Bryan claims top spot at Pro-AM event

Laguna Beach’s Bill Bryan, competing for Victoria Skimboards, won the

coveted “World Title” by beating all competitors last weekend at the

Victoria Skimboards World Championship of Skimboarding at Aliso

Beach.

The event, celebrating its 28th year, is considered to be the

world championship of skimboarding.

This year’s tournament featured a three-day format for the first

time, and drew more than 170 competitors from throughout the U.S. and

the world.

Competition was held in pro and amateur divisions.

The 31-year-old Bryan mixed explosive old school power wraps with

new school aerials/switch stances to wow the crowd.

Bryan also threw a bit of comedy into his act by juggling rocks

while riding a wave.

Victoria Skimboards athletes dominated the top 10 places in the Pro Division.

Morgan Just (Victoria Skimboards) pulled a variety of aerial

grabs, 360 shuv-its, the ever challenging “Widdly” -- a maneuver

where the rider grabs the board with both hands, flips out the back

of the wave and lands on the board -- and even a kick-flip, which

brought the crowd to their feet.

Other riders like Mike Stanaland, Garth Wyckoff (Victoria

Skimboards), George “Geo” Bryan -- the brother of Bill Bryan -- Jaime

Kaya Lovett (Victoria Skimboards) and Koty Lopez threw aggressive

wraps, milked down the line barrel rides, exploded with 540 shuv-its

and crushed lips on front--side snaps.

Final professional results: 1. Bill Bryan, Victoria Skimboards; 2.

Morgan Just, Victoria Skimboards; 3. George Bryan; 4. Mike Stanaland;

5. Paulo Prietto; 6. Garth Wyckoff, Victoria Skimboards; 7. Jaime

Lovett, Victoria Skimboards; 8. Brandon Sears, Victoria Skimboards;

9. Koty Lopez; 10. Miles Grobman, Victoria Skimboards.

-- Mike Sciacca