The women kicked off Thursday’s US Open of Surfing action, with some local surfers advancing for another day as the competition whittles down toward the finals on Sunday.
San Clemente’s Sawyer Lindblad, 17, posted a high 7.27 and a 7.0 to win her heat.
“I was really happy to get the best waves of the heat,” said Lindblad, who has been competing at the Huntington Beach pier since she was 10 years old.
“I’m excited to be at home competing with my family here. It would mean so much to take the win,” she said. “There’s so many people watching. It’s really exciting as a young surfer to get the opportunity to compete.”
But the journey to the title for hometown surfer Sara Freyre, who recently earned a NSSA National Championship at the same break, came to an end Thursday when she couldn’t secure a strong second score to back up her initial 6.17 ride and get her past the heat.
Still, it was big 17th place finish in a big Challenger Series event for the Huntington Beach High School junior. The school’s surf coach, Andy Verdone, noted how the two Australians in her heat stuck close to her, ensuring she couldn’t get a wave.
“That’s a huge compliment,” Verdone said. “They know she can get the score.”
Thursday was also the end of the line for San Clemente’s Bella Kenworthy and Kirra Pinkerton, two young surfers making names for themselves on the pro circuit.
World Tour veteran Sally Fitzgibbons, an Australian surfer trying to regain her spot on tour, made it through her heat with a 6.0 and 5.0. But other World Tour veterans Nikki Van Dijk and Isabella Nichols stumbled, not earning enough points to advance.
The male competitors took to the water in the afternoon, with several local surfers making it to the next round.
Long Beach’s Nolan Rapoza was met on the sand by friends and family as he took a second spot to advance.
“Each heat gets less nerve-wracking. I got lucky at the end,” he said.
Rapoza is a local favorite,…
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