June 6 +7, 1998
by Will Church
Not Exactly the West Coast Surfing Championships
Justin Steyding
The final leg of the western region USSF/WR championship tour was the Hoppy Schwarts Memorial event held at Huntington Beach on June 6th and 7th. They also call it the West Coast Championships, but in reality it is just the only 5 star championship event for the western region schedule.
Open Woman
Back in the day when Hoppy was still alive and in charge, they used to have a real West Coast Championship event that was for all the top rated west coast competitors. Now this event is open to anybody, even a guy from Tahoe like me. It is too bad that they would not let me compete in the US Champs after winning 2 championship tour events and getting 5th at Not Exactly the West Coast Surfing Championships. They should rename themselves the USSF/SCR (Southern Californai Region) because in the 97/98 season they did not make it logistically easy for a Northern Californain to qualify for the US Champs (even more difficult from Tahoe). A grass-roots organization with no big sponsors like this one can only do so much. It is admirable to try to represent the west coast; but even if the championship tour makes it north of point conception 3 times, what about the surfers that live in the far northern part of California, Oregon, and Washington. The entry fees are already to high for most surfers and yet the staff is under paid, so without some corproate sponsorship or a surge in volunteers don't hold your breath for a USSF/NCR or USSF/NWR (Northern California Region and North West Region).
Justin Steyding
Oh ya, what about that Not Exactly the West Coast Surfing Championships, Hoppy Schwarts Memorial, last and only 5 star championship tour event, or whatever you want to call it. The first day the sky was overcast and the surf was very small. The second day the weather improved with sunny conditions after the am fog and the surf got just a little bigger but was pretty inconsistant and choppy in the afternoon. I had a good go in my semi-final heat and felt like I had made it through, but it did not add up on the score cards. So I got to grab some images of my age group's (senior men) final with Pat Mulhern and Scott Daily battling it out in the scrappy conditions. Pat managed to put more that one manuver on 4 open faced waves and came up on top of the podium. Richy Schaeffer was ripping it up in the open mens final but drew an interferance leaving the door open for Justin Steyding to take the win.
Pat Mulhern
Richy Schaeffer
Maybe next year: USSF/WR will have a real regional championship like the east coast still does - we will get full contest results posted here on BoardZ
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Created: June/20/96 Updated: 8/6/98