Round 3 Of The Honda U.S. Open
July 24, 2008 – 7:20 pm PT by MikeTags: ASP, Brett Simpson, Cory Lopez, Timmy Reyes —
The highest seeded surfers saw action for the first time today in the 3rd round of the U.S. Open of Surfing presented by Honda in Huntington Beach. With 2 – 3 foot waves, it gave the marquee surfers to show when they have for the 6-Star event. Cory Lopez of Laguna Niguel California, Timmy Reyes and Brett Simpson both of Huntington Beach lead the charge with their home court advantage going into Round 4. Cory Lopez had the day’s highest heat scoring an 18.07 out of 20, which included a 9.07 ride.
“I was trying to figure out what board to ride and this one worked well for me out there,” Lopez said. “I got that first wave and started out with a 9 and I was just stoked to see that wave come to me. Then I got lucky and got that one where I could do that big air and got that other 9. It was a good heat and I had fun and I’m looking forward to the Boost Mobile Trials and the rest of the event.”
Reyes, current No. 14 on the ASP World Tour, put in one of the day’s best efforts, moving from a combination situation (requiring two scores to advance) in the first half of his heat to come back and win with one of the day’s highest heat totals of 17.77 out of 20.
“My strategy was to go out on the south end and pick off a few waves in the beginning but it kind of failed me towards the halfway mark,” Reyes said. “I decided to do the old school Huntington thing and to go by the pier and pick out a couple.”
