Wild about waves

Stefanie Frith

Eight-year-old surfer Andrew Doheny has a couple of nicknames. One of

them is “Speed bump.”

“When Andrew is in the water, you can’t see him because he is so

small, so you plow into him,” said friend Brett Catron, 12, of Ensign

Middle School in Newport Beach. “And his [other nickname] is ‘Ripper’ . .

. because he so good and fast.”

Andrew, who attends Newport Elementary School, was at the center of

some good-natured teasing Sunday as a group of about 15 boys awaited the

next round of competition at the Newport Harbor High School surf team’s

second annual Winter Classic surfing contest.

As the boys laughed and patted Andrew on the head, they wished each

other good luck in the finals at the contest, a fund-raiser for Newport

Harbor High’s 40-member surf team that took place Saturday and Sunday at

56th Street in Newport Beach.

Coach Scott Morlan said because the team is self-supporting, unlike

the football or basketball teams, which are funded through the California

Interscholastic Federation, it must raise money for day-to-day surfing

costs and competitions.

The Winter Classic is open to all Orange County kindergarten through

high school students, in addition to some college-age surfers who have

connections with Quiksilver and Surfside, the sponsors of the contest,

which drew about 100 surfers over both days.

“This is just a fun competition,” said Kyle Kennelly, 10, of

Huntington Beach, who placed second in the elementary school finals. “I

surf every morning before school. My mom brings me hot things to drink.”

Kevin Willson, 9, of Seal Beach said the Winter Classic is less

stressful than other competitions he has done because it focuses on just

being fun.

“This is good because we all just like to surf,” said Kevin, who

placed fifth in the elementary school finals. “When you are out there in

the water, it makes you feel good and it refreshes you. That’s why we

like to surf.”

As a member of the surf team at Newport Harbor High, Robin Senour said

being a part of the competition this year has only added to her love of

surfing.

“This is a good fund-raiser. I have only done school competitions, so

it’s fun to be here with lots of different people,” said the 15-year-old,

who took fourth place in the first girls’ round.

“Surfing is something I have always liked to do. In the mornings, I

would rather stay out and surf than have to go back to school.”

By the end of the day Sunday, most of the results from the competition

were in and it was Andrew who took first place in the elementary school

finals. Erica Pearson of Ensign Middle School took first in the girls’

competition and Brandon Rogers of Back Bay High School won the bodyboard

competition.

“This is a really fun contest,” Andrew said as his fellow competitors

ruffled his hair and called him “Speed bump.”

“It’s cool to come out here and surf for fun and just see what kind of

places you get,” he said. “I want a new [nickname] though.”