as shop teams lined the shoreline of what SURFER Magazine once dubbed “the hottest 100 yards.” Now more than 20 years after the seminal SURFER introduced the world to Danny Kwock, day-glo, Quiksilver and the Talking Heads, a much more understated atmosphere came over 56th St. as surfers munched donuts and jovially talked smack under logo-emblazoned tents, prepping for what would turn out to be a fantastic day of competition. Not only was there a perfectly contestable remnant of south swell creating some speedy Newps wedgers, but local pride was also in full effect.

“I’ve done it for the past few years and always look forward to it,” said Killer Dana team rider Micah Pitts. “It’s always super fun, a good time to get the tight knit shop community together and give them some credit. Plus the last couple of years the conditions have been all time.”

As far as contests go, the Quiksilver Surf Shop Challenge is geared more towards fun and entertainment, rather than purely numbers. The unique format, with four members to each team surfing the hour-long heats, calls for a keener sense of timing and strategy. Each team has a “double whammy” rider, who is able to double one wave-score per heat by raising both fists to the sky and claiming the ride. With a three-wave maximum per rider, wave selection is critical.

That’s all fine and good, but the best part of the contest is that no one takes themselves as seriously as a normal, higher stress event and trash talking is not only valued, it’s required. As surfers were lined up together like a relay race there was no shortage of trash talking between the contestants, while music blasted over the loudspeakers. “You guys are going down,” “Don’t get hurt out there,” and “Watch my heat if you want a free lesson,” were only a few comments overheard from the nitty-gritty “dugout” area packed full of surfers.

Team spirit is also a key component, and who better to cheer on the world than happy Pat O’Connell. He started the day off with some words of wisdom on his partner Mike Losness. “Mike hasn’t caught a wave yet and there are only two of us here now, but I’m feeling pretty confident. I just hope he hurries in because I really have to take a pee.”

Competitors laughed at each other’s wipeouts, whistled and hooted for big maneuvers, hopped up and down in anticipation, fell off chairs, wrestled with each other and vibed each other out; stopping just short of soaping up pre-waxed boards. Even the announcers got in on the action: making fun of short rides and providing sarcastic commentary and sound effects to entertain the crowd that had slowly gathered to watch the event unfold.

The day was not without drama of course, starting with the late of arrival of two Timmy Patterson team riders (including Timmy himself!) The other two who were here to surf just happened to be O’Connell and Losness, who were on such a tear they nearly advanced without the other two. Unfortunately, without enough time to achieve solid scores, they couldn’t squeak through Round One.

“We got stuck in some sort of jog-a-thon in Laguna” said a smiling, albeit slightly disheartened Timmy Patterson. “I was in the shaping bay running a little late so I didn’t even get to see Mike and Pat surf by the time I got up here. There are some fun little corners today, and this event is great because it gives the shop guys a chance to show that we actually surf. I just wish I had a little more time today.”

Valiant members of team Frog House, a Newport staple, made it through Round One by a nose hair, and went on to claim second place in the entire event. Said Frog House whammy-rider and local legend Richie Collins after the near elimination “We definitely don’t have home court advantage because me and my anchor man Dave [Giddings] are a couple of old guys surfing against guys in their 20's. What we do have is experience, and we’re hoping to use that to our advantage and push the younger guys along with us. We got through round one and hopefully we can make a push in round two. All I want to do is make the final!”

The one-hour final was as close as a competition gets with people hollering for their teammates and friends, nervously pacing, or chewing on hands. With three of the four teams based within three miles of the contest site, the competition was certainly fierce. Mike Todd of Laguna Surf and Sport nearly collided with Timmy Reyes of Jack’s as they were both paddling for the same wave, resulting in a jokingly heated request for interference by both contestants. Todd was called off another wave by Micah Byrne of Huntington Surf and Sport, resulting in a good-natured splash fight between the two. Sick of the hassling, Todd ran up the beach grinning midway through his heat while gesturing a two-gun middle finger salute to his competitors. A cry of “screw all you guys!” could be heard all through the contest tent.

Each roundhouse, off the top, floater and re-entry was countered by an even bigger maneuver, as all four teams weren’t giving an inch. Aaron Mason and Joe of the Frog House tore it up, proving that even a small shop with very few employees could handle themselves in the contest arena. Jesse Evans and Randy Hallowel of Jack’s were standouts as well, despite their inability to connect on the best waves in the final. Jason Watson and Brad Burdick of Laguna Surf and Sport helped establish the surf shop from the “Real OC” as a solid competitor (though we would have liked it if they brought some chicks from the MTV show to back them up.) HSS employees Logan Strook and Brian Van Artsdale also provided solid backing to the pros they surfed alongside of.

As time dwindled, however, it was all about HSS whammy rider Brett Simpson who exploded for a 9.33, shooting their momentum ahead and sealing the victory for the day. Said Simpson of his victorious HSS team “It’s on to the finals, I’m stoked. We did our job today and with our shop guys looking good we should give a pretty solid run in the next competition.”

Final Results
1- Huntington Surf and Sport 50.23
Team: Logan Strook, Brett Simpson, Brian Van Artsdale, Micah Byrne

2- Froghouse 42.63
Team: Aaron Mason, Richie Collins, Big Joe, Dave Giddings

3- Laguna Surf and Sport 42.46
Team: Mike Todd, Jason Watson, Brad Burdick, Hans Hagen

4- Jack’s 35.66
Team: Timmy Reyes, Jesse Evans, Randy Hallowel, Chris Fowler