Exploring the world

Bryce Alderton

Erica Hosseini isn’t too worried that she hadn’t surfed much the past

two weeks heading into this weekend’s inaugural Hello Kitty Boardfest

in Huntington Beach, the second to last World Qualifying Series event

for the world’s top women and male surfers.

The 17-year-old Newport Harbor High senior still had two days to

get ready for today’s opening heats off the Huntington Beach Pier.

“I will just surf as much as I can and hope the waves are good,”

Hosseini said Wednesday upon returning to Newport Beach after

spending 10 days in Europe posing for photo shoots for a shoe and

clothing company catalog.

Hosseini begins competition in the first heat of the women’s

division round of 48, which begins at 8 a.m. today.

The schedule fills up fast for Hosseini these days. In the past

year she’s competed in France and Australia and, in December, will

represent the United States team in the world junior championships in

Tahiti. Since January, Hosseini said she has competed in at least 30

surfing events.

All in addition to competing for Newport Harbor’s surf, team which

began its season 1 1/2 weeks ago.

“I haven’t traveled this much ever,” said Hosseini, ranked 33rd in

the WQS series, one circuit below the World Championship Tour.

She has slowly started breaking away from amateur status, heading

toward the professional ranks.

Hosseini said she isn’t competing in National Scholastic Surfing

Association amateur events that began its latest season last month,

opting instead to focus on the WQS series, where she has earned

$1,900 this year.

Hosseini joins a field of 64 in the women’s pro division, which

include South Africa’s Heather Clark and Australia’s Serena Brooke,

along with Holly Beck, who will all vie for the $20,000 in prizes and

ranking points. Clark and Brooke are ranked fourth and fifth,

respectively, in the WQS standings.

The competition concludes Sunday, beginning with the short board

round of 32 through the final.

Hosseini, who surfs primarily at 54th Street in Newport Beach when

she is home, hopes to earn enough points so she can start next year’s

events among the top 48 instead of the first 64 as is the case this

year.

She will return to a familiar spot at Huntington, where she

reached the round of 32 the past two year’ at the U.S. Open of

surfing.

Hosseini said surfing Huntington will help her ease back into

competition mode, but she knows her opponents will be equally ready.

“Everyone knows how to surf Huntington Beach,” Hosseini said.

Traveling has helped Hosseini familiarize herself with different

wave formations.

“You get to know the different breaks and what boards to bring,”

Hosseini said.

It all comes naturally.