QUIKSILVER CUP 2005: LA Game Week Wrap-ups

Arc Angels Gray jams one, but not enough to beat back Santa Cruz.

Thursday, April 14th, Leo Carillo State Beach, Los Angeles County - All cylinders were firing as the Los Angeles Arc Angels squared off once again against the 3 and 1 Santa Cruz Stormriders. After a brutal loss Santa Cruz's Steamer Lane of 20 points to the Stormriders, the Arc Angels narrowly lost in the last few moments of the fourth quarter by a margin of 5.25, SC: 106.50 to LA: 101.25.

Although the surf was only waist to chest high, Leo Carillo allowed for some impressive surfing. As the tide came in, what looked like a lake at 10am became a surfer's playground by noon. Santa Cruz opted to surf first with a stacked line up consisting of veterans and young guns Josh Mulcoy, Sean Peterson, Jason "Ratboy" Collins and Jonny Craft. Josh Mulcoy posted an impressive 7.0 wave that bowled up threw the middle section, but it was in the close of the top of the first quarter when Ratboy's explosive series of snaps for an 8.25 wave gave the Stormriders dugout plenty to cheer about as they ignored jabs from the Arc Angels bench.

The Arc Angels followed up with a line up that aimed at giving literally unknown rippers and stars alike a chance. Coach Lamm introducing interesting substitution strategies, sent out Colin Giles, Brendan Hearne, Pascal Stansfield and heavy hitter Anthony Petruso. Putting rookies in proved to be a gamble for the veteran coach as various Arc Angels failed to post above a 5. Nonetheless Coach Lamm felt he did the right thing, "we have a bunch of guys who work their butt off, and I want them to at least have a shot at wearing a jersey and dealing with the pressures of professional surfing." However, as soon as the rookies were subbed, Pascal Stansfield showed up with several successive backside snaps scoring an impressive 7.0. In the end, the coaches sub strategy wasn't all for not when Venice Beach local Justin Swartz increased the score by a significant margin.

Due to a time out error on behalf of Los Angeles' first quarter group, in the second quarter the Arc Angels had to witness a 6.5 opener from Adam Replogle, and a 4.5 from Josh Loya. The rest of the heat struggled as the young Noi K struggled with a series of 3s until he stepped up to a solid 6 combined with Tyler Fox's 5.25. The Stormriders' quarter score was 25.5 for a cumulative score of 53.5.

The Arc Angels tried to hold on in the bottom of the second quarter with a quarter score of 24.5, only 1 point shy of the Stormriders's 25.5. But, LA continued to fall into poor wave rhythm with scores all under 6.0. Shaun Burrell sitting on a 4.0 delivered an inspiring 9.0 deserving performance with a series of backhand snaps bringing the LA bench to a roar. LA would trail SC by 3.5 for a cumulative score of 50.

After half time the SC crew pushed onward in the third quarter with Rat Boy boosting a huge frontside lien air for a score of 6.5. The rest of the group struggled with cores less than 5 until Josh Mulcoy was awarded a 6.75 for smooth and polished turns in the less than perfect surf. The Stormriders continued their momentum with a 25.25 quarter score.

The Arc Angels in the bottom of the 3rd quarter would utilize Greg Browning, substituting Browning for Justin Swartz. However, Browning was unable to better Swartz's 4.0. Brendan Hearn's impressive rail surfing led the quarter with an explosive 7.0 while Anthony Petruso found himself dwindling in low scores until he found the wave he wanted and scored a 6.75. LA again trailed SC by only 1 point for the quarter and 4.50 for the cumulative score SC: 78.75- LA: 74.25.

The Stormriders entered the 4th quarter knowing it was do or die time. Replogle and Loya attacked their waves as if they were at the Steamer Lane. Replogle's second wave score of 8.25 bettered an already strong 7.0, while Loya wowed the crowd with an MVP wave score of 9.25. SC continued to push as hard as they could with numerous substitutions equating to a 27.75 quarter and a final score of 106.5 .

The Arc Angels knew what they were up against as the bottom of the 4th quarter came on. Alex Gray was sitting on a 2.25 before lighting up Leo Carillo with an astounding 9.25 wave all the way to the rocks. While Shaun Burrell lit it up with a 7.25, Bron Hussenstamm and Jordy Tappis attempted but were not able to better their sub 6 scores. In the end the Arc Angels gave as much as they could to narrow the gap with Santa Cruz even with a strong 4th quarter score of 27. Again, after an incredible showing, the Arc Angels were defeated.

Santa Cruz's Rat throws tail.

The Santa Cruz Stormriders are now 4 and 1 and have convinced the surfing world they are a force to be reckoned with. With a near loss against the San Diego Sea Lions, the Stormriders are looking toward the series in Oceanside for a chance at revenge. Meanwhile, the LA Arc Angels are looking to begin their winning streak in a Game against defending Champs the Orange County Octopus tomorrow at Leo Carillo State Beach.

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