Pinto Helped by a Friendly Wave

There’s nothing like a little hassling to add even more pressure in the final moments of a four-man surfing heat. Fortunately for David Pinto, he didn’t have that problem Thursday in the U.S. Open at Huntington Beach.

That’s because Pinto was dueling his buddy Chris Drummy in their heat in the Round of 96 at the Assn. of Surfing Professionals World Qualifying Series event.

In the final minutes of the heat, Pinto was in third place, one spot out of advancing to the next round.

“Chris knew I was in third and we saw the same wave coming,” said Pinto, 21. “We could’ve hassled, but he just talked and he went right and I went left.”

The results couldn’t have been much better for the two San Juan Capistrano surfers. Drummy finished with a 7.75 on the wave, to give him the highest heat score of the day at 20.50. Pinto scored a 4.80, good enough to give him 13.60 points to beat Brazil’s Yuri Sodre, who finished with 12.90.

“This is the first time Chris and I have surfed against each other in competition,” Pinto said. “But it’s neat that we’ve been able to advance together. We’re like family. I’m best friends with Chris’ younger brother Pat.”

Said Drummy: “The last five years David and I have been surfing every day together. It’s nice when you’re out there with a friend so you don’t have to hassle.”

Improving conditions welcomed the surfers Thursday, with four- and five-foot sets rolling through consistently. Conditions are expected to peak today.

Other locals advancing included Brad Gerlach of Huntington Beach and Gavin Beschen of San Clemente. Today’s Round of 64 will include the World Championship Tour’s top-ranked surfer, Sunny Garcia of Hawaii, San Clemente’s Cory and Shea Lopez and Laguna Beach’s Pat O’Connell.

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There’s good reason for the Brazilians’ success at Huntington Beach. Seven surfers advanced through Thursday’s Round of 96 joining five more--Armando Daltro, Renan Rocha, Fabio Gouveia, Victor Ribas and Flavio Padaratz--in today’s Round of 64.

“Conditions are very similar to back home,” said Danilo Costa, who has won two WQS events and also advanced Thursday. “And the water’s warmer here.”

Brazilians Marcelo Nunes and Tanio Barreto eliminated San Clemente’s Dino Andino and Huntington Beach’s Wyatt Simmons in Thursday’s Round of 96.

Some Brazilians are just as familiar with Huntington Beach’s conditions . . . outside the water. Sodre said he has lots of relatives in the Los Angeles/Orange County area.

“Whenever I’m on tour and we’re coming this way I’ll stop here to visit,” Sodre said. “I’ve surfed a lot at Huntington.”

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The beach games don’t begin until today, but that didn’t stop fans from checking out practice sessions on the skateboard street course and the jumping ramps, one of which begins from a 32-foot tower.

As many as 1,000 filled the bleachers surrounding the area. Men’s and women’s skateboarding competition begins today along with inline skating and BMX practice sessions.

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Pro Surfing

* What: $300,000 action sports festival features men’s surfing with the $100,000 U.S. Open of Surfing, women’s surfing with the $25,000 U.S. Open of Women, plus juniors’ surfing, longboarding, bodyboarding, BMX biking, skateboarding, in-line skating, a beach exposition and outdoor concerts. Wakeboarding and freestyle motocross will take place at Lake Elsinore.

* Where: South side of Huntington Beach Pier

* When: Today through Sunday. Women’s semifinals, final (1:50 p.m.) on Saturday; men’s quarterfinals, semifinals and final (1 p.m.) on Sunday.

* Today’s schedule: 7 a.m.-12:20 p.m.--men’s surfing, Round of 64, Heats 1-16; 12:20-1:40--women’s surfing, quarterfinals, Heats 1-4; 3-4:20--bodyboard quarterfinals, Heats 1-4; 4:20-5:40--women’s bodyboard quarterfinals, Heats 1-4.

* Admission: Free.

* Parking: Available at city structure on corner of Main and Olive streets.

* Webcast: Live on www.bluetorch.com

* Information: (949) 215-8000