Surf’s up, Game on

Surfing competitions are nothing new to the waters south of the Huntington Beach Pier.

But Friday’s meeting between Huntington Beach and Edison high schools wasn’t referred to as a surf competition: It was known as “The Game.”

The Oilers and Chargers, both familiar with the break at the pier, went head-to-head in the first showdown of the inaugural National Surf League High School Cup, and Huntington held on for a 61-59.5 victory.

Both teams had to maneuver through choppy, 2-to-3-foot surf and windy conditions during a contest modeled after an NFL or NBA game. The Game featured timeouts, substitutions, a referee, a head coach and two assistant coaches for both teams, in four quarters of action.

The starting lineups for both teams were introduced by prior to the start, a detail that both Huntington Coach Andy Verdone and Edison Coach Zoran Forgiarini described as fun.

“The Game went great and both schools are very excited to be a part of the inaugural event,” Verdone said. “Both teams had a great time, and I’m stoked the way it turned out. Edison really gave us a run.

“Being more involved as a coach, making substitutions, calling timeouts, made me feel like I was part of the game. I think that the more and more we get closer to the other CIF sports, the more and more the general public will understand surfing.”

Huntington, which owns the state mark for most wins in high school competitive surfing history, secured the win in the fourth quarter, thanks to team depth and the performance of Logan Strook, who was named MVP.

“The Game format was exciting for both sides even though on a day like this, only one team can win it,” Strook said. “The format really helped both teams become more of a team. We looked at it as a team effort, to put egos aside and surf for the benefit of each other.

“Being named MVP of The Game is exciting.”

Forgiarini’s Chargers pressured the Oilers throughout, and the standout surfing of Keetin Devine in the fourth quarter kept the Chargers close.

Devine recorded the highest score of the event and also won the Red Bull Most Radical Maneuver award.

The spirit of the fans who came out to support both teams was evident from the start. Several surfing pros were on hand, including Huntington Beach graduate Brett Simpson, who served as an assistant coach for the Oilers.

“We’re excited to have Edison go up against cross-town rival Huntington Beach High,” said National Surf League Commissioner Brad Gerlach. “This is kind of like opening day. The winner hopes to take home the high school cup trophy. It’s certain to be an exciting format.”

The High School Cup was created to showcase the best high school surfers from Orange and San Diego counties. A five-week season offers competition between prep powers Huntington, Edison, Newport Harbor, San Clemente, San Dieguito Academy, Carlsbad, Torrey Pines and Point Loma.

Huntington is seeded second and Edison third in Orange County, behind top-seeded San Clemente.

San Dieguito Academy is the No. 1 seed from San Diego County.

The aim of The Game format is to bring a better understanding of the sport of surfing, Gerlach said.

“With a clear winner and loser, team colors and a team to call your own, it is easy for fans to understand,” he said. “If an event is understandable, the ownership of your home team comes easy.

“Each of these communities have such heart for surfing, it’s incredible to see the support and the stoke.”

The High School Cup season continues over the course of the next month and will culminate with the winners from the Orange and San Diego regions battling for the High School Cup trophy on June 10 at the pier, prior to the start of the second Surfriders Foundation’s Celebrity Surf Jam.

“The kids are fired up to participate in The Game format,” Gerlach said. “After watching the pros compete in the California Cup and X Games the past three years, these high schools now have a chance to showcase their talents in a team format that makes perfect sense for high school surfing.”hbi.27-happs-2-CPhotoInfo5L1QAUDV20060427iyavqhnc(LA)Edison’s Paul Kahler throws some spray on a cut-back while competing in the first quarter of Friday afternoon’s competition. hbi.27-happs-1-CPhotoInfo5L1QAQM320060427iyavq0ncMARK DUSTIN / INDEPENDENT(LA)Huntington Beach’s Logan Strook carves up a wave while competing in the first quarter of Friday afternoon’s inaugural National Surf League High School Cup competition, in a format known as ‘The Game.’ Huntington Beach took on Edison in the opener just south of the Huntington Beach Pier. Huntington scored a 61-59.5 victory. hbi.27-happs-3-CPhotoInfo5L1QAQMB20060427iyavqxncNo Caption