Australian Pauline Menczer Dominates The Deesse U.S. Open Of Women

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.  Saturday, August 4  Against the backdrop of the Philips U.S. Open of Surfings largestever Saturday crowd (estimated at more than 50,000), Australian Pauline Menczer won the $5,000 U.S. Open of Women in Huntington Beach.  Earlier in the day, Cardiffs Rob Machado landed the contests first barrel and scored the events only perfect 10-point ride.  Conditions were glassy in the morning, with waves ranging from three to five feet.

Menczer (19.8) dominated the World Qualifying Series-rated one star womens final, never losing grip of her first place lead.  I was really worried in the beginning.  I was feeling stuffed up and in a bad rhythm.  But I got a nice one soon after, and my rhythm changed back. Clenching her first win in Huntington after 13 years of competitive
surfing, plus the $2,000 first place prize puts a big smile on Menczers face.  When asked about the assumption shes headed toward retirement, she scoffs.  Im surfing better than ever.

Fellow Australian Prue Jeffries (16.0) held on to the second place slot, surfing consistently right up to the end when Julia Christian (16.0) caught a wave (5.9), snapped off the top, hit the open face, and pulled a floater for re-entry on the inside.  Jeffries couldnt make anything happen in the final minute to recover, finishing in third, followed by
Sunset Beachs Jodie Nelson in fourth (13.05).

Machado lived up to his hype today, during the first heat of the mens round of 32.  Wowing the crowd and devastating his opponents, he rode a clean right inside, executed the Huntington hop and extended the wave
into the shore break.  The wave curled over, and he got barreled. The crowd went wild and the judges fed off the intensity, bestowing a perfect ten for the wave.

If I surfed here all year on the best days, in the best conditions, I couldnt have made that happen, said a dazed Machado, fresh from the water.  I just danced on the inside and that thing doubled up.  The 30 year-old former U.S Champion, who is expecting a baby in November, won
the most events in 2000, including the prestigious Mountain Dew Pipeline Masters.  He continues to wrack up bragging rights and hopes to add the six star WQS-rated Phillips Electronics U.S. Open of Surfing, presented
by Norelco event to his trophy stable.  He ended the day with the highest scored wave (10.0), as well as the highest scored heat in the contest (26.84).

Oxnards Tim Curran (19.87) continued his winning streak, but his patience in the water is waning.  I just keep grinding away out there. Im trying to be patient, but it gets hard as the heats move on and competition gets harder.  Curran, who prefers mid-day surfing, doesnt mind a little crumble on the wave, unlike other competitors.  I just try to stay focused.  This heat is a big win for me points-wise.

Reigning world and U.S. Open champion Sunny Garcia (Hawaii13.76) had stiff competition during his heat from Brazilian Marcelo Nunes (20.66) who was relentless in his choice of waves, surfing seven total.  Garcia instead chose to sit back and wait for the right waves, in the end only
scoring two  still enough to finish second and move on to the quarterfinals (6.83 & 6.93).  I got lucky, said Garcia modestly.  I got good waves and I think the judges might have favored me. When asked why he only sacked two waves, Garcia said, Its not a matter of winning the heat, just to advance.  Tomorrow is another day.

Also advancing into Sunday mornings quarterfinals: Atlantic Beach, Floridas Asher Nolan (surf.7), Wrightsville Beach, North Carolinas Ben Bourgeois (17.56) and Laguna Beach, Californias Pat OConnell (19.27); Australias Mick Fanning (19.21), Richie Lovett (21.01) and Toby Martin
(16.96);  Brazils Victor Ribas (19.66), Flavio Padaratz (21.64), Dunga Neto (20.20), Renan Rocha (16.79) and Rodrigo Dornelles (17.83); and South Africas Travis Logie (19.76)

The womens bodyboarding finals saw Brazils Daniela Freitas (26.62) win in Huntington for the third time in a row.  This contest is so important for me, said Freitas as she let go of her embrace with second place finisher Karla Costa-Taylor (21.93), also of Brazil.  Ive been training really hard this year.  I just asked God to bless me with the best waves of the contest.

Earlier in the day, the womens semi-finals matched up Menczer (20.0) with three young, up and coming surfers: Nelson (9.65), Perus Sofia Mulanovich (8.75), and San Diegos Holly Beck (7.7).  Menczers competition experience showed in her ease during the heat, as well as her choice of waves.  She secured her lead early in the heat, while the
other three competitors rivaled for second in order to advance to the finals.  Mulanovich had three waves under her belt toward the end of the event, sitting in second place, but decided to go for another, as did Holly Beck.  The two paddled for the wave simultaneously, resulting in a
double interference. Jodie Nelson advanced to the finals in second place.

Schedule For Sunday, August 5, other

7:00am  - 8:20am  USO Longboard Quarters
8:20am -  9:00am           Billabong Rat Finals (2)
9:00am - 10:00am Philips Soul Bowl  Open
9:00am - 10:20am  Philips Mens Open Quarters
10:00am - 11:00am Philips Soul Bowl  Bike
10:20am - 11:00am  Billabong Pro Jr. S-Finals
10:30am - 12:30pm WWIII Skate 1st Obstacle
11:00am - 11:40am  USO Longboard Semi-Finals
11:00am - 12:30pm Philips Soul Bowl  Bike
11:40am - 12:20pm  Mens Open Semi-Finals
12:20pm - 12:50pm  Billabong Pro Jr. Final
12:30pm - 2:00pm WWIII  Skate
12:50pm - 1:20pm USO Longboard Final
1:00pm - 2:00pm Contour Park  Inline
1:20pm - 1:50pm  Philips Mens Open Final
2:00pm - 3:30pm Contour Park  Inline
2:00pm - 4:30pm WWIII Skate 2nd Obstacle
2:surfpm          Awards

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