Alternate Makes Most of Chance

For most of the day, spectators and competitors anticipated the arrival of former world champion Derek Ho, who was scheduled to surf in the first round of the U.S. Open of Surfing Monday at Huntington Beach.

Ho, however, was a no-show. Taking his place was alternate Matt Shadbolt of Huntington Beach, who took advantage of his home-break knowledge to win the heat and advance to today’s second round.

Shadbolt, 19, made a last-minute decision to enter the contest.

Single and living on his own, Shadbolt said money is a constant concern. As he saw it, the $150 entry fee might as well have been a million dollars.

“The money just wasn’t there. I mean, I had to eat,” Shadbolt said. “But as the contest got closer, I started to get pumped up, and I decided to enter anyway. So I used my rent money.”

Shadbolt, who was a co-captain on the Huntington Beach High surf team in 1997, said he was fortunate Ho didn’t show.

“I would rather think that Ho would be proud of me,” Shadbolt said. “And since I’m also from Hawaii, I think he would like it that I was able to fill his spot and win.”

Ho, the 1993 world champion, has been a consistent top performer on the world tour the last few years. But a surfing accident at Grajagan near Java last year cut short his season and he was forced off the tour.

Ho injured his knee so severely he had to be flown to the nearest hospital. He was later taken to a hospital in Hawaii, where he underwent reconstructive surgery. He has spent the last few months trying to requalify for the world tour.

In addition to Shadbolt, some of the others advancing to today’s second round were Christian Fletcher of San Clemente, Micah Pitts of Dana Point, Noel Lemble of Huntington Beach, Jeremy McDonald of Huntington Beach and Bron Heussenstamm of Laguna Beach. James Pribram of Laguna Beach, who like Shadbolt was an alternate, also advanced after finishing second in his heat.

In bodyboarding, Chris Monroe of San Clemente advanced to Saturday’s quarterfinals. Last week, Monroe qualified for the U.S. men’s bodyboard team for the World Surfing Games, a biannual event that takes place in October in Portugal.

Also advancing to the bodyboarding quarterfinals were Hawaii’s Justin Cooper, 14, and his brother Paul, 18, who will join Monroe at the World Surfing Games.

Paul Cooper said he and his brother have been away from home for six weeks, surfing in the U.S. team trials and various other contest in California. “I miss home, but I’m having fun,” he said. “But I still haven’t seen Disneyland.”

San Clemente’s Jay Reale, who’s ranked third on the world tour, made some errors in his bodyboard heat and failed to advance.

“I actually was doing OK for most of my heat,” he said, “but some little errors at the end cost me.”

Notes

Though the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier was reserved for competitors, the north side was very much alive, as surfers battled for takeoffs and position, often resulting in some spectacular collisions. Huntington Beach lifeguard Kai Weisser said the north side can get pretty crazy some days. “If you’re thinking of learning how to surf, then I would stay away from the north side [of the pier],” Weisser said. “There have been some alterations, and the locals are pretty territorial.” . . . A tropical storm off the coast of South America provided some good south swells that resulted in waves up to six feet high Monday. Forecasters are expecting much the same for today.

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Surfing Contest

* What: U.S. Open of Surfing

* When: Today-Sunday. Surfing begins at 7 a.m. each day and ends at 5 p.m.

* Where: South side of the Huntington Beach Pier, Pacific Coast Highway and Main Street

* Today’s schedule: 7 a.m.--men’s trials Round 2; 9:40--men’s trials Round 3; 12:20 p.m.--Op Junior Round 1 and Wahine trials Round 1; 3--Op Junior Round 2.

* Parking: Paid parking in lots by the pier and in the downtown area.

* Information: (714) 366-4584

* Web site: https://www.surflink.com