Pristine conditions enjoyed by many

In surfing verbiage, the conditions were sick.

In laymen’s terms, there couldn’t have been a better combination

of wave sizes, wave shapes and weather during the men’s and women’s

quarterfinal rounds of the Association of Surfing Professionals Op

Newport Classic Saturday at 56th St.

Described by numerous surfers competing in the event as the best

conditions they’ve seen this past year -- not just at Newport Beach,

but compared with other places in the world they have surfed at --

the Op Newport Classic’s schedule fell in line with ideal

circumstances.

“I’d say that [Friday] and [Saturday] are the best I’ve ever seen

56th St.,” said Newport Beach lifeguard Chip Going, stationed at

Tower 56, between 56th and 57th streets.

“To have the combination of a really good swell, clean conditions

-- the wind hasn’t blown in the last, like, three days -- and it’s

been glassy the whole time. To have that fall in line with the days

of the contest is pretty rare and pretty lucky.”

With the sun peeking through, highlighting the clear, glassy wave

surfaces, the quarterfinal contestants in the pro division raced down

waves that reached almost 10 feet, sized by Going. The waves’ ideal

shapes allowed the surfers to, on numerous occasions, get barreled

while carving them up.

“I’ve been doing the whole [World Qualifying Series] tour this

year, and this is probably one of the best contests for waves all

year,” said Nathaniel Curran, 21, of Oxnard, who finished first in

his men’s heat to advance to today’s semifinals.

“It’s nice to be home and have good waves.”

Curran said he has competed in Brazil, Australia, South Africa and

France this year, but the conditions at this week’s contest were the

best he’s seen.

Curran finished first in quarterfinal Heat 2 and is still alive to

vie for the $5,000 first-place prize. The final will follow the

semifinals today.

Austin Ware, 24, of Solana Beach, will also have a shot at the

purse. Ware placed second behind Curran in Heat 2. The top two

finishers in each of the four quarterfinal heats advance to today’s

semifinals.

“This is probably the best contest they’ve had all year for a WQS

event,” said Ware, who edged out Blake Howard and Magnum Martinez for

the second spot in his heat. “A lot of the guys who have been

traveling all year long, they’re saying the same thing -- these are

the best waves. It’s been three or four days of the best beach breaks

I’ve seen in California this time of year.”

Even surfers from other parts of the country, known for their

famous beach breaks, were impressed with Newport’s conditions.

“I’m from Santa Cruz, so I’m not down here a lot of the time,”

said Anne Allegretti, 27, who finished fourth in her women’s

quarterfinal heat. “But this is the best I’ve seen it in a long time.

There were definitely barrels everywhere. It pushes [the contest] to

another level, which is nice, because then you see some of the real

talent come out -- the girls that are really charging and really

deserve the respect.”

Unfortunately for some, however, the pristine conditions were not

enough to propel them to the next round.

Newport Beach residents Josh Hoyer, Tod Cook, Nick Skawinski, Pat

Towersey, Andrew Doheny and David Giddings were all eliminated in

earlier rounds of the pro division.

Joining Curran and Ware in the men’s semifinals today are Casey

Brown, Hank Gaskell, Brett Simpson, Asher Nolan, Andrew Gesler and

Wesley Larsen. On the women’s side, Melanie Bartels, Shea Hodges,

Diana Mattison, Kim Mayer, Kyla Langen, Darlene Conolly, Maili Rohner

and Allison Arvizu advanced to today’s semis.

The men’s semis are scheduled for 9 a.m. with the women’s to

follow. The women’s final is slated for 1:20 p.m. with the men’s to

follow.