The
Current
NEWPORT BEACH & COSTA MESA’S DAILY NEWSPAPER
AN EDITION OF
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 6, 20 1 3
Next wave of surfing competitors take to the water in Newport Beach for amateur competition.
OCREGISTER.COM/CURRENT
Man, 60, dies after jump from helicopter BY CLAUDIA KOERNER AND SEAN EMERY ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
SURF SEASON
Tia Blanco, 1 6, rides to her second-place finish in the open women’s division.
HEATS UP A
bout 150 amateur competitors showed up on the shores of Newport Beach at 54th Street last weekend to compete at the fourth stop of the National Scholastic Surfing Association’s Southwest Conference Open. There was a big tide swing that made conditions challenging for competitors, with waves in the waist- to chest-high range. Several Orange County surfers are looking strong as we near the halfway point of the association’s competitive LAYLAN season. CONNELLY REGISTER “We saw a lot of really impressive performancWRITER es out of the kids,” said association Executive Director Janice Aragon. “It’s looking like some really good battles. The kids continue to blow my mind with their progressiveness. They just charge.” MORE The fight for top spot in the open men’s diviINSIDE Surfwear sion looks like it’s going to be a battle between designer San Clemente’s Kevin Schulz and Encinitas’ remembered; columnist Jake Marshall, who won this last event as well as talks boards. the Junior’s Newport Open title. PAGE 4 “This is the second time (Marshall) has done that this season. He had the big win at the King of the Groms; he’s just had a fantastic start of the season,” Aragon said. Schulz dropped to second place in the ratings after coming in as runner-up to Marshall, but is still right behind him in the standings. He made three out of four finals so far this year with his strong aerial attacks. Aragon pointed out how strong the San Clemente surfers were looking. Colt Ward from San Clemente came in third for the men’s division. Tia Blanco came in second for the women’s division. Cole Houshmand made it to the finals in the juniors S E E C O M P E T I T I O N ● PA G E 4
A 60-year-old man died Tuesday after jumping from a helicopter into the waves off Newport Beach in what police are investigating as a suicide. A Huntington Beach police helicopter first heard that someone might have fallen from a private helicopter near Balboa Pier around 1 p.m., said Jennifer Manzella of the Newport Beach Police Department. Personnel in the police helicopter directed Newport Beach lifeguards and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department harbor patrol to the man’s location, and he was pulled from the water. Rescuers performed CPR on the man once he was onshore. They took him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Authorities are not identifying the man until family is notified of the death. The man was the only passenger on board the Robinson R44 helicopter, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said. He opened the helicopter’s door as it flew northwest about 500 feet above the Newport Beach shoreline and jumped out, Gregor said. By comparison, the S E E D E AT H ● PA G E 3
Drug tests can fight ‘plague’ of addiction, expert says Seminar presents tips for parents trying to protect kids from substance abuse and peer pressure to use.
PHOTOS: BLAINE OHIGASHI, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Crosby Colapinto, 1 2, of San Clemente waits to compete as the clock winds down on the first heat of the boys U-1 2 quarterfinal round.
From left, Derek Johnson, Michael Pitts, Blake Johnson and Dave Johnson watch relative Hagan Johnson perform in the opening U-1 2 heat.
It’s not really the plague, but Ken Seeley, the expert behind a television show that facilitates interventions, says drug addiction among teens should be thought of that way, since so many young people die of overdoses. “These kids are dropping like LAUREN flies,” said Seeley, STEUSSY who hosts the REGISTER A&E series “InWRITER tervention” and operates his own rehabilitation centers. “It’s an epidemic.” He presented at an event held by Estancia High School, Costa Mesa High School and The Crossing Church last week designed to inform parents of what they can do to prevent their children from becoming addicted to drugs. The event was held during Red Ribbon Week, a drug awareness week for schools around the country. About 40 people attended the seminar, many with questions and concerns about drug usage in schools. Seeley said there are a few things parents should be S E E D R U G S ● PA G E 3
INSIDE TODAY’S CURRENT LOCAL WOMAN HONORED
MISUSE OF MEASURE M?
TWICE THE TALENT
White House honors Costa Mesa woman for her dedication to clean energy solutions. SEE STORY ON PAGE 3
Proposed plan for toll road would be a misuse of public funds, columnist says.
Costa Mesa Mustangs’ dynamic duo excels after a season slowed by injuries. SEE STORY ON PAGE 7
SEE STORY ON PAGE 6 DAVID HOOD, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
FILE PHOTO: EUGENE GARCIA, THE REGISTER