LO C A L
August 31-September 6 , 2017
N EWS
YO U
C A N
U S E
Barks and Brews Raises Over $8,000 for Pet Project Foundation PAGE 29 VOLUME 12, ISSUE 35
Champions of the Waves Hurley Pro, Swatch Pro take place Sept. 6-17 at Lower Trestles SPECIAL SECTION
Jordy Smith, the 2014 and 2016 Hurley Pro winner, will return to Lower Trestles this year to defend his title. Photo: © ASP/ Kirstin
SONGS, Citizens’ Oversight Reach Settlement in Fuel Storage Lawsuit EYE ON SC/PAGE 3
Here to Help: Tutors in San Clemente Aim to Keep Young Minds Fresh EYE ON SC/PAGE 4
www.sanclementetimes.com
Local Publishers of ‘The Golfer’s Journal’ Riding Wave of Momentum SPORTS/PAGE 30
GO TO SANCLEMENTETIMES.COM FOR THE LATEST NEWS, EVENTS AND SPORTS
SC EYE ON SC San Clemente
LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING
What’s Up With...
Plant. But MNWD contends in its crosssuit that a budget had been made to extend the life of the treatment plant beyond its intended lifespan, and therefore should not have to pay the maintenance dues. SOCWA services the cities of San Clemente, Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano.
Five things San Clemente should know this week
WHAT’S NEXT: The legislative audit is expected to be completed by the end of fall. To see the lawsuits in their entirety, see this article on www.sanclementetimes. com —Staff
Cause of Garage Explosion Still Under Investigation THE LATEST: A ruptured gas line that caused an explosion inside a garage of a San Clemente home at around 3 a.m. on Aug. 24 on the 100 block of Avenida Dolores is still under investigation. Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) officials said there were no injuries in the explosion. A man and a woman who were living inside the home of the garage had only moments to escape out their back door, as the explosion caught the home on fire and blocked one of their exits. The explosion of the single-story home’s garage was so massive that it spread debris all over the street, according to nearby residents. Almost nothing was left of the structure except the foundation and burnt pieces of it. Because the gas line explosion took place behind the utility meter, SoCal Gas and OCFA had to shut it off by digging under the home’s driveway to manually stop it, said OCFA spokesperson Capt. Larry Kurtz. A home adjacent to the garage and three vehicles were also damaged, with the vehicles being towed away before crews could try to access the gas line. Diane Alajoki, one of the residents of the home, said she was getting ready for a camping trip when the explosion took place. The man and woman’s German Shepherd was found immediately, and the other dog was later found unharmed. “We’re a little bit in shock, obviously very sad, and we lost a lot of things, but not our lives,” Alajoki said. WHAT’S NEXT: People with Trestles Community Outreach, a neighborhood organization that deals with issues in south San Clemente, have started a GoFundMe page for the Alajoki family as they try to recoup their losses. The link to the page can be found in this article at www.sanclementetimes.com. —Eric Heinz
San Clemente Boy Cuts Hair for Wigs for Kids THE LATEST: A San Clemente boy cut his San Clemente Times August 31-September 6, 2017
Citizens’ Oversight Projects, Southern California Edison Reach Settlement Agreement in SONGS Lawsuit
Gunner Wirth, right, a third-grader at Las Palmas Elementary School in San Clemente, has his long hair cut to be donated to Wigs for Kids on Aug. 18. Photo: Duane Paul Murphy
long hair at a Mission Viejo salon on Aug. 18 to donate it to a female cancer patient. Gunner Wirth, an incoming third-grade student at Las Palmas Elementary School in San Clemente, visited Gold & Braid in Mission Viejo. Wirth’s hair, full with light brown locks, had been grown out since early childhood in order to donate it to cancer patients. His paternal grandmother, Lynn Wirth, told Gunner when he was 5 years old that a young girl was suffering from cancer, and that made him decide to commit to it. “Everybody’s been patient. He’s been the most patient,” Lynn said. WHAT’S NEXT: Gunner’s hair will be donated to the nonprofit Wigs for Kids. —Duane Paul Murphy
Moulton Niguel Water District Files Cross Suit to Waste Water Authority’s Lawsuit THE LATEST: Following the announcement that an audit had been approved by the state’s Joint Legislative Audit Committee, Moulton Niguel Water District (MNWD) filed a cross-suit against Southern Orange County Wastewater Authority (SOCWA). Initially, SOCWA sued, along with the city of Laguna Beach, South Coast Water District, to compel MNWD to pay its dues for maintenance on the Coastal Treatment
THE LATEST: After nearly two years of litigation regarding the California Coastal Commission’s issuance of a permit to store spent nuclear fuel onsite at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS), an agreement has been reached between the two parties. Citizens’ Oversight Projects, a watchdog organization based in San Diego, and Southern California Edison, the majority stakeholder of SONGS, announced they had reached the settlement agreement on Aug. 28. The main pieces to the agreement will require Edison to implement more oversight of its plan to store 3.6 million pounds of the radioactive fuel rods when the company starts to conceal them in canisters in the next year and a half. It also requires Edison to make efforts to search for other areas where the fuel could be stored. The Coastal Commission was the main respondent in the case, but Edison was named as an interested party and finalized the settlement. According to the agreement, Edison must develop a plan for transporting the fuel offsite and support the transportation of the fuel, submit a request to Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station regarding the expansion of a storage site, have an inspection and maintenance plan in place by October 2020, and develop a plan to address any issues related to cracks or damages to the canisters where the fuel is intended to be placed. The original date in the Coastal Commission permit for inspecting the canisters was 20 years from now. However, it doesn’t seem as though Palo Verde will be willing to take the spent fuel, according to a two-sentence statement issued Aug. 29 by the nuclear power provider. “We safely and securely store Palo Verde’s used fuel,” the statement read.
Page 3
“We are not licensed to store used fuel from any other facility, and there is no initiative that makes sense to start the licensing process.” All of this is budgeted in a “commercial reasonableness” clause, which states Edison will spend up to $4 million on these commitments. In addition, as part of the agreement, Edison will pay Aguirre & Severson LLP, the plaintiff’s attorneys, for their legal fees related to the litigation. WHAT’S NEXT: Since the closure of Yucca Mountain and the shuttering of SONGS in 2013, Edison has been looking for an alternative location to store its spent nuclear fuel. There has been discussion that, should the federal law be changed or the Department of Energy agrees to move it, storage facilities in eastern New Mexico or west Texas would be able to take it. But the Texas location, Waste Control Specialists, recently rescinded its application to take the fuel. “In order to facilitate the safe decommissioning of the plant, SCE plans to move the fuel from the pools into dry storage by 2019, where it would remain until an off-site storage facility is available,” a press release from Edison stated. Editor’s note: An extended version of this article is available at www.sanclementetimes.com —EH
County Study Says San Clemente Opioid Overdoses Rose in 2015 THE LATEST: According to a report released Aug. 15 by the Orange County Heath Care Authority (OCHA), San Clemente opioid overdose rates rose significantly in 2015, the latest year of available data. The report stated emergency department visits from opioid-related overdoses rose from 53 to 71 from 2014 to 2015. Opioid-related deaths increased from one to six between that timeframe. Neighboring Dana Point also had a large increase of 37 to 70 emergency department visits in that time. San Juan Capistrano stayed consistent but has doubled its rate of emergency visits since 2011. WHAT’S NEXT: For more information on behavioral health resources and referrals, call 1.855.625.4657 or visit www.ochealthinfo.com/opioids. To view the full report, visit the link on this story at www.sanclementetimes.com. —Staff
Have a story idea or topic you would like to read about? ••• Send your suggestions to editorial@sanclementetimes.com. www.sanclementetimes.com
EYE ON SC
Additional Assistance San Clemente tutoring facilities offer extended help to students BY DANNY RITZ, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
A
s students’ workloads continue to increase and college entrance competition continues to escalate, it is easy to empathize with a student who has become overwhelmed in today’s aggressively paced curriculum. But for the hordes of San Clemente students who have just returned to their classrooms, there is an ample assortment of incredible opportunities available for those looking to receive critical out-ofclassroom assistance. San Clemente Tutoring, Kumon Math and Reading Center and Mathnasium are just a few of the local facilities. Dino Beganovic, 21, is a recent graduate of San Clemente High School and the founder and president of San Clemente Tutoring on Avenida Del Mar. Moving from Munich, Germany, at age 12, Beganovic was forced to balance his passions of the physical sciences alongside the necessities of having to learn English, which was a third language for him. Having to learn English and being placed in classes typically structured above his age—due to his European academic upbringing— proved to be a challenging but valuable lesson for Beganovic, who says he has known since that point he wanted to be a teacher. “I didn’t know exactly how, but I became intrigued, and then obsessed, with learning how to explain complicated things to people,” Beganovic said. He said he believes his youth and contemporary understanding of the local public-school curriculum are crucial parts of San Clemente Tutoring’s success. The San Clemente Times spoke with Beganovic and other esteemed tutoring experts around San Clemente about how
Dino Beganovic, the founder of San Clemente Tutoring, had to learn English as a third language while taking classes that were above his age. The 21-year-old now advocates for out-of-class tutoring to help struggling students. Photo: Danny Ritz
to identify who may be a good candidate for out-of-classroom education and how it creates pivotal success in school.
Individualized attention
An age of discovery Poonam Srivastava is the director of Kumon Math & Reading Center in San Clemente. In Srivastava’s experience, fifth and sixth grades are the ages of discovery for identifying youth who may be in need of extra assistance. Steve Santacruz, owner of the Mathnasium franchises in San Clemente, Dana Point and Laguna Niguel, agrees with Srivastava. Santacruz became a part of Mathnasium after his own son struggled with math in the seventh grade. “Pre-Algebra can be the most damning moment in all of education,” Santacruz said jovially.
Getting back to the basics
Poonam Srivastava, the director of Kumon Math and Reading in San Clemente, says fifth and sixth grade are ages of “discovery” in education. Photo: File, 2016
San Clemente Times August 31-September 6, 2017
Although there are many influences, Beganovic, Srivastava and Santacruz traced the need for extra assistance back to one source—the lack of core understanding of fundamental concepts. “Education today isn’t mastery, oriented,” Srivastava said. Santacruz seconded this opinion, stating, “At Mathnasium, we define mastery as understanding, not just answering. Mathnasium entirely changes the vernacular. We don’t use calculators, and not because we are against technology, we just want all of our students to understand the concepts deeply, to be able to mentally do the math.”
Individual attention is important, and increasingly difficult, even at a school such as San Clemente High School. Regularly rated as one of the best institutions in Orange County, SCHS still sports a 28-1 student-teacher ratio, and difficulties catering to individual needs are somewhat to be expected. At San Clemente Tutoring, Beganovic said he is excited to offer solely one-onone tutoring sessions. “I feel as if it’s necessary for students to get immersive one-on-one help. I like to develop full plans and build personal relationships with my students. There will never be a time when a student will walk into our San Clemente Tutoring offices wondering, ‘What are we doing today?’” While San Clemente Tutoring, Mathnasium and Kumon all stated that they most commonly work with students on a weekly schedule or multiple times a week, they are all open to one-time sessions for particular needs within their respective curriculum bases.
A universal platform Santacruz thinks the increasingly diverse community of San Clemente does hold one key advantage regarding educational success. “This is a community that is attentive to their kids,” Santacruz said, with Srivastava voicing similar thoughts. “Parental support is necessary. A lot of students come to me too late. It’s OK. You probably don’t hate math; you’re just frustrated and
Page 4
uncomfortable.” Srivastava continued on universal access to extra-assistance, saying that she has seen this need, and its positive impacts, across a multitude of demographics. “Kumon prides itself on equality,” she said later, speaking on how she has seen similar usage and success patterns across economic and ethnic backgrounds. At $30 to $35 an hour, she was proud to offer competitive and accessible pricing to all families of students in need of tutoring. Santacruz delved deeper into the idea of equalizing the public-school platform. “In my experience, in a class of 30 students, 10 are below average, 10 are on pace and 10 students are above the standard.” Santacruz believes that by eliminating the outliers and balancing with the help of extraassistance where necessary, a classroom can act harmoniously and move together. “Nowadays, having a college degree is more important than ever to obtain a job in today’s competitive market, and therefore it is becoming more and more competitive to get into college,” Beganovic said. “San Clemente Tutoring can offer students the extra edge they will need to succeed into the 21st century.” Dino Beganovic at San Clemente Tutoring can be reached at SanClementeTutoring.com, by phone at 949.415.4835 or by stopping by his office at 111 Avenida Del Mar, Suite 205, San Clemente. The Mathnasium’s closest location as well as available classes can be found on their website at www.mathnasium.com or by phone 877.601.MATH (6284). More information on Kumon Math and Reading Center can be found at www.kumon.com or by phone 1.800.ABC.MATH. SC www.sanclementetimes.com
EYE ON SC
Purple Reign Relay for Life participants gather at Jim Johnson Memorial Sports Park
Mike Witte walks under the purple and white balloons near the “wall of love” during the San Clemente Relay for Life on Aug. 26 at Jim Johnson Memorial Sports Park. Photo: Eric Heinz BY ERIC HEINZ, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
C
ancer is an indiscriminate disease. On the “wall of love” at the San Clemente Relay for Life, pictures of people who died battling the ailment showed faces young and old, of many different backgrounds. On Aug. 26, hundreds of people gathered at Jim Johnson Memorial Sports Park to celebrate the lives of those lost and support research that works to cure and treat the disease. Maureen Aitken and her husband, Chris, have helped with the organization and contributions for Relay for Life in San Clemente for the past few years. Maureen is a breast cancer survivor, and she said a powerful memory of hers is seeing Saylor Voris, a San Clemente High School student who died from a rare form of leukemia in 2015. “When I was sick with cancer, I knew she was going to be there, and even though I saw her, I (thought), ‘she’s just in high school.’ She was huge inspiration,” Maureen said. “A lot of people go to that event just because of Saylor. I looked at her and thought, ‘If she can do it, then I can do that,’ and it’s just kind of motivated me moving forward.”
Page 5
During the event, Konnie Voris, Saylor’s mother, spoke about how cancer affected her family. She said they would attend Relay for Life even before Saylor was diagnosed. “It’s not just one day; it’s all year that your friends are there for you, making sure you’re OK and have what you need,” Konnie said. “Life is really short, and you need to live it well.” Val Meyer’s first Relay was in 1998 and she helped bring the Relay to San Clemente. She said they started in Mission Viejo before starting the local event. “We’ve lost grandparents on both sides of the family to cancer,” Meyer said. “Every year, it’s someone else, someone else who is diagnosed from our tight-knit community.” When asked about what keeps her motivated, Meyer said it’s the advancements in cancer treatment that have given her optimism. “One local family had a member diagnosed with a form of brain cancer, and because of the form of treatment, the clinical trial he was involved in, they believe that’s why he’s here today,” Meyer said. “It’s those victories of people we hear in town who have defeated cancer, and that commitment to my mom and those people who passed.” SC www.sanclementetimes.com
EYE ON SC
NEWS BITES
Community Meetings
COMPILED BY STAFF
Low-Cost Vaccine Clinic for Dogs The San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter invites dog owners to attend its low cost vaccine clinic at the shelter on Wednesday, Sept. 13, from 5-7 p.m. The shelter is located at 221 Avenida Fabricante in San Clemente. Participants must be residents of the cities of Dana Point or San Clemente in order to receive the free rabies vaccine for their dog(s). Participants must also license their dog at the time the vaccine is administered. For those who do not qualify for a free rabies vaccination, there will be a $5 charge. The services and pricing offered at the clinic include free rabies shots (with purchase of a dog license), Da2PP for $10, Bordetella for $10 and microchips are $15. For more information, call the shelter at 949.492.1617.
California Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 5 Deploys to Texas California Urban Search & Rescue Task Force 5 has been deployed to San Antonio, Texas, in anticipation of hurricane Harvey. The Task Force consists of 45 members from Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), Anaheim Fire and Orange City Fire Departments. “California Task Force 5 has personnel and equipment specifically trained for search and rescue in a disaster environment,” a press release from OCFA stated. “They have the ability to perform wide area searches, render medical care, perform rescues in static or swift water, and assess hazardous materials situations.” The task force departed at midnight on Aug. 24. Once on site, they joined other task forces from Tennessee, Nebraska, Missouri, Ohio and Utah. “The purpose of these task forces is to provide additional support to local first responder agencies,” the release stated. “Task Force 5 is comprised of highly trained individuals from the OCFA and our cooperating agencies, and are always prepared to respond to disasters locally, statewide and nationally,” said OCFA Battalion Chief Mike Petro, California Task Force 5 program manager. “We are ready to assist the citizens of Texas with our personnel, equipment and expertise.” The task force was scheduled to be in place prior to hurricane Harvey making landfall on Aug. 25. The slow-moving storm is forecasted to produce large amounts of rainfall in the already-flooded areas of Houston. The OCFA will update California Task Force 5’s status and activities on Twitter at @OCFA_PIO. San Clemente Times August 31-September 6, 2017
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
VILLAGE ART FAIRE 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Every first Sunday of the month. Artists show and sell their work on Avenida Del Mar in conjunction with the farmers’ market. DEL MAR FARMERS’ MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Bundles of flowers, fresh produce and much more every Sunday. Avenida Del Mar. Members of the public are invited to attend a flag-raising event at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9, on Patriot Hill. Photo: Courtesy of Tom Baker
Patriot Hill Flag Raising to Honor Sept. 11 Heroes, Lives Lost Members of the public are invited to attend an annual flag-raising event at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9, on Patriot Hill to honor the lost lives of Sept. 11 and to express gratitude for all the men and women who serve to protect our freedom. Join a group of hikers, runners, cyclists and equestrians who have kept the American flag flying on this San Juan Capistrano open space ridgeline since 2001. There are steep inclines on all trails leading to Patriot Hill. Those interested in participating can request a trail map by emailing FlagOnTheHill92675@gmail.com or visit www.sanjuancapistrano.org. The map is under Departments-Public WorksOperations & Maintenance-Equestrian and Bike Trail/Open Space.
San Clemente Photographer Named Gold Medalist at International Competition Florina Romoser, certified professional photographer of Florina Photography in San Clemente, earned a gold medal during Professional Photographers of America’s 2017 International Photographic Competition. Romoser’s work will be on display at the Gaylord Opryland Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, Jan. 14-16, 2018. This International Photographic Exhibit is held in conjunction with Imaging USA, an annual convention and expo for professional photographers. A panel of 33 eminent jurors from across the United States selected the top photographs from about 5,800 total submitted entries at Gwinnett Technical College in Georgia. Judged against a standard of excellence, 2,660 images were
selected for the General Collection and 644 were selected for the esteemed Loan Collection—the best of the best. The Loan Collection images will all be published in the “Loan Collection” book and more than 200 selected General Collection images will be published in the “Showcase” book by Marathon Press. For more information, visit www.florinaphotography.com. Professional Photographers of America (PPA) is the largest international nonprofit association created by professional photographers, for professional photographers. Almost as long-lived as photography itself, PPA’s roots date back to 1869. It assists 30,000 members through protection, education and resources for their continued success.
Fill-a-Bag Fundraiser at Sweeet Repeeet Sweeet Repeeet is hosting a $10 fill a bag fundraising event 10 a.m.-4p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 2. The event benefits Family Assistance Ministries (FAM) in San Clemente. Purchase a shopping bag for $10 and fill it with the store’s women’s clothing, shoes, purses and accessories (shoppers must be able to tie the bag closed). There are no dressing rooms available. The event is held in the alley behind the store at 538 N. El Camino Real. More information is available on the store’s website at www.sweeetrepeeet.com, or by calling 949.429.3100. Sweeet Repeeet also started a monthly speaker event titled “Women in the Know.” It is about educating, lifting up and promoting women in the local area. It is a free event; the speaker and content changes each month.
Have something interesting for the community? Send your information to eheinz@picketfencemedia.com.
Page 6
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
SUNRISE ROTARY 7:15 a.m. San Clemente Sunrise Rotary meets every Tuesday at Talega Golf Course Signature Grille. 990 Avenida Talega. www.scsunriserotary.com. CITY COUNCIL MEETING 6 p.m. The City Council will host its regularly scheduled meeting. City Hall, 100 Avenida Presidio, San Clemente. 949.361.8200. www.san-clemente.org. BECAUSE I LOVE YOU (BILY) MEETING 7-9 p.m. Meets every Tuesday. Because I Love You helps parents find solutions to any crisis they are experiencing due to their children’s (adult or minor) poor choices. Presbyterian Church. 119 Avenida De La Estrella. www.bilysc.org. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
SAN CLEMENTE ROTARY Noon. The San Clemente Rotary meets every Wednesday at the San Clemente Municipal Golf Course Wedgewood Restaurant. 150 E. Avenida Magdalena. 949.233.7981. www.sanclementerotary.org. KIWANIS SAN CLEMENTE Noon. Kiwanis San Clemente works to help maintain the quality of life for all people through volunteerism. Tommy’s Restaurant, 1409 S. El Camino Real. 949.366.5423. www.sanclementekiwanis.com. NORTH BEACH FARMER’S MARKET 3-6:30 p.m. The Market at North Beach features vendors of food, jewelry and other wares, and there could be live music. 1501 N. El Camino Real. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 6 p.m. The Planning Commission will host its regularly scheduled meeting. City Hall, 100 Avenida Presidio, San Clemente. 949.361.8200. www.san-clemente.org.
www.sanclementetimes.com
SC SOAPBOX San Clemente
VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS
GUEST OPINION: Lew’s Views by Lew Avera
How do You Define Who is a San Clementean?
S
everal weeks ago at a City Council meeting, a young woman stood to address the City Council on a cityrelated issue. She introduced herself by name and then indicated that she had lived in San Clemente for 60 years. I couldn’t believe her age and then assumed she must have been born in San Clemente and lived here her entire life. I then thought of all the folks I know who have “lived here 35 years,” “been here since 1981,” “grew up here,” etc. All of this led me to consider how long I have been here, and what constiLEW’S VIEWS tutes a real or true “San By Lew Avera Clementean.” I constructed a matrix of all of the cities/states in which I have lived and how long in each location, including San Clemente. This is not intended to be about me, but about what it takes before we can call ourselves a San Clementean. I was born in Ithaca, New York and lived there for two years. My family returned to a suburb of Atlanta, California for 13 years, then to Hawaii for two years of military service and of high school for me. The family returned to Augusta, Georgia for military service and four years of college for me. Then, I joined the Marine Corps for the next 20 years. I lived the next 20 years in various places: North Carolina; another three years in Hawaii; 11
Letters to the Editor WAVELENGTHS COLUMNS APPRECIATED NONIE FICKLING, San Clemente
My husband and I have been enjoying Jim Kempton’s well written opinion articles for quite some time. In an era where there is so much divisiveness and anger, it is refreshing to read his thoughtful, moderate perspectives on a wide range of interesting topics. As longtime residents, we especially enjoyed his most recent piece relating to San Clemente’s rich beginnings. Thank you for including Wavelengths in your San Clemente Times publication!
EMPHASIS ON ‘NO’ TOLL ROAD THROUGH SAN CLEMENTE STEVE NETHERBY, San Clemente
Thanks to the San Clemente Times for your coverage of the 241 Toll Road
San Clemente Times August 31-September 6, 2017
years in three different cities in Virginia; two years in Vietnam; and significantly two years—1963 and 1964— in San Clemente. Upon retirement from the Marines, I returned to California in 1975, living in
of these years, I have not lost my “southern accent.” I retort, in a kidding way, “What do you mean?” Interesting how some things stay with us for a lifetime, even though the fundamental values may change. In closing, once again, the fundamental value that I have come to believe is that I am a true “San Clementean,” in my mind, as if I had been born here. Given that most of my years are behind me, this value will not change. Lew Avera is a retired career officer, Lt. Col., U.S. Marine Corps. He was a director of the Talega HOA and served on the San Clemente Planning Commission from 20052013. SC
every right to “callI have myself a true Californian and a true San Clementean.
”
San Marino, Los Angeles and Huntington Beach for a second career. The significant event of all of this time was a second retirement from full-time employment in 2001 and a move to San Clemente 16 years ago. With all of the moves consolidated, I have lived in California 44 years, much longer than any other state, and in San Clemente for 18 years, much longer than any city or specific location. As a result of this, I have every right to call myself a true Californian and a true San Clementean. Not only is it a pleasure to say this, but I say it with much pride, particularly the term San Clementean. Sometimes I feel intellectually challenged in regard to this feeling. Often, shortly after beginning a casual conversation, people will ask, “Where are you from?” This is due to the fact that after all
PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SC Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the SC Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com.
Join the San Clemente Times for Beachside Chat, Friday, Sept. 1 at 8 a.m. at Café Calypso Beachside Chat is a spirited, town hall forum on community issues, hosted by SC Times editor Eric Heinz every Friday at Café Calypso, 114 Avenida Del Mar. All are welcome.
34932 Calle del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624 phone 949.388.7700 fax 949.388.9977 www.sanclementetimes.com
HOW TO REACH US CITY EDITOR Eric Heinz, 949.388.7700, x109 eheinz@picketfencemedia.com SPORTS Steve Breazeale, 949.388.7700, x110 sbreazeale@picketfencemedia.com ADVERTISING PRINT AND ONLINE
Susie Lantz, 949.388.7700, x111 slantz@picketfencemedia.com DISTRIBUTION RACKS, DRIVEWAYS, SUBSCRIPTIONS
Tricia Zines, 949.388.7700, x107 tzines@picketfencemedia.com BUSINESS MANAGER Alyssa Garrett, 949.388.7700, x100 agarrett@picketfencemedia.com
PICKET FENCE MEDIA PUBLISHER Norb Garrett
> Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano)
EDITORIAL Group Managing Editor > Rachael Mattice
I’ve ran and hiked through that country for 43 years. I’ve seen herds of up to 20 deer and convoys of as many California quail there, and once came across a trail in the tall grass where a mountain lion had dragged a young buck into the cover of an elderberry tree to consume it. When I began running the trails of the Cristianitos watershed, almost all the tracks I came across were of wildlife. Now, as San Clemente’s active population grows, the tracks are increasingly of hikers and mountain bikers— enjoying the exercise our hills, valleys and streambeds provide, and the quiet that more and more of us seek as respite from busy lives. The Cristianitos is not only an essential haven for wildlife, it’s a buffer from the noise and pollution roads bring, and a priceless quality-of-life gift to the citizens of San Clemente. The only solution to the insanity of the toll road proposals, as Jake Howard suggests, is to force the TCA to pack up their tent and go home. (Cont. on page 9)
Page 8
ART/DESIGN
City Editor, SC Times > Eric Heinz
Art Director > Jasmine Smith
City Editor, DP Times > Kristina Pritchett
OPERATIONS
City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Allison Jarrell
boondoggle. I enjoyed the letters to the editor in your August 24-30 issue from Cord Bauer and Frederick Price. Likewise, I appreciated that Jake Howard’s guest opinion in the same issue supported the San Onofre State Beach-saving agreement between Transportation Corridor Agencies and the coalition of Surfrider Foundation, Sierra Club and other environmental organizations. However, I respectfully disagree with Jake when he calls a highway connecting La Pata with Cristianitos through San Clemente’s backcountry “a softer approach.” The open space from the east end of Pico south to Cristianitos is not disposable land. This is the Cristianitos watershed, critical habitat and is essential to the cleanness of San Mateo Creek and, thereby, the waters of Trestles. It’s also a crucial wildlife corridor for animals traveling between Camp Pendleton and our own backcountry. Just as with the existing toll roads, a road through this land would not only cut off much of this beneficial natural migration, but inevitably lead to death-by-auto of such animals as deer, coyotes and mountain lions.
Real Estate Sales Manager > Michele Reddick
Sports Editor > Steve Breazeale Special Projects Editor > Andrea PapagianisCamacho ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes > Susie Lantz (San Clemente)
Finance Director > Mike Reed Business Manager > Alyssa Garrett Accounting & Distribution Manager > Tricia Zines SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco Heidi Mefferd Tim Trent Jake Howard
San Clemente Times, Vol. 12, Issue 35. The SC Times (www. sanclementetimes.com ) is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the DP Times (www.danapointtimes. com) and The Capistrano Dispatch (www.thecapistranodispatch.com). Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives. Copyright 2017. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.
FOLLOW THE SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
FACEBOOK.COM/SANCLEMENTETIMES • INSTAGRAM @S_C_TIMES TWITTER.COM/SCTIMESNEWS • LINKEDIN PICKET FENCE MEDIA
www.sanclementetimes.com
SOAPBOX (Cont. from page 8)
CAMINO DE LOS MARES PROBLEMS ARE REAL CAROL EDWARDS, San Clemente
In the Aug. 17-23 edition of the San Clemente Times’ letters to the editor, “Time for Some Significant Enforcement,” David Holmes of San Clemente said that the noise and street racing on Camino de Los Mares is out of control and that there isn’t any enforcement for obnoxious “performance” exhaust systems, loud motorcycles and dangerous drag racers. We couldn’t agree more. It seems like the problem has gotten worse and worse every year. Not only is this “noise pollution” happening in the late-night hours, it is also happening during the daytime (and that’s aside from the speeders racing down Camino Vera Cruz in order to make the light at Los Mares). It is also apparent that the new roundabouts have only made the late-night racing worse; just take a look at the skid marks on the road. On a side note, we too have seen used condoms, liquor bottles and trash near the trailhead by the dump entrance. We have rarely, if ever, seen any vehicle pulled over or ticketed. This problem could be easily resolved—plant an officer at the bottom of Vera Cruz and Los Mares and start the citation writing. I’m sure the officer will be plenty busy within an hour or two.
REGARDING THE TOLL ROAD ALTERNATIVE GREGG L. NEWBURY, San Clemente
Why is it an “all or nothing” proposition? Why is the toll road the only option being put forward? I think San Clemente could benefit from a new road, but I am not sure it has to be toll. I am fundamentally against toll roads. Toll roads are maintained with general funds (our tax money), but when it comes to using them, most people are not willing to pay a toll to use them or cannot afford them at all, so they become tools of the rich. Why do you think Toll Road 73 is wide open and fast? Nobody uses it. Every weekend and sometimes two, three and four times, Interstate 5 going north through San Clemente becomes totally blocked/impassable. I know when it happens because cars come oozing through my neighborhood like lava down a rocky canyon, stopped up for miles/hours behind stop signs and stoplights. This makes it difficult to go to the grocery store just a few blocks down the hill. It could be a very dangerous situation if anybody needed to get to the hospital in an emergency. I think the solution is simple and relatively inexpensive; certainly less expensive and less intrusive than constructing a fly-over through Avenida Pico and San Clemente High School, and more useful as well. San Antonio Parkway does a very good
San Clemente Times August 31-September 6, 2017
job of providing a fast and easy trip from the Toll Road 241 down to Ortega Highway and the brand new Avenida La Pata is a pretty good extension of San Antonio. What we need and could use is a divided surface street connecting La Pata (at the dog park) with Cristianitos Road south of town so that when the freeway traffic comes to a grinding halt in San Clemente, travelers would have an alternative that is actually good for them and good for San Clemente. Coming up from San Diego, turn right on Cristianitos, continue onto La Pata and then San Antonio. If somebody is dying to use a toll road, link up then with the one already constructed, the 241 in Mission Viejo.
YOU SAY NIMBY, I SAY CONCERNED MOTHER EVA O’KEEFE, San Clemente
One of my kids has been critically ill several times in his life. He has a hypersensitive immune system. To me, nothing is more important than the health of my children. Last week, while searching the Toll Roads’ website, I found the biological survey map for the Transportation Corridor Agencies—it goes right up to the fence of the association that I live in. I am separated by 100 yards from that fence. This means that the grading may come extremely close to my house. I honestly can’t see any possible way that I could stay in my dream home if the route by my house is chosen. The health of my family is more important. I am not alone. I represent thousands of mothers in South Orange County whose children have some sort of asthma, allergies or learning disabilities that would be deeply affected by the years of construction and the emissions from car exhaust and diesel fuel once the road is completed. Just like tobacco was accepted at one point, we now know the negative consequences of building near high VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) areas. In other words, freeways and toll roads. There are laws that prevent schools from being built near freeways, but not the other way around. The TCA is free to put their toll road as close to schools, churches, homes and sports parks as they want. Or simply take them by eminent domain. It’s time to ask our elected officials—State Sen. Pat Bates and Assemblymember Bill Brough—to put such measures in place to protect the children in Orange County. Please, no toll roads in my backyard or any children’s backyards.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY To submit a letter to the editor for possible inclusion in the paper, e-mail us at letters@sanclementetimes.com. San Clemente Times reserves the right to edit reader-submitted letters for length and is not responsible for the claims made or the information written by the writers. Please limit your letters to 350 words.
Page 9
SC GETTING OUT San Clemente
YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER
The List
What’s going on in and around town this week
Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.3188. www.swallowsinn.com.
EDITOR’S PICK
LIVE MUSIC: LEROY 7:30 p.m. Leroy will perform at Iva Lee’s. 555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.361.2855. www.ivalees.com.
COMPILED BY STAFF
Thursday | 31 LOS RIOS GARDEN ANGELS 8:30-10:30 a.m. Join Goin’ Native Therapeutic Gardens volunteers, students and teachers at the Montanez Adobe inside Los Rios Park in San Juan Capistrano. Help care for and maintain native plants and butterflies while enjoying a little dirt therapy and friendship. Every Thursday. No experience needed. 31790 Paseo Adelanto, San Juan Capistrano. www.goinnative.net. READ TO A DOG 3-4 p.m. Kids can read to licensed therapy dogs every other Thursday at the San Juan Capistrano Library. Studies have shown that reading to therapy dogs can improve children’s reading skills and self-confidence. 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org/ libloc/sjc. SESSIONS AT STILLWATER 7 p.m. Listen to live music when artists from around the world perform together. Stillwater Spirits and Sounds. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point. 949.661.6003. www. danapointstillwater.com. LIVE MUSIC: CALIFORNIA RANGERS 7:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. California Rangers performs at the Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.3188. www.swallowsinn.com.
Friday | 01 MISSION ART WALK 11 a.m. A docent-guided tour highlighting the art collection of rare paintings related to the Mission’s history. 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. 949.234.1300. www.missionsjc.com. FIRST FRIDAY FILM 7-9 p.m. The Friends of the Library presents a film at the La Sala Auditorium in the San Juan Capistrano Library the first Friday of each month. $2 donation supports the library. 31495 El Camino Real, 949.493.2688, www.facebook.com/ SJCFriends. LIVE MUSIC: THREE CHORD JUSTICE 8:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Three Chord Justice performs at the Swallow’s Inn. 31786 San Clemente Times August 31-September 6, 2017
Saturday | 02 FREE SATURDAY FILM 10 a.m.-noon. The San Juan Capistrano Friends of the Library welcomes families to enjoy free popcorn and a movie at La Sala Auditorium. 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 949.248.5132. www.facebook.com/SJCFriends. CASPERS PARK FOUNDATION NATURE TALK 10-11 a.m. This nature-themed lecture is held in association with the monthly meeting of Caspers Park Foundation (CPF) volunteers. This month’s subject is the Starr Ranch Audubon. Reservations are not necessary, so call the Caspers Park Foundation for accurate seat availability. Parking fee is $5. 949.923.2210. CaspersParkFoundation@gmail.com. www.rmvreserve.org. FALL GARDENING 101 2-4 p.m. Join The Ecology Center for a workshop on gardening in the fall. Each participant will take home a sample of compost and a seasonal planting chart. The class is open to any age. $30 for non-members, $20 for members. The Ecology Center. 32701 Alipaz Street, San Juan Capistrano. 949.443.4223. www.theecologycenter.org. LIVE MUSIC HARBOR CRUISE 8-9:30 p.m. Every Saturday join Dana Wharf for a live music harbor cruise. Tickets are $25 per person, and the event is for 21 and older. Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching. 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point. 888.224.0603. www.danawharf.com.
Sunday | 03 SERRA CHAPEL TOUR 11:15 a.m.-noon. In honor of Saint Serra’s 300th birthday celebration, the Mission is offering guests the chance to enjoy a private tour of the Serra Chapel, the most historically significant chapel in California, every Sunday. $2-3 in addition to regular admission. 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com. FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY BOOKSTORE FIRST SUNDAY EVENT 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Peruse the extensive selection of cookbooks from your favorite chefs
Photo: Courtesy
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1: SAN CLEMENTE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL FIRST HOME GAME 7 p.m. The first home game of the reigning CIF Division 1-A state champion will take place at Thalassa Stadium against Huntington Beach High School. The Tritons are already 1-0 in the season after opening against Oceanside on the road. Tickets are $10 for public, free for students with ASB cards. Cash only. 700 Avenida Pico. www.tritonfootball.com.
including Julia Child, Ina Garten, Jamie Oliver and more. A variety of entertaining and educational children’s books will be available in the courtyard. Volunteers are needed for three-hour morning or afternoon shifts. Inquire at the bookstore. San Clemente Library, 242 Avenida Del Mar. 949.492.3493. www.ocpl.org/liboc/sc. BEND & BREW 11:30 a.m. iHeartYoga holds a Bend & Brew session at Left Coast Brewing Company’s tasting room in San Clemente. It’s a one-hour yoga class followed by a pint of beer. Admission $10. 1245 Puerta Del Sol, San Clemente. 949.363.3152. www.iheartyoga.com. LIVE MUSIC: RYE BROTHERS 2:30-7:30 p.m. The Rye Brothers perform at the Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.3188. www.swallowsinn.com.
Monday | 04 WOMEN OF SURFING: ART & HISTORY SURFING HERITAGE & CULTURE CENTER (SHACC) has partnered with the Huntington Beach Art Center (HBAC) for the Women of Surfing: Art & History, the art center’s second exhibition of a three-part-series celebrating women in the arts, delving into the artworks of national and international artists who have an Page 10
intimate relationship with the ocean and the sport of surfing. The exhibit runs until Sept. 2. 110 Calle Iglesia, San Clemente. 949.388.0313. www.surfingheritage.org. FREE GUITAR LESSONS 5-6 p.m. Free beginner level acoustic guitar lessons for middle school to college age youth every Monday. Guitars provided or students can bring their own. 1040 Calle Negocio, San Clemente. 949.388.0114. coamusicarts@gmail.com. www.communityoutreachalliance.com. YOGA IN THE PARK 5:30 p.m. Join iHeartYoga for yoga in the park every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this summer. Bring a mat, water bottle and suggested donation of $8. Lantern Bay Park. 25111 Park Lantern, Dana Point. www.iheartyoga.org.
Tuesday | 05 SAN CLEMENTE CHORAL SOCIETY MEETING 6-7 p.m. A new season begins with the San Clemente Choral Society. Come to the meet-and-greet to see what they’re all about. No commitment or “audition” is required. San Clemente Presbyterian Church, 119 Avenida De La Estrella. 909.208.4582. donbblessed@gmail.com. (Cont. on page 27) www.sanclementetimes.com
SEPTEMBER 6-17
San Onofre State Beach, Lower Trestles SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
HURLEY PRO | SWATCH PRO Event Guide
INFO IN THE P IP E LINE Stay connected throughout the Hurley Pro with San Clemente Times
BY ERIC HEINZ
C
Welcome to the Hurley Pro and Swatch Pro
Photo: Courtesy
LETTER FROM WSL COMMISSIONER
H
ello San Clemente, First of all, thank you once again for welcoming the World Surf League to your town and sharing your waves and beautiful coastline again with us this season. The Championship Tour has been coming to Trestles for over 15 years now, and it stands apart as one of the most highperformance waves on tour. The Hurley and Swatch Pro at Trestles mark a great turning point in the men’s and women’s seasons respectively and 2017 has already delivered a number of high-performance milestones.
Seven events into this year’s men’s calendar and we have seven different winners— Owen Wright, John John Florence, Jordy Smith, Adriano de Souza, Matt Wilkinson, Filipe Toledo and Julian Wilson. It’s created one of the tightest and most interesting WSL Title races in memory, and the Hurley Pro at Trestles will be critical in determining who pulls ahead of the European leg. On the women’s side, we have an equally tight race with defending Trestles winner and reigning WSL Women’s Champion Tyler Wright leading a field of Sally Fitzgibbons,
Courtney Conlogue, Stephanie Gilmore and Johanne Defay heading into town. San Clemente has long been celebrated for its place as a hotbed of surfing talent— the community, waves and people continue to cement its place as one. The WSL and all its surfers are very appreciative that you welcome us into this community year after year. We hope to see you down at the event or around town.
Kieran Perrow, WSL Commissioner
H U R L E Y P R O A N D S WAT C H P R O F O R E C A S T At press time, the surf outlook for the Hurley Pro and the Swatch Pro isn’t great. Looking at the South Pacific weather and swell forecast charts, the early days of the waiting period appear to remain relatively small in scale due to an unfavorable weather pattern between New Zealand and Tahiti. For the opening days of the contest, expect wave heights to hang in the knee to waist-high zone with sets topping out at chest to shoulder-high. The conditions remain relatively the same throughout the first week of the waiting period. There is potential for the pattern to shift and produce a legitimate swell towards the end of the waiting period. —Jake Howard
an’t make it down to Trestles for the annual Hurley Pro? The San Clemente Times will be providing up-to-date coverage and recaps of the events the days they take place. Because the Hurley Pro is on a 14-day wait, surfing will not take place each day of the event’s length. Be sure to use hashtags #HurleyPro or #SwatchPro and #SCTimesNews.
Visit San Clemente Times on Facebook to stay in the loop on all things Hurley Pro from beginning to end. We’ll be sharing ways to see all our coverage through the social media platform.
TWITTER The most instantaneous way to get the latest information is to follow San Clemente Times on Twitter. We will be posting results as well as keeping an eye on our local men and women on their performances during the contest.
INSTAGRAM If you are down at the Hurley Pro or want to check out highlights from the day’s heats, be sure to visit us at @s_c_times on Instagram and tag us in some of your photos. Many of the professionals at the events will be chronicling their own experiences at the Hurley Pro, and we’ll be sure to keep you connected to all the action.
SANCLEMENTETIMES.COM
For full recaps, visit www.sanclementetimes. com each day after the Hurley Pro events. We will be down there during the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals.
SEPTEMBER 6-17 | SANCLEMENTETIMES.COM
HURLEY PRO | SWATCH PRO Event Guide
A Brief and Awesome History of the Hurley Pro BY JAKE HOWARD
I
t’s the morning of the final,” Kelly Slater famously uttered en route to his 1990 professional debut at Lower Trestles. The moment was captured in a Quiksilver video called “Black and White” and basically served as the launchpad for the Florida surfer’s now storied career. It was, after all, on the beach at Lowers where he signed what was, at the time, the biggest contract in pro surfing history and then went on to win the contest. What you don’t hear nearly as much about, but definitely should because it ties directly into state-of-the-art surfing today, is that the year prior, local boy Christian Fletcher beat the establishment at Lowers courtesy of his brash, unapologetic approach to both above-the-lip and power maneuvers.
B E C AU S E THE RE ’ S A LOT MO RE TO W I NNI NG AT LOW E R S TH A N J U ST S U R F I NG GOOD
The godfather of aerial surfing, the unseeded Fletcher won a cool $30,000 for the effort, beating North Hollywood’s Joey Jenkins, Cardiff’s Colin Smith and San Clemente’s Noah Budroe in the final. Dino Andino, father of Kolohe, who will be surfing in this year’s Hurley Pro, finished fifth. Thanks to Fletcher in ’89 and Slater in ’90, today, the contest means the best surfers in the world are pushing the limits of highperformance surfing to the zenith. You can’t win unless you let it all hang out, and you have to beat the best to be the best. Over the past few years, the Hurley Pro has turned out champions that have been able to carry on this legacy, here’s a quick look at a few that are still in the game:
WOMEN
Kelly Slater has won the Hurley Pro multiple times. Photo: Courtesy Hurley Pro/Rowland
MEN
Tyler Wright
Carissa Moore
Jordy Smith
Mick Fanning
Tyler Wright was pretty much unstoppable in 2016. Out of the ten contests in the season, she won five of them (and finished second in two others). Inspired by her brother Owen, who was overcoming a severe head injury that he suffered at Pipeline in 2015, Wright blitzed through every contest she surfed in, including Lowers. She’s back in the driver’s seat again this year and leading the world title race, but a third and a fifth-place finish at the last two contests may have her a bit hungry for a win. If she is, look out.
Some surfers were meant to surf certain waves. Carissa Moore and Lowers is one such combination. The winner of the 2015 Hurley Pro, she put in a performance for the ages. It’s one thing to do a few turns, maybe bust an air or two and connect all the dots, but Moore does it with such seamless, timeless style. In the early days of her career she won too many NSSA titles to count at Lowers, and as she’s matured and grown up the performances have only gotten better.
As the defending Hurley Pro champion and current WSL ratings leader, this is the moment that Jordy Smith has been waiting for. He relocated from Durban, South Africa, to San Clemente to be closer to Lowers. And now, with a world title so close he can almost touch it, Smith is surfing better than ever. It wouldn’t surprise anyone to see him atop the podium again this year when this thing’s all done and dusted.
A two-time winner at the Hurley Pro and a three-time world champion, nobody surfs Lowers with more precision than Mick Fanning. A winner in 2009 and 2015, Fanning always enjoys his time in California. He usually stays down the road in Carlsbad with his good friend Taylor Knox and is spending a little extra time here this year working on some Rip Curl projects. He hasn’t had the kind of competitive year he’s used to, but he can make that turn on a dime at Lowers.
2016
2015
For the women, the Swatch Pro was first launched in 2014, so to date there have only been three champions. All of them worthy, all of them world champions.
Stephanie Gilmore 2014
Winner of the inaugural Swatch Pro in 2014, Stephanie Gilmore started this season with a win at her home break of Snapper Rocks in Australia and now sits ranked fourth in the world. She has some ground to make up on rating’s leader Wright, but if she can find some of that old fashion magic, she could be right in the hunt for an astonishing seventh world title.
Carissa Moore (HAW) and Mick Fanning (AUS) are the 2015 Swatch Women’s Pro and 2015 Hurley Pro Champions. Photo: Vicki Patterson
2016
2009, 2015
Kelly Slater
Joel Parkinson
Nobody’s won more at Lowers in the last 20 years than 11-time world champion Kelly Slater. In the last 15 years, he notched wins in 2005, ’07, ’08, ’10, ’11 and ’12. Sadly, he won’t be surfing this year due to a busted hoof. During a warm-up session at the J-Bay Open in South Africa earlier this summer, Slater broke two toes on his right foot. He’s already undergone successful surgery and is now going through the rehab process, but his recovery time is estimated to be four to six months, so the only thing he’ll be doing at Lowers this year is watching.
One of the senior members of the tour, Joel Parkinson won the Hurley Pro (previously the Boost Mobile Pro) in 2004 and 2006. With his impeccable style and spot-on timing, Parkinson is always a threat at Lowers. Comfortably in the Top 10 of the WSL rankings, he may be a sneaky pick to win the contest. Surfers in the world title chase like Jordy Smith, Matt Wilkinson and John John Florence will receive the lion’s share of the attention, giving a confident surfer like Parkinson a chance to slide right up to the top.
2005, ’07, ’08, ’10, ’11 and ’12
2004, 2006
SEPTEMBER 6-17 | SANCLEMENTETIMES.COM
HURLEY PRO | SWATCH PRO Event Guide S WA T C H P R O C O M P E T I T I O N
Who to Watch
For the women in the world title race, the Swatch Pro could be make or break
BY JAKE HOWARD
F
or the ladies of the WSL, the Swatch Pro is a critical stop in the world title race. With three-quarters of the season in the books already, Lowers is the most dependable wave they’re going to see the rest of the season. The next two contests will take them to Portugal and France, and while the waves can be good, over the years it’s become evident that anything can and usually does happen in the inconsistent Old World beach breaks. The Atlantic has a funny way of scrambling things before the women head to Honolua Bay on the island of Maui, site of the final contest of the 2017 season. On its day, Honolua can be as good as any wave on the planet. The drawback is that its fickle and doesn’t get epic all that often. That leaves Lowers. Defending Swatch Pro champion and reigning world champion Tyler Wright has to be considered the clear favorite this year. The worst result she’s had all year is a quarterfinal finish, and as such, she’s currently
leading the 2017 world title race. “It’s a great wave and a great opportunity to really get technical with your surfing,” said Wright after her win last year. “You really have to have the variety and the combination of maneuvers to succeed here because it’s such a consistent wave.” Hot on Wright’s heels in the title race is Sally Fitzgibbons. Another technically brilliant Aussie, a big result at the Swatch Pro could shoot her back into the lead and give her the advantage she needs to capture her first world title. “It’s a long season, but this is a great opportunity for me to elevate my surfing and find my benchmark.” said Fitzgibbons. Even for the women at the top of the leader board, the road to the final isn’t going to be easy. Three-time world champion Carissa Moore and six-time champ Stephanie Gilmore are tough to beat when the waves are firing. Both have a wide-ranging arsenal of maneuvers at their disposal and
Carissa Moore. Photo: File
impeccable style. “I started competing here in the NSSA contests when I was really little and I feel pretty comfortable here,” said Moore, a former winner at the Swatch Pro. “It’s one of my favorite waves and kind of like a home away from home.” Hailing from nearby Santa Ana, Courtney Conlogue is also well-suited to win the contest. With two contest wins this season already, she’s sitting in third behind Wright and Fitzgibbons. A win in San Clemente could put her in pole position. Another California girl to keep an eye on is Ojai’s Sage
Erikson. Fresh off a stunning victory at the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach earlier this summer, Erikson is having a career year and now finds herself ranked sixth in the world. “Trestles is such a groomed wave that it gives you a chance to showcase your style, and your surfing, so I love that the girls get to show that,” said Erickson. There’s a lot more riding on the Swatch Pro than an oversized winner’s check and bragging rights. A world title literally hangs in the balance. SC
HURLEY PRO COMPETITION
A world title could hang in the balance at the Hurley Pro
Photo: File
T
he fact of the business is that anyone on tour right now has the talent to win at Lowers if they get on a roll. That makes picking a winner a bit tricky, but obviously, there are some favorites. Topping the list is South African Jordy Smith, who’s currently fronting the WSL Championship Tour ratings. Originally hailing from Durban, for the last few years Smith has called San Clemente home and Lowers his local spot. Perhaps the most powerful surfer on tour, he has the ability to manhandle the dainty cobblestone point while still weaving explosive, progressive maneuvers into his repertoire. A win at Lowers for Smith puts him in the driver’s seat in the race for the
2017 world title. “I love this wave, it’s so rippable. It’s such a wide-open canvas that you can really be creative with your surfing. And living here for a while now, I feel like I’ve seen a lot of its different moods,” said Smith. Another San Clemente transplant is Filipe Toledo. Considered by many to be the best small-wave surfer in the world, Toledo’s originally from Brazil but has taken up residence in town to be closer to Lowers and the Orange County-based surf industry. After a statement-making win at the J-Bay Open in South Africa, Toledo suffered an early-round loss at the last WSL contest in Tahiti. Coming into the Hurley Pro with a chip
on his shoulder and something to prove, our guess is that his heats will be among the most exciting of the entire contest. Julian Wilson, winner of the Billabong Pro Tahiti, is also one to watch. The Hurley Pro is a contest the talented Australian probably should have won already given his abundance of talent, but somehow, it’s alluded him. Fresh off his win at Teahupoo, Wilson has momentum on his side and appears to be in a good rhythm at the moment. Currently ranked fifth in the world, a win at Lowers slingshots him into the world title conversation. 2016 world champion John John Florence, currently ranked second in the world, is best known for his outrageous tube-riding abilities at places like Pipeline and Teahupoo, but he’s also a freak in the smaller stuff. With his unique skate-inspired style and a penchant for drawing unique lines, his flyin’ Hawaiian’s approach is a perfect fit for Lowers. “Lowers is a great event, I love that event. It’s like a skatepark out there. It’s going to be really exciting,” said Florence after his
third-place finish in Tahiti last month. Last, but certainly not least, keep a sharp eye trained on local boy Kolohe Andino. Growing up in San Clemente, essentially raised at Lowers, Andino’s currently doing some of the best surfing of his career and should be carrying a head full of confidence into Lowers. He just placed third in Tahiti and is on the cusp of breaking into the WSL’s Top Ten. Andino’s been riding surfboards shaped by …Lost’s Matt Biolos his whole life, and it’s not a stretch to say that when it comes to equipment for Lowers, Andino will be the best prepared. He also probably has the best pit crew on the beach, from his family, friends and all the local groms, the support means the world to him. “It’s epic to come down and have that kind support and feel that love. It’s inspiring,” said Andino. This year the WSL world title race is more wide open than ever before, and thanks to Lowers’ unique A-frame setup and reputation as home to high-performance surfing, things are about to get even more interesting. SC
SEPTEMBER 6-17 | SANCLEMENTETIMES.COM
HURLEY PRO | SWATCH PRO Event Guide
Treasured Trestles
environmental impacts in its draft report, which is expected to be published at the end of the year. By 2018, the TCA expects to begin scoping studies for the review, with a decision coming in 2021 and construction starting soon after that. Opponents argue based on reports compiled between 2002 and 2006 that the TCA has already made up its mind and will try to put the toll road straight through San Clemente, if a better solution does not present itself first.
Lease Agreement
Political, environmental issues surround famed surf location BY ERIC HEINZ
T
here are many reasons Trestles is vigorously coveted. Some of the world’s most consistent waves break along its shores. San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) is planning to use Trestles’ bluffs as storage for 1,600 tons of nuclear waste within the next few years. The U.S. Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton see it as a strategic buffer and training area. But Trestles has been an oft-sought refuge for surfers since World War II when Camp Pendleton was established. Surfers were not permitted to cross the fence that kept them from Lowers and Church, and the proximity to then-President Richard Nixon’s getaway destination didn’t make access any easier. That changed in 1971 when an agreement between the U.S. Navy and California State Parks was struck to turn the area into a public recreation area.
SONGS Anxiety sets in for many beachgoers when the topic of interim stored nuclear waste comes up. Currently, SONGS operators Southern California Edison and its minor stakeholders are permitted to store tons of spent nuclear fuel rods from the shuttered nuclear plant that was left over from when the plant was in operation. Opponents to this process claim this part of the decommissioning process will put not just Trestles—where the plant is located—but the rest of the area in harm’s way if a disaster were to occur.
The stored fuel is expected to be placed onsite within the next 10 years, unless the federal government comes to a resolution to put it somewhere else. As SONGS was decommissioning, the federal government prohibited any fuel to be stored at the Yucca Mountain Facility in Nevada; therefore, the fuel did not have a permanent home, and temporary storage offsite is not permitted by federal law. Congressman Darrell Issa, who represents San Clemente down to Vista, has tried to pass a bill that would amend the Nuclear Waste Policy Act to allow for temporary sites, but no such amendment came to pass. The latest amendment to the law moved a similar bill to the House floor, but it has yet to be discussed. A lawsuit between watchdog group Citizens Oversight Projects and California Coastal Commission ended on Aug. 28, as Southern California Edison and the group forged a settlement agreement that will require SONGS operators to monitor spent fuel stored onsite as well as search for more alternative locations to store the fuel—even though that will ultimately be the responsibility of the federal government. For more information and updates on this issue, visit www.sanclementetimes.com.
Toll Road Agreement Makes Some People Nervous Following a settlement agreement between
San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) has been a hotbed issue regarding the storage of spent nuclear fuel since it was shut down in 2013. Photo: File
Photo: File
the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) and the Save San Onofre Coalition and other environmental groups in November 2016, the city of San Clemente challenged the legality of the agreement with a lawsuit. The settlement agreement came after a 10-year lawsuit that aimed to prevent a toll road from ever being built through the famed surf spot as well as other locations within an environmental avoidance area. But the TCA has comprised several new proposals that would go through the city of San Clemente. The toll roads have been an issue for advocates of Trestles and San Onofre State Park for years. In 2013, San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board rejected the proposals to construct a toll road through the area, which stopped the threat of the infrastructure at the time. The city is currently arguing in Orange County Superior Court that the settlement agreement was not done in transparent light and that the actions could be a violation of California’s open meetings laws. The TCA Joint Board recently issued a statement that it intends to fight this action. The public will have an opportunity to provide comments during the environmental review process, as is required by law under the California Environmental Quality Act. Groups such as the Surfrider Foundation have taken exception to these actions because they argue undoing the settlement agreement would put Trestles at risk once again of being affected by a potential toll road. “By filing a lawsuit, the City is effectively saying they want a road to go through the park,” Surfrider Foundation stated on its website blog in June. “The SSOC is not making that assumption flippantly. In addition to wanting to undo our protective lawsuit, city councilmembers said at a March 21 council meeting that they ‘want an arterial that connects La Pata to Cristianitos’—that, my friends, is secret code for ‘build a road through the park.’” What’s important to keep in mind is that no proposals have been selected for the formal environmental impact report at this time. The TCA is currently studying potential
The clock is ticking on the lease agreement to keep San Onofre State Beach a park, which will eventually be negotiated between the U.S. Navy and California State Parks. The Navy owns the land on which San Onofre State Park sits, but in 1971 an agreement to turn the land into a park was forged. The Navy charged State Parks $1 for the 50-year rent. That lease agreement ends in less than four years. State Parks submitted a letter indicating its “formal interest” to extend that lease, which was signed by the director, in 2016 to the Marine Corps. In an email, State Parks representatives said the department plans to use the four years remaining before the expiration of the lease “productively and hopes to reach an agreement during that time,” according to an email from California State Parks. “While the (Director of Parks and Recreation) has met with USMC Base Commanders and meets with their staff on a regular basis, an agreement of this magnitude will take time to negotiate and finalize,” an emailed statement from State Parks read. “An announcement on the final outcome is not anticipated until at or near the end of the current lease in 2021.” The land at Trestles allows for Marine units to conduct training for amphibious operations, ranging in size from a reconnaissance element to a Marine Expeditionary Brigade. “Since (the 1971 agreement), numerous state and federal statutes and regulations have been created,” an email from Camp Pendleton officials stated. “Although it is federal land, the Marine Corps abides by state statutes and regulations in the environmental management of all installations in the State of California. “The State Parks Director has requested renewal of the lease,” the email continued. “That official request begins the lengthy and rather complicated process of lease renewal. Since there are many steps in this process, it is not possible to say with certainty when an agreement might be reached.” Pendleton officials said that it is too early to disclose the details of the communication it has had with the State Parks. “As we have in the past, we will work diligently to ensure the interests of the Marine Corps and the interests of the State of California are appropriately considered while we work toward an agreements” the email stated. SC
SEPTEMBER 6-17 | SANCLEMENTETIMES.COM
HURLEY PRO | SWATCH PRO Event Guide
Top Five Surfy Things to Do in San Clemente BY JAKE HOWARD
E
very year the planet’s best surfers are drawn to San Clemente because of the world-class waves at Trestles, but there’s a lot more to do around town than just post up on the cobblestones. Here are some of the local favorites:
Nomads Canteen in San Clemente will have drink specials as well as broadcast the Hurley Pro and Swatch Pro. Photo: Courtesy of Nomads Canteen
On the Tube
Places to Watch the Hurley Pro and Swatch Pro
BY ERIC HEINZ
T
here are various ways to catch San Clemente’s ultimate surf contest if you can’t make it down to Trestles between Sept. 6-17.
HOW TO STREAM ONLINE If you can’t make it out during the competition or to one of the local hot spots that will broadcast the Hurley Pro and Swatch Pro, you can stream the competition at www.worldsurfleague.com.
WHERE TO WATCH ON TV Bloom’s Irish Sports Bar, located at 2391 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente. Combine the feel of Ireland with the shores of Trestles while watching San Clemente’s premier surf competition at Bloom’s. Hapa J’s, located at 2016 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente. It’s known that many of the surfers of the Hurley Pro and Swatch Pro frequent the Hawaiian-Mexican fusion restaurant. There may be other events related to the competitions during the week at the local restaurant too.
STAY ENT ERTA INE D AT THE H U R LEY PRO
Big Helyn’s Saloon, located at 3317 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente. Broadcasting $6 pitchers for the Hurley Pro and your choice of tequila for $9 with a tall can of PBR. There will also be free pizza and hotdogs. Beach Hut Deli, 2 Ritz Carlton Drive and Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point. Get your sub while the surf is on. Beach Hut Deli will broadcast the surf competition on request. Nomads Canteen, 102 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente. The epitome of surf culture is alive and well at Nomads Canteen. During the Hurley Pro and Swatch Pro, restaurant employees said they will definitely broadcast. There will be drink specials available during the competitions. Check their Instagram @nomads_canteen for more information.
1. Go Surfing
There’s more to surfing in San Clemente than Lowers. Spots like T Street and the Pier can offer up plenty of fun surf if you don’t feel like marching down the trail to Trestles. It’s still summertime, the water’s warm and the living’s easy.
2. Hang at San Onofre
There are few things better in this world than a cruisy afternoon barbecue at San Onofre State Park. With its aloha vibes, idyllic longboard setups and timeless feel, anyone can soak it all in at the birthplace of California surf culture.
3. Go Shopping
San Clemente and Dana Point are home to some all-time surf shops. Stewart
Surfboards, Dewy Weber Surfboards, Timmy Paterson Surfboards, Killer Dana, Catalyst, Jack’s Surf Shop, Hobie Surf Shop, the Rip Curl super center, Icons of Surf and the San Clemente “surf ghetto” are just a few. If you can’t find a board or pair of trunks in South Orange County you probably can’t find it anywhere.
4. Visit the Surfing Heritage and Cultural Center
As it’s been said, you can’t know the future if you don’t know the past. A stop into the Surfing Heritage and Cultural Center is a lesson in surf history. With its collection of historic surfboards, equipment and memorabilia, it’s the ideal spot to get reacquainted with your roots.
5. Eat Local
After a long day at the beach a good meal and cold drink is a wonderful thing. Luckily, there are a number of surf-themed eateries in the area that are worth a visit. Nomads Cantina and Hapa J’s both have great food and surf videos on constant rotation. Pipe’s and Surfin’ Donuts are great places to pop in for breakfast and power up for the day too.
OC Tavern, 2369 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente. The most television-equipped sports bar in San Clemente will also broadcast the surf contests. OC Tavern will offer its $9 beer and shot special during the competition. Editor’s note: This list will be updated online as we receive more information closer to the competition.
BY JAKE HOWARD
A
s the event sponsor, Hurley has some fun stuff planned around the contest this year. Taking over space next to the Nike sport in the Outlets at San Clemente, Hurley will be kicking things off with a gathering to support local boy Kolohe Andino. There will be a number of events at the location throughout the contest’s waiting period and they
Photo: File
will also be offering shuttles from the outlets to Trestles. And when the contest is done and dusted, the Hurley store will be hosting a celebration with Andino and a number of their other team riders the following day. Down at the contest site, the Hurley Surf Club program will be in full effect. They will be offering a free video analysis of attendees’ surfing on the beach (sign-up for a session at Hurley.com/surfclub, space is limited). They will also be offering free
wetsuit demos for anyone keen to try on some new rubber. The Hurley Art Walk is back with a whole bunch of new photographers. They will be capturing all the contest’s action through their perspective and the images will be printed and hung up for viewing pleasure and will be available for purchase. Proceeds will go to help support the good work of the San Onofre Foundation. SC
SEPTEMBER 6-17 | SANCLEMENTETIMES.COM
HURLEY PRO | SWATCH PRO Event Guide
A Lowers Crash Course
Tanner Gudauskas breaks down how to compete at Lower Trestles
BY JAKE HOWARD
C
onsidered the premier high-performance wave in America, or surfing’s favorite “skate park,” for as good as Lower Trestles is, it can be a difficult place to compete. The A-frame peak has a lot of nuance and changes moods depending on the swell direction, tide and wind. A savvy competitor at Lowers will be able to understand all of this and factor it into their repertoire. “Totally biased here, but I think the left is more versatile at Lowers,” explains San Clemente’s Tanner Gudauskas, who surfed in the Hurley Pro as a wildcard last year. “It takes a little more west and south, which is ultimate summertime conditions. I personally like it when it’s a little more west because the wall gets more vertical. It comes at you with end sections and stuff.” The morning typically brings clean, glassy conditions with a light puff of offshore wind blowing out of the San Mateo watershed. “If you have a heat early in the morning, the way the sun comes up and over the canyon, it shines right into the right,” cautions Gudauskas. “You don’t have to worry about that on the left.” And while goofy-footers like Gudauskas relish in the opportunities the left provides, the right that breaks down the beach toward Middles and Church is actually a longer wave and can allow for a lot of scoring potential. “The right, once you pop up and get a line,
Tanner Gudauskas discusses surfboards with a grom in 2016 during a Positive Vibe Warriors Foundation mission with young surfers of Jamaica. Photo: Grant Ellis
you can pretty much crank off as many turns as it will give you all the way to the beach,” explains Gudauskas. “The left will give you a vertical section right off the bat, then it goes into a roundhouse section, and I think that’s where a lot of guys lose it. The right is more obvious, I guess.” One thing that has surfers like John John Florence and Gabriel Medina amped to come back to Lowers every year is the perfect pace of the wave. Not too fast, not too
slow, the key is to find the waves that have just the right tempo to be able to seamlessly showcase maneuvers without any hiccups or bobbles in between. The WSL judges call this part of the criteria “flow.” “With both the left and right you have to pay attention to how you’re linking it all together. The right, in terms of quality of wave, is probably better,” Gudauskas said. Lowers is a wave that allows the WSL competitors to showcase their wide array
of talents. From conventional turns and off-the-lip maneuvers, to more progressive, high-flying, acrobatic aerial kinds of moves, to win at Lowers one must pull out all the stops—but be smart about it. “Watch somebody like Wardo (Chris Ward). He’s probably the ultimate Lowers local,” said Gudauskas, who grew up watching the local fixture and former world tour competitor. “He can get fast and twitchy, but he also gets really silky. He can extend through bottom turns and into sections, as well as pick a mid-face line. He does a really good job of exploiting everything that wave has to offer, and I think that’s really the key to making the most out of all the opportunities the wave provides.” Perhaps more than anything, success at Lowers comes from being able to relax and soak in the atmosphere. One of the most crowded waves in California, the opportunity to surf out there with only one or two other surfers is a treat in and of itself. “You breathe easy when you cross the railroad tracks,” Gudauskas said. “It feels like a sanctuary.” SC
LO C AL S P OT L IG H T
Evan Geiselman draws WSL Wildcard
BY SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
E
van Geiselman’s 2017 season was jumpstarted by his performance at the Hurley Pro Qualifier at Lowers back in July. Competing against some of the top local surfers for the one available wild card spot in this year’s Hurley Pro, Geiselman made due with lackluster waves and capitalized. The native New Smyrna Beach, Florida, and San Clemente transplant edged Griffin Colapinto in the local final to earn a spot in the field of 32 at the World Surf League’s Championship Tour event in San Clemente next week. Heading into the event, Geiselman was down the list on the WSL’s Men’s Qualifying Series standings. Now heading into the Hurley Pro, he sits in 30th overall and heads to Trestles with plenty of momentum.
The 23-year-old will enter the Hurley Pro fresh off a third-place finish at the Van’s Pro in Virginia Beach on Aug. 27. At the Vans US Open of Surfing three weeks prior, Geiselman placed 17th. Geiselman’s recent performance on the Qualifying Series has him ranked first in the series’ North American rankings, ahead of fellow Americans Jordy Collins and Kanoa Igarashi, respectively. Geiselman has spent a lot of time both living and surfing in San Clemente. He grew up surfing the breaks offshore with his brother, Eric, and Kolohe Andino while both surfers were in the Red Bull program. Geiselman has experience surfing Trestles in professional competition. He qualified for the event back in 2012, but was bounced out of competition by Hawaii’s John John Florence in the second round.
Evan Geiselman. Photo: WSL/Sean Rowland
“I’ve been looking forward to the opportunity to surf Lowers since the trials win. It’s awesome to be in the event with the goal being to get on the Championship Tour one day, so to be in Lowers is a good feeling,” Geiselman said in a press release. “Having
no pressure helps, but I want to make heats. Lowers is a place I’ve competed at since I was a kid and I feel good out there. It will be fun surfing against those guys and I’m really looking forward to it.” SC
SEPTEMBER 6-17 | SANCLEMENTETIMES.COM
HURLEY PRO | SWATCH PRO Event Guide
Molding Champion Boards SC native Nate Yeomans shapes for world’s elite surfers BY STEVE BREAZEALE
T
here might not be a better person who can speak to what a professional surfer needs in terms of board performance while surfing Lowers than Nate Yeomans. Yeomans, a San Clemente native, grew up surfing at Lowers and knows it well. As his surfing career continued, so did his history with the break off the shores of San Clemente. He has surfed professionally at his hometown break multiple times. About a year ago, Yeomans transitioned to the sales side of the surf industry. He currently works for …Lost Surfboards as a sales rep. He now bridges the gap between surfer and shaper. Yeomans explained how the break at Lowers is notoriously slower than what the best in the world are accustomed to, which forces them to modify their boards beforehand. “Most of these guys will be riding a standard shortboard design, but they’ll tweak it a little bit for waves specifically at Trestles,”
Nate Yeomans. Photos: WSL/Cestari
Nate Yeomans. Photos: WSL/Cestari
Yeomans said. “Their boards will have a lower tail rocker that creates more speed and more drive.” Surfers like Kolohe Andino and Evan Geiselman, the local wild card qualifier at the
Hurley Pro, are sponsored by ...Lost. The Hurley Pro serves as a sort-of hometown event for …Lost, which is based in San Clemente. The company’s founder and co-owner, Matt Biolos, is a worldrenowned shaper who builds bonds with local surfers. As a young grom, Yeomans was drawn to the professional allure of
Biolos and his boards. “A lot of guys order Matt’s boards when they come to town. He’s one of the world’s best shapers, specifically for that area. His boards are perfect for those types of waves (in San Clemente),” Yeomans said. “Being able to fine tune your equipment with your shaper down the street is awesome.” SC
HURLEY PRO | SWATCH PRO Event Guide
Elite Eight
Picking the Quarterfinalists
MEN
JULIAN WILSON Silky smooth style with a penchant for going big, Julian Wilson’s approach is practically tailor-made for Lowers. A big result here solidifies his place in the world title conversation.
JORDY SMITH Fronting the world title race, the 2017 Hurley Pro is the reason Jordy Smith left Durban, South Africa and moved to San Clemente. A regular at Lowers these days, he’s bringing a confident, versatile repertoire to this year’s contest.
OWEN WRIGHT His prowess in big, heavy surf has never been in dispute, but it will be interesting to see how Owen Wright fairs at Lowers. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, he’s going to have to play the power game when the smaller, more nimble surfers take to the air.
FILIPE TOLEDO Arguably the best small-wave surfer on the planet, anything less than an appearance in the final will be a disappointment for Toledo, and don’t be surprised if he wins the whole thing.
BY JAKE HOWARD
I
t’s often said that anybody on tour can beat anybody else in a 30-minute heat depending on the conditions. That’s true, but there are some surfers who certainly make heats more consistently than others. Based on their results and performances this year, the following is the San Clemente Times’ educated guess at who you might expect to see still in the contest come the quarterfinals. SC
WOMEN
GABRIEL MEDINA Gaining a reputation as one of the fiercest competitors on tour, Medina has the ability to dissect the spot in any and all conditions. The potent combination makes him a clear favorite to go the distance.
MATT WILKINSON A free-spirited goofy-footer, the Hurley Pro will be an interesting test for Wilkinson. Last season he fell out of the world title hunt after a string of bad results. He’s going to do everything he can to avoid a repeat performance.
JOHN JOHN FLORENCE With his skate-inspired approach and mindblowing ability to improvise, Lowers is a spot that John John Florence should win. Currently ranked second in the world, if he can get the competitive fire burning he’ll be hard to stop.
KOLOHE ANDINO He’s so overdue for a victory at Lowers it’s not even funny. In a good rhythm and a solid headspace, Andino will have the hometown support and should be able to ride it to a solid result.
Photos: Most photos provided by Work Surf League / others: courtesy
STEPHANIE GILMORE Winner of the inaugural Swatch Pro, Gilmore’s got her groove back this year. Opening the season with a win at the Roxy Pro on the Gold Coast of Australia, Lowers is a wave that suits her impeccable, timeless style.
COURTNEY CONLOGUE The local powerhouse, Conlogue spends a lot of time training and practicing at Lowers. Her experience and comfort here are her biggest assets, while her competitive fire makes her a clear contender.
CARISSA MOORE
COCO HO Enjoying a bit of a resurgence in her career, Hawaii’s Coco Ho has been competing at Lowers ever since her grom days in the NSSA. Today she’s one of the most recognizable surfers on tour, and as of late she’s been putting some legit results up on the board.
TYLER WRIGHT
Enjoying her time back in Hawaii during the brief break from tour, Carissa Moore may have the most talent out of any woman in the draw. Watch for her to take to the air and unleash her deep arsenal of progressive maneuvers.
SALLY FITZGIBBONS
Last year’s world champion and current ratings leader, to see Tyler Wright upset in the early rounds of the contest would be a huge surprise. She’s one of the most unstoppable women on tour and she loves Lower…that’s a dangerous combination.
SAGE ERICKSON
The argument could be made that no woman on tour wants to win a world title more than Sally Fitzgibbons. She’s been so close so many times, and right in the mix this year, she needs a big result at the Swatch Pro and she knows it.
TATIANA WESTON-WEBB
There’s a good chance Sage Erickson wouldn’t have made this list at the start of the year, but coming off a career-best win at the U.S. Open of Surfing, she’s riding a wave of momentum. There’s nothing stopping her from making back-to-back finals.
In search of a defining win on the women’s tour this year, Tatiana Weston-Webb has the chops to do some damage. With an innovative, progressive approach rooted in solid, fundamentals, Lowers is a wave on which she should perform well.
SEPTEMBER 6-17 | SANCLEMENTETIMES.COM
GETTING OUT (Cont. from page 10) KARAOKE AT GOODY’S 8 p.m. Karaoke every Tuesday night at Goody’s Tavern in San Clemente. 206 S. El Camino Real. 949.492.3400. www.goodystavern.com.
Wednesday | 06 KARAOKE AT THE SWALLOW’S INN 7 p.m. Sing karaoke, imbibe and eat free popcorn at The Swallow’s Inn’s karaoke night with Bobby and Joel. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.3188. www.swallowsinn.com. FREE COMEDY AT BLOOM’S 8:30 p.m. Every Wednesday, free comedy at Bloom’s Irish Sports Bar with food and drink specials. 2391 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.218.0120. www.mollybloomspub.com. OPEN MIC NIGHT AT KNUCKLEHEADS 9 p.m.-1 a.m. All levels of musicians are welcome to perform at this weekly open mic. Bring your instruments, or voice, and show off your talent. 1717 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.492.2410. www.knuckleheadsmusic.com. HAVE AN EVENT? Submit it to San Clemente Times by going to www.sanclementetimes.com, and clicking “Submit an Event” under the “Getting Out” tab.
At the Movies: ‘The Trip to Spain’ is Bittersweet BY MEGAN BIANCO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
S
ince 2010, Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon have sporadically been co-starred in a successful comedy series called The Trip in the UK. But for viewers in the U.S., we’ve gotten the show edited into three different fulllength films: The Trip (2011), The Trip to Italy (2014) and now The Trip to Spain (2017). The series is comprised of largely improvised dialogue and situations from fictionalized characterizations of Coogan and Brydon as they taste various foods around Europe. In the most recent addition, Steve and Rob head out to Spain for another set of food reviews. Steve is hired again to write for the Observer. Rob, being the dependent friend and fellow comic he is, tags along again. As they eat delicious food and amusingly battle each other at celebrity impressions, Steve discovers his agent has
Photo: Courtesy
left him and his new script has been greenlit—but with a new writer for a second draft. Like with the previous two seasons/movies, The Trip to Spain is a tongue-in-cheek collage of Coogan and Brydon having a laugh at themselves and their careers. But there is still the slight pessimistic tone, with Coogan’s career constantly being
portrayed as side-lined and fated with bad luck. It worked in the first two films fine, but here it’s almost a bit too cynical, bringing the light mood down a little. But there are still some hilarious scenes, such as the duo imitating David Bowie and Roger Moore for fans of the past two efforts. SC
SC SC LIVING San Clemente
PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY
Business Beat News from San Clemente’s business community SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
leading software to empower our dealership customers.” Before joining ACTIVE Network, Pietrzak held leadership positions at Wells Fargo & Co. and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and she was a strategy consultant at the Boston Consulting Group, the release stated. Pietrzak was involved in the company globally, “leading high-functioning teams and driving deep understanding of and responsiveness to customers’ needs and experiences,” the release stated.
New CEO DEALERSOCKET 100 Avenida La Pata, San Clemente 949.900.0300 www.dealersocket.com DealerSocket, a technology for the automotive industry, announced today that Sejal Pietrzak has joined the company as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. Jonathan Ord, who is the company’s co-founder and has been its CEO for the past 16 years, will remain a strategic investor and active on the company’s board of directors. Pietrzak has extensive experience leading teams across multiple functions within a successful software company throughout the past 12 years at ACTIVE Network. “I am particularly excited to support Sejal and DealerSocket’s leadership as a continuing investor and board member,” said outgoing CEO and DealerSocket founder Jonathan Ord. “My interactions with Sejal have made it abundantly clear to me that she is the right CEO moving forward, as DealerSocket continues to scale and innovate.” According to the release, Pietrzak is “committed to applying her deep knowledge of software and her significant leadership experience to DealerSocket.” The company has more than 11,000 dealership customers. “I am very excited to be joining DealerSocket,” Pietrzak said in the release. “Jonathan and the DealerSocket team have built a strong foundation and tremendous company culture that values people, customers and technology. I look forward to continuing DealerSocket’s solid growth trajectory with its industry San Clemente Times August 31-September 6, 2017
Preparing Your Cooler Crops Vegetable Garden
S
VAN LIPP & CARTER: ITALIAN COLLECTION 221 Avenida Del Mar, Suite A, San Clemente 949.588.5661 www.vanlippandcarter.com The Van Lipp & Carter: Italian Collection opened its doors on Avenida Del Mar this May, offering a fun, high-end jewelry shopping experience in San Clemente. Entering Van Lipp & Carter, shoppers are likely to meet Donatella Polizzi, whose parents have owned the property since the early 1980s. Polizzi and her husband, Franco Lipparini, who personally designs all of the jewelry at Van Lipp & Carter, are excited to bring their original artisan handiwork to the San Clemente community. All of the pieces at Van Lipp & Carter: Italian Collection are made of either real flowers or butterflies, sometimes both. Both are widely recognized symbols of rebirth and regeneration. After being coated with a resin, Lipparini wraps the organic matter in 24K gold. Lipparini said his pieces are truly one of a kind. “No one person is perfect, real beauty isn’t perfect, not a face or a hand or any eye. Every piece is different, just like every woman is different.” Lipparini said of his designs. “Everyone can relate to giving a loved one a flower, they are beautiful, but a flower might only last maybe a week… our pieces last forever.” Polizzi and Lipparini both cited their eye-catching selection and personalized customer service model as the reason for Van Lipp & Carter’s first summer season being a success. “There must be so many gentlemen in San Clemente. Once a week, maybe more, we will help a man that has come in looking for a special gift,” Lipparini said. “They will bring us a dress, or a picture, perhaps even one of those paint samples, and we will match it.” “We are looking to make jewelry that represents color, and lightness. Life is heavy enough as it is,” Polizzi said. “We want to make it beautiful.” —Danny Ritz
ummer is traditionally the peak time for harvesting the abundance grown from the vegetable garden. Sharing our delicious summer crops with friends and neighbors, some of us found the time to can or ferment what was left over from the season. Although the dog days of summer are still here, this is the ideal time to start preparing the garden beds for fall. Carrots grow well in a fall garden. Photo: File Milder and wetter fall weather allows a multitude of flavorful crops to thrive, such condition, reuse after planting. If not, use as Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower in another area. Straw and shredded leaves and kale, just to name a few. Insects are less make great mulch, too. of a bother as they hide 4. Loosen the soil: If it’s gotten compacted from the cold, and the during the summer, fluff it up with a garden soil has better hydration fork—no major tilling—just enough to let retention as the daylight the new plant roots grow and absorb water. is decreasing and the 5. Amend the soil: Work in some compost, night temperatures begin and be sure to have your planting layout to drop. done before adding compost. You can add If you want to start your individual amendments or a general organic plants from seeds, this fertilizer to increase nutrients for plants. is the time to sow your DIRT THERAPY 6. Rake the garden site evenly: Remove By Marrianne seeds before the night any clumps and create furrow to catch the Taylor temperature drops around water. Halloween. If you choose to work with a sixOf course, if this all sounds like too much pack of four-inch plants, September is the work, or if you’d like a rest for the fall, you best time to get plants in the ground, giving can always sow a green manure or cover them time to mature before crop and let your garden tend the cold nights set in. itself until spring. The best vegetables for a Preparing the soil will be Want to learn more about fall garden include: easy if you’ve been tending fall vegetable gardens? Join • Beets a vegetable garden and have us at Fall Fest on Oct. 14 from • Bok Choy kept up with the weeding, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Reata Park • Broccoli removal of diseased or spent and Event Center in San Juan • Bush beans plants, and didn’t walk on Capistrano. General admis• Cabbage the soil. All you will need to sion is $5, and children under • Carrots do is clear the beds from the 5 get in free. The event will • Cauliflower old plantings, aerate the soil, include guest speakers, ex• Kale add some compost on top, hibitors, activities for children, • Lettuce and begin planting. bluegrass music, food trucks, • Peas Alternatively, say the craft beer and wine. Proceeds • Radishes summer got away from from the event benefit Goin • Spinach you and your vegetable Native Therapeutic Gardens’ • Swiss Chard garden is a mess. Don’t educational programs. For • Turnips/Rutabagas worry—the same easy steps more information, visit www. apply: weed, remove dead goinnative.net. and diseased plants, remove fallen fruit or Marianne Taylor, of San Juan Capistrano, vegetables, loosen the soil, add compost is the founder and executive director of Goin and plant. Native Therapeutic Gardens, a 501(c)(3) Prepping the fall garden: teaching gardening and life skills as a way 1. Weed: Remove the plants that have of empowering, engaging and connecting taken over the garden or that are no longer people. Goin Native focuses on educating producing. You may keep tomatoes plants local families, special needs adults, seniors, and herbs. at-risk youth and members of the military. SC 2. Remove diseased plants, spent plants PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide vaand fallen fruits: These plants harbor pests riety of opinions from our community, the SC Times provides Guest that will feed on your new plants. Only keep Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those plants that are healthy and still producing. of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the SC Times or 3. Freshen the soil: Remove the top Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com layer of mulch and set aside. If it’s in good
Page 28
www.sanclementetimes.com
New Business
Sejal Pietrzak is the new CEO of DealerSocket in San Clemente. Photo: Courtesy
GUEST OPINION: Dirt Therapy by Marianne Taylor
SC LIVING
Although the brews were for the adults, it was the children enjoying most of the barks at the Barks and Brews celebration at the Outlets at San Clemente on Aug. 26, which was also National Dog Day.
Bow Wow, Wow Barks and Brews raises more than $8,000 for Pet Project Foundation PHOTOS AND TEXT BY ERIC HEINZ, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
P
ups were dressed in silly costumes, some resembled humans with mini shirts and hats, and a few wore signs with political statements, but all that mattered to the children in attendance were the dogs. Organizers of the second annual Barks and Brews event said more than 1,500 people and their pets celebrated National Dog Day on Aug. 26 at the Outlets at San Clemente, which helped raise more than
$8,000 for Pet Project Foundation, the nonprofit that rescues cats and dogs. Beer from Artifex Brewery, Left Coast Brewing Company, Lost Winds Brewing Company, Pizza Port and Towne Park Brew Co. was available for purchase as well as handcrafted cocktails featuring Dulce Vida Organic Tequila and Tito’s Vodka. There was also live entertainment, food from Kala Food Truck, a doggy costume contest with prizes, photo booths, free treats and dog-friendly vendors. “All proceeds from the event directly benefit Pet Project Foundation, which helps support the local San Clemente/ Dana Point animal shelter,” according to a press release from the Outlets. “Pet Project Foundation provides significant financial support to the shelter, and donates more than 25,000 hours of volunteer time each year.” SC
Sudoku BY MYLES MELLOR
Each Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9x9 grid that has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3x3 squares. To solve the puzzle, each row, column and box must contain each of the numbers 1 to 9. Puzzles come in three grades: easy, medium and difficult. Level: Medium Last week’s solution:
See the solution in next week’s issue.
www.sanclementetimes.com
SC SPORTS & OUTDOORS San Clemente
STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE
The Golfer’s Journal Riding Wave of Momentum Local publishers unveil anticipated golf quarterly BY STEVE BREAZEALE, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
A
sleek industrial business park located in the foothills of a small-town beach community is an unassuming spot for a media revolution to take root. Inside one of those buildings is a warehouse bustling with activity. Employees are busy hand-packaging the first edition of The Golfer’s Journal, which is in the process of being shipped across the country and worldwide from the brand’s San Clemente headquarters. The Golfer’s Journal, the younger sibling of the popular subscriber-funded The Surfer’s Journal, seems to run contrary to how the game has been covered and written about in recent years. In an age where longform editorials and modes of storytelling are being pushed aside in favor of quick-hit digital efforts, The Golfer’s Journal decided to play through. Readers won’t find swing tips, a top-100 course list or a breakdown of the PGA Tour’s confounding FedEx Cup Points standings inside this book. Instead, the first issue of The Golfer’s Journal has a
Brendon Thomas thought of the idea to publish The Golfer’s Journal after seeing a void in the media space. Photo: Josh Hubberman
pages-long story about a golf journey in Tijuana, a dispatch from the funeral of one of the game’s most lovable caddies and plenty of high-quality photos from renowned photographers that have decades of experience shooting the sport. The best way to describe the large, glossy quarterly is that it showcases the spirit of the game. San Clemente Times visited TGJ’s
Brendon Thomas (second from left) along with employees package the first edition of The Golfer’s Journal in the company’s San Clemente warehouse facility. Photo: Steve Breazeale
Surfing Heritage & Culture Center to Hold Golf Surfari SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
T
he legends will be out in full force at the Surfing Heritage & Culture Center’s (SHACC) first annual Golf Surfari fundraising tournament at San Juan Hills Golf Club on Sept. 18. SHACC is hosting the 18-hole scramble tournament, which will feature surf celebrities and special giveaways. Celebrities scheduled to play include Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew, Robert Wingnut Weaver, Pat O’Connell, Paul Strauch,
San Clemente Times August 31-September 6, 2017
Gregory Harrison, Steve Walden, Jeff Clark and Dana Brown. A handful of legendary shapers are creating one-of-a-kind putters for the event, which will be auctioned off following dinner. Registration for a foursome is $750 and individual registration is $195. For more information and to register, visit www.surfingheritage.ticketspice.com/ shaccs-first-annual-golf-surfari, or call 949.388.0313 ext. 0. SC
headquarters to speak with publisher Brendon Thomas, who came up with the idea for the magazine just over a year ago and also publishes The Surfer’s Journal, to find out how the book came to life, why he decided to go all-in on print and what to expect from the industry’s new kid on the block. The product certainly has a different feel and vibe to it. What is TGJ’s philosophy in terms of editorial? Brendon Thomas: There’s more to golf than press conferences and swing tips and the formulaic editorial that’s so prevalent in all magazines, but especially in the golf space. It is all very equipment and gameimprovement focused and pro golf focused. The Surfer’s Journal made its name talking about the culture, what make makes surfing great. So we’re doing the same thing with golf. We’ll talk about the people, places, culture and art that golf inspires. We’re still finding our groove if I’m being honest. There are some pieces in the first issue that hit all the right notes for us, but we want to tell stories. We’re not going to be making lists of the 25 best golf courses you need to see or play. Why do you feel this style is the best way to showcase golf? BT: For instance, in the first edition, we focused on a golf course called Ballyneal in Colorado. The piece came from the point of view of someone who attended the course’s first-ever caddy’s funeral. The caddy was a real character, he would make custom hand-drawn yardage books, and it focused on his life and impact at the course. That was such a deep, better, more interesting way to talk about a golf course than simply visiting it and reporting back on what it was like to play there. Why invest so heavily in this style of storytelling in a time where the industry seems to be heading the other way? BT: Coming from the outside, it seemed pretty obvious. There’s a chasm between Page 30
what most average golfers are doing and what’s being pushed out through regular media channels. And you see it in the growth of (golf blogs) like No Laying Up and The Fried Egg. Their rise and following is proof that people want independent content and they don’t want a bunch of ads being shoved down their throats all the time. That’s what I told (TSJ founders Steve and Debbee Pezman) when I pitched it to them. I had to keep pinching myself thinking, ‘Why hasn’t it been done?’. How important was The Surfer’s Journal model in terms of getting TGJ up and running? BT: We had the benefit of a working, proven model, which has been going for 26 years. That publication is doing so well and is growing every single month. It’s going from strength-to-strength in a time where print is supposedly in decline. I think the Pezmans had a vision 26 years ago and the proof is in the pudding. There is this model where it’s limited advertising and you’re making a really quality product that people love. You can touch and feel it and it will sit on a coffee table for months and never get thrown away. People like nice things and you can’t get that sort of editorial anywhere else, that sort of longform deep dive into a subject. You recently shipped out your first batch of issues. What’s the response been like? BT: This whole community is taking shape around this thing, which is awesome. The reader’s response has just blown us away and it was way more than we expected. Did that make you feel vindicated about the original concept of TGJ? BT: Yeah, totally. There’s a part of you that’s a little bit of hubris where you think ‘This is going to work’. But there’s always that doubt. Seeing the orders flooding in certainly helped in my belief that this is something the market has been looking for for a long time. SCwww.sanclementetimes.com
SPORTS & OUTDOORS
Triton Report BY STEVE BREAZEALE, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
For in-game updates, scores, news and more for all of the Triton programs throughout the playoffs, follow us on Twitter @ SouthOCsports.
Football Beats Oceanside, Eyes Oilers The San Clemente High School football team got a nice road win to start its season on Aug. 25. The Tritons (1-0) travelled to Oceanside and came away with a 28-18 nonleague victory. San Clemente got solid performances from veterans like senior running back Austin Whitsett, who rushed for 66 yards and two touchdowns, and senior safety Jack Shippy, who had two interceptions. Junior quarterback Brendan Costello made his debut for the Tritons and performed well. The transfer from Santa Margarita completed 10 of 19 passes for 88 yards and a touchdown, which was caught by senior receiver Keith Jones. The Tritons held a 14-6 lead at the half and the defense had to adjust to Oceanside’s switch to a wildcat offense midway through the game. But the adjustments were made and San Clemente cruised to a season-opening win. San Clemente will host Huntington Beach (0-1) on Friday, Sept. 1. The Oilers lost last week, 30-27, on a
Safety Jack Shippy had two interceptions in San Clemente’s 28-18 win over Oceanside on Aug. 25. Photo: Steve Breazeale
last-minute field goal made by Canyon High’s kicker. Huntington Beach is expected to start freshman quarterback Jacob Hanlon, who threw for 200 yards and two touchdowns in his debut against Canyon. The freshman also coughed up five interceptions, four of which came in the second half. A key matchup to watch will be Hanlon and his receivers versus the veteran San Clemente secondary, which features Shippy, Bryce Wilson and Branden Wilson.
Girls Golf Doubles up Wolverines The Triton girls golf squad is already posting numbers in the 190’s, which is an encouraging sign for the veteran group that returns nine players from last year’s team. San Clemente (2-0) started its season with consecutive nonleague wins over Aliso Niguel on Aug. 22. In the second match, the Tritons and Wolverines tied 197-197, but San Clemente won on a sixthplayer card-off. Olivia French was the match medalist. SC
Hundreds Attend Fourth Annual Like Nick 5K
Mel Pasquale and participants in this year’s LiveLikeNick5K pose for a photo. Photo: Courtesy SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
M
ore than 500 people attended the fourth annual LiveLikeNick 5K at San Clemente High School on Aug. 27. The event, which honors the life and legacy of Nick Pasquale, raised funds for the charitable organization in his name, the Page 31
Nick Pasquale Foundation. Pasquale was a former SCHS football standout that also played at UCLA. The Nick Pasquale Foundation will use the funds raised at the event to fund scholarships for SCHS student-athletes. Donations will also be made to Triton Football Pop Warner and Cheer. SC www.sanclementetimes.com
Locals Only
BUSINESS DIRECTORY LIST LOCALS ONLY USE LOCALS ONLY - In print and online 52 weeks a year. View online at www.sanclementetimes.com. Call at Debra Wells for pricing at 949.589.0892 or email dwells@picketfencemedia.com.
ADDICTION RECOVERY TREATMENT
Body Mind Spirit Intensive Outpatient Program
665 Camino De Los Mares, Ste. 104, 949.485.4979, www.bodymindspiritiop.com
AIR CONDITIONING/HEATING
Solstice Heating and Air
2208 El Camino Real, Ste. #1, 949.573.3607, www.solsticehvac.com
APPLIANCES
South Coast Furniture & Mattress
109 Calle de los Molinos, 949.492.5589, www.southcoastfurniture.com
ART GALLERIES
San Clemente Art Association 100 N. Calle Seville, 949.492.7175, www.scartgallery.com
CHIROPRACTIC
Spinal Vitality Integrative Chiropractic
647 Camino de los Mares, Suite 220, 949.616.5470, www.spinalvitality.com
CHOCOLATE/CANDY
Schmid’s Fine Chocolate
99 Avenida Del Mar, 949.369.1052, www.schmidschocolate.com
CONCRETE
Costa Verde Landscape
Lic.: 744797 (C-8 & C-27) 949.361.9656, www.costaverdelandscaping.com
Exquisite Epoxy Concrete Floor Coatings
Lic.: 1020002, 949.632.8400 exquisiteepoxy.com
DENTISTS
Eric Johnson, D.D.S.
647 Camino de los Mares, Ste. 209, 949.493.9311, www.drericjohnson.com
Shoreline Dental Studio Kristen Ritzau, DDS
122 Avenida Cabrillo, 949.245.6046, www.shorelinedentalstudio.com
EDIBLE LANDSCAPING
Organics Out Back
949.354.2258, www.organicsoutback.com
EDITING SERVICES
Perfectly Clear Editing Services
Judi Heidel: 949.281.6364 www.perfectlycleareditingservices.com
ELECTRICAL
Arcadia Electric
949.361.1045, www.arcadiaelectric.com
FURNITURE
South Coast Furniture & Mattress
109 Calle de los Molinos, 949.492.5589, www.southcoastfurniture.com
HOME DÉCOR
South Coast Furniture & Mattress
109 Calle de los Molinos, 949.492.5589, www.southcoastfurniture.com
HOME REPAIRS/IMPROVEMENT
Capistrano Valley Raingutters Scott Williams, 949.542.7750
JEWELRY
Paradise Jewelers
166 Avenida Del Mar, 949.361.6661, www.paradisejewelers.com
LANDSCAPING
Costa Verde Landscape
Lic.: 744797 (C-8 & C-27) 949.361.9656, www.costaverdelandscaping.com
MATTRESSES
South Coast Furniture & Mattress
109 Calle de los Molinos, 949.492.5589, www.southcoastfurniture.com
MORTGAGES
Brian Wiechman, Equity Coast Mortgage A division of Pinnacle Capital Mortgage
Salon Bleu
PERIODONTICS & DENTAL IMPLANTS
207 S. El Camino Real, 949.366.2060, www.scsalonbleu.com
Syrens Hair Parlor
Dr. Alice P. Moran, DMD
1001 Avenida Pico, Ste. K, 949.361.4867 (GUMS), www.moranperio.com
217 Avenida Del Mar, Ste. E, 949.361.9006, www.syrens.com
SECONDHAND/ CONSIGNMENT SHOPS
PLUMBING
A to Z Leak Detection
South Coast Furniture & Mattress
1001 Calle Recodo, 949.481.7013, www.atozleakdetection.com
109 Calle de los Molinos, 949.492.5589, www.southcoastfurniture.com
Bill Metzger Plumbing
1001 Calle Recodo, 949.492.3558, www.billmetzerplumbing.com
SWIMMING SCHOOL
Karl Aiken Plumbing-Rooter
Waterbabies Swim School
San Clemente, 949.366.8302
142 Avenida Granada, 949.488.2512, www.waterbabiesswimschool.com
POOL SERVICE, REPAIR, REMODEL
TERMITES
Radiant Pool & Spa Service
Colony Termite Control
Lic # 985800, 949.290.5616, www.radiantpoolservice.com
1402 Calle Alcazar, 949.361.2500, www.colonytermite.com
REALTORS
WEBSITE DESIGN
Sherry Wild, LuXre Realty
San Clemente Website Design
BRE # 01480453, 949.275.8937 www.LuXreRealty.com
949.246.8345, www.sanclementewebsitedesign.com
RESTAURANTS
WINDOW & DOOR REPLACEMENT
Café Calypso
114 Avenida Del Mar #4, 949.366.9386
Offshore Construction
877.774.1492, www.offshoreconstruction.org
SALONS
Salon Bamboo
150 Avenida Del Mar, Ste. A, 949.361.3348, www.salonbamboo.com
MUSIC LESSONS
Danman’s Music School
949.496.6556, www.danmans.com
OFFICE FURNITURE
South Coast Furniture & Mattress
109 Calle de los Molinos, 949.492.5589, www.southcoastfurniture.com
PET SERVICES/HOUSE SITTING
2-dogswalking.com
Ricky, 949.973.4128 Pet care –Insured & Bonded
FOR SALE DRONE FOR SALE DJI Phantom 3 Advanced For Sale By Owner. Asking Price $1,000. Items included: DJI Phantom Advanced 3 Drone, DJI Controller, Polar Pro Controller Anti-Sun Shade, DJI Charger, 5 DJI Batteries!!! LoweProDrone Bag/Backpack Multiple Sets of DJI Propellers Please call (949)350-1312 CUSTOM AREA RUGS You pick style, color and size. Typically made in 2 weeks. Stainmaster nylon, wool, polyester or designer carpet. Carpet showroom in Lantern District of Dana Point. Carpet and flooring remnants also available - all shapes, sizes and kinds of flooring. We sell tile too! Mike 949-240-1545. GARAGE SALE LISTINGS ARE FREE! Email your listing to info@sanclementetimes.com. Deadline 5pm Monday. No phone calls.
HELP WANTED COOK TRAINEES NEEDED No exp. needed – will train. All shifts available. Apply within: Hennessey’s – 31761 Camino Capistrano, SJC. Hennessey’s Tavern – 34111 La Plaza, Dana Point.
STAMPS! Buying Large U.S and Worldwide Postage Stamp Collections. Call Nick at 619-672-0434
MOTORCYLE PARTS & SERVICE 520 S. El Camino Real, 949.388.0521, www.scridersupply.com
Submit your classified ad at www.sanclementetimes.com
WANTED
949.533.9209, www.equitycoastmortgage.com
SC Rider Supply
CLASSIFIEDS
LIST
USE
LOCALS ONLY
LOCALS ONLY
In print and online 52 weeks a year. View online at www.sanclementetimes.com. Contact Debra Wells for pricing at 949.388.7700, ext. 104 or dwells@picketfencemedia.com OBITUARY
Puckett, Carol Lynne March 28, 1939 – August 21, 2017
Carol L. Puckett (née Duke) passed peacefully into God’s care from the comfort of her home on August 21, 2017. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, Christian and friend to many. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lee Orien Puckett, Jr., and survived by her two sons; David and Ron, as well as her daughter-in-law Lisa, and her beloved brother; Wayne Duke of Kurthwood, Louisiana. Private services to be scheduled at Riverside National Cemetery.
Do you want to reach 42,000 people in the San Clemente area? *2.1 readership per 20,000 copies distributed
Then you need to be in the San Clemente Times. Call us today!
949.388.7700 ext. 111
SC n te S a n C le m e
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE
PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE
Call 949.388.7700, ext. 111 or email slantz@picketfencemedia.com
Call 949.388.7700, ext. 111 or email slantz@sanclementetimes.com
PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE Call 949.388.7700, ext. 111 or email slantz@picketfencemedia.com
San Clemente Times August 31–September 6, 2017
Page 33
www.sanclementetimes.com
SC San Clemente
SC SURF
SC SURF IS PRESENTED BY:
SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY
Surfboards for South Africa
Positive Vibe Warriors team up with Surfers Not Street Children and Waves for Change to bring surfboards to South Africa BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
I
For Lovers and Surfers Virginia Beach welcomes local surfers with open arms for the Vans Pro BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
A
ll those small days at T Street are paying off for San Clemente’s world tour hopefuls. Hunkered down back in Virginia Beach for the Vans Pro for the last week, what the contest lacked in pumping surf it more than made up for with local success. Taking the win was Hawaii’s Keanu Asing. Utilizing San Clemente as a home base during the WSL season, it was his third victory this year and gets him back into the QS’s Top 10. “The stars just aligned in that final after getting through some tough heats today, and I just found my rhythm, so I couldn’t be happier,” Asing said afterward. Facing Pat Gudauskas, Evan Geiselman and recent U.S. Open champion Kanoa Igarashi in the final, Asing put the pieces together to come away atop the podium.
GROM OF THE WEEK
KADE MATSON BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
B
ecause we can’t help but add a little fuel to the fire of brotherly rivalries, this week’s Grom of the Week nod goes to Kade Matson. Last week his brother, Dane, stole the show with a blistering, four-win NSSA performance in Huntington Beach, which earned him Grom of the Week honors. Well, last week Kade stepped up his game and made the quarterfinals of the main event at the Vans Pro in Virginia Beach.
San Clemente Times August 31–September 6, 2017
Photo: Courtesy
“(They are) three ex-champions for a reason, so I took them very seriously,” continued Asing. “I have the utmost respect for them, and you can never take your opponents lightly. This is my job day-to-day and I take this very seriously, and I’m here to win.” For local boy Gudauskas, this was his third Vans Pro Final. He won the contest in 2013 and finished in third place last year. Earning a perfect 10-score in the semifinals, he appeared to be the man to beat but couldn’t put all the pieces together in the final. “It’s always a challenge here, and I feel like this year the field was the best it’s been all the years I’ve been here,” Gudauskas said. “Making it to the finals was great and I really wanted to win that one, but I feel good with second and getting some good points.” Other San Clemente surfers that made their presence felt included Griffin Colapinto, who made the semifinals, and Tanner Gudauskas and Kade Matson, who made the quarters. Up next for the WSL QS warriors is the all-important European leg. Colapinto’s sitting in fifth, Pat Gudauskas in ninth. If they can put a solid back half of the season together they could very well graduate to the Dream Tour in 2018. SC
Surfing against event winner Keanu Asing, pro junior winner Mateus Herdy, as well as some of the most determined talent on the WSL scene, the contest was one of Matson’s first tests on the Qualfying Series level. It proved to be both a positive experience with a great result to boot. “Super stoked to make a few heats and get into the quarters,” said Kade during the contest. In addition to his recent contest accomplishments, Kade’s been busy spending a lot of time working and filming with his sponsor, Quiksilver. Fresh off a trip to Sumatra with the company’s Young Guns—a collection of some of the brightest young surfers from around the world—Matson’s passion and talent appears to have gone next level. SC
f you’ve spent some years living and surfing around San Clemente and Dana Point, chances are you have an old surfboard stashed in the back of the garage that you haven’t ridden for a while. And chances are you aren’t sure how to get rid of it. Well, that’s where the Positive Vibe Warriors’ South Africa surfboard drive comes in. Last year, the Positive Vibe Warriors—founded by Dane, Pat and Tanner Gudauskas—ran their first surfboard drive to benefit the surf community in Jamaica. They set up surfboard collection centers at surf shops around the U.S. By the time they were done, they’d collected over 300 surfboards to bring to the Caribbean. “The response was crazy, it wasn’t anything like what we anticipated,” Tanner said. “We had to pack a whole container with boards.” This year, they have their sights set on South Africa. Partnering up with Wave for Change and Surfers Not Street Children, two non-governmental organizations in South Africa helping to give youth a brighter future, the concept coalesced when the Gudauskas brothers were recently in the country at a World Surf League QS contest. “In Jamaica, we were working with kids who were psyched on surfing but had a real problem getting equipment,” Tanner said. “But South Africa is different. There
are so many homeless kids there, and life for them can be so tough, but to be able to help share the stoke of surfing, I mean, hopefully it provides some hope and something positivity. “Surfing is proof that it doesn’t matter what color your skin is, or where you come from, or what language you speak. It cuts through all of that, and to be able to potentially help these kids get in the water and have that hope and stoke that surfing provides, we’re humbled.” From Sept. 1-30, residents can donate any surfboard, soft board and boogie board that is water-tight (no stand-up paddle boards and windsurf boards due to size constraints) and the Gudauskas brothers will deliver them on their next mission to South Africa. Below is a list of surf shops serving as donation centers: Jack’s Surfboards 101 Main Street Huntington Beach, CA 92648 The Surfer’s Outlet by Jack’s Surfboards 176 Avenida Del Mar San Clemente, CA 92672 Surf Ride Boardshop 325 N Highway 101 Solana Beach, CA 92075 Proof Lab Surf Shop 254 Shoreline Hwy Mill Valley, CA 94941
SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 65-69 degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: San Clemente: 5-7’ Poor-Fair; Catalina: 15’ Fair Thursday: S/SSE swell fades. Minor NW swell mixes in. Surf is mostly knee-waist-chest high (2-3’+) with occasional shoulder high (4’) sets at standouts. Light/variable winds early. Winds trend onshore through the morning, a light to moderate Westerly sea-breeze rising up in the afternoon. Overcast early, then clearing. Outlook: Smaller but still fun size S Hemi swell mix on tap for the upcoming weekend. Light morning winds continue with onshore flow building to moderate levels each afternoon. Be sure to check the full premium forecast on Surfline for more details and the longer range outlook. Kade Matson. Photo: Courtesy
Page 34
www.sanclementetimes.com