The San Diego Regional Championships, the eighth and final regional stop of the 2009 Red Bull Riders Cup season, took place this week.  Participating high schools included Carlsbad High School, Point Loma High, Torrey Pines High, and San Dieguito Academy.  This stop of the Red Bull Riders Cup, the nation’s premier high school surfing competition, saw a classic rivalry continue as the 2007 and 2008 national champions battled it out against each other.  This year it was to be San Dieguito Academy earning the bragging rights as they defeated last years champs Carlsbad. 

The eight team field that will battle it out in the Red Bull Riders Cup National Championship at Trestles on June 6-7 is now set. 

In cold, windy conditions and two to three foot waves, today’s games was going to come down to who got the ocean to cooperate and scored good waves.  It what was probably one of the biggest decisions of the game Carlsbad won the toss and sent San Dieguito into surf first.

San Dieguito started strong with their first big exchange of waves netting them a solid 20.5 points. When they made the decision to sub in Austin Rowe who nailed a 6 point ride and Derrick Disney closed the period out with a 7, they finished the period with a very strong 23 points.

In contrast Carlsbad got off to a slow start as the ocean was just not producing the waves they needed.  After some time outs and hard work, they managed to scratch their way to a competitive 20.5 to close out the period and keep it close.

San Dieguito managed to keep their nose in front with solid scores to JD Lewis and Derrick Disney, but with their other two riders only scoring 3.5’s they left the door open for a Carlsbad comeback.
Carlsbad tried everything in the bottom of the second period including using the rest of their timeouts to try and claw back the deficit.  They could only manage 18.5 points and were in a deep hole going into the last period.

San Dieguito only compounded the pressure in the final period by posting another high score and making the task for Carlsbad a very tough one.

Carlsbad needed nothing short of 7 point rides by all their surfers to win the game so coach instructions were to sit out the back on the reef and wait for big set waves.  Unfortunately the ocean did not cooperate and last years national champions were knocked out as San Dieguito Academy claimed victory.

Looking forward to next weeks final coach Oli said “Feeling really excited about the win today, I think we have a lot of positive momentum we can take forward with us into the final and hopefully regain our national title.”   

With two 7 point rides MVP honors went to JD Lewis “Psyched on how the team did… We have so much depth it’s ridiculous, the guys on the bench would have done the same thing”

With the eight teams now set, it’s on to the Red Bull Riders Cup National Championships on June 6-7 to see who will be crown 2009 Red Bull Riders Cup National Champion.

FINAL SCORES (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Photos

San Dieguito Academy will now battle Carlsbad High School in a rematch of last years epic regional final that ended in overtime with Carlsbad High taking the win and eventually the national title.

Game Time today is 5 PM to allow for the tide to push in for better quality of surf at Seaside Reef.

Semi-Final #2 Scores (click to enlarge)

Carlsbad will now surf in the regional championship on Thursday against the winner of Wednesday’s Game between San Dieguito Academy and Torrey Pines High School.

SCHEDULE AND MATCH-UPS

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Tuesday, May 26th – 4pm
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Carlsbad High School
DEF>
Point Loma High School

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Wednesday, May 27th – 4pm
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San Dieguito Academy
vs.
Torrey Pines High School

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Thursday, May 28th – 4pm
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FINAL

The Red Bull Riders Cup moves to Seaside Reef for the San Diego Regional Championship.  Teams will be competing for the 8th and final slot into the National Championships at Upper Trestles June 6/7.  Defending national champs Carlsbad High School will be back hungry to repeat, along with a host of determined schools looking to win their first title.

SCHEDULE AND MATCH-UPS

*****************************
Tuesday, May 26th – 4pm
*****************************
Carlsbad High School
vs.
Point Loma High School

*****************************
Wednesday, May 27th – 4pm
*****************************
San Dieguito Academy
vs.
Torrey Pines High School

*****************************
Thursday, May 28th – 4pm
*****************************
FINAL

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