Matt’s Musings: Beaker’s about the big picture

Bill “Beaker” Bryan was completely in his element Sunday night.

The skimboarding legend from Laguna Beach stood in the packed room at Seven Degrees, a smile on his face and a drink in his hand, watching the premiere of the skimming movie “Up in Stoke.”

Bryan and his brother George “” under the name “10th Street Bros.” “” made the movie. And, as it played on the various screens at the after-party for the 33rd annual Victoria Skimboards World Championship of Skimboarding, Bryan didn’t stop smiling.

Bryan, 36, has won “The Vic” 14 times. This year, he again made it to the pro division final but finished fourth competing against three other guys from Laguna, although he wasn’t too disappointed in what he said were poor wave conditions.

All three of Bryan’s competitors in the pro final were more than a decade younger. Winner Brandon Sears is 25, Paulo Prietto is 24 and Sam Stinnett is just 16. Stinnett wasn’t born yet when Bryan started his remarkable run at The Vic by winning it in 1991.

The competitor in Bryan might have been upset at the fourth-place finish, but he was all smiles.

“For Brandon Sears, that was a life’s work,” Bryan explained. “He’s been skimming with me, against me since he was 8 years old. And he finally beats his idol, and I’m totally cool with it, because he’s totally respectful and he’s such an awesome individual. I couldn’t be happier. If the waves were better, I might have been [upset], but since it wasn’t, I can let go of it.

“Him being a friend of mine makes it cooler. I have trophies in my backyard, and he doesn’t have one yet. To me, it’s a win-win.”

Bryan isn’t quite in full-time ambassador mode yet. He’s not the former star who still shows occasional glimpses of greatness, like Michael Jordan near the end in the Wizards uniform. This is still the man who finished first on the United Skim Tour last season.

But now, Bryan is all about advancing the sport.

“We’re just all happy to have an excuse to get together,” he said. “It’s really more of a meeting of the minds. It’s an annual reunion for a whole class of people. It’s our Olympics, you know, and this group of people, we have a lot in common. We love getting together, and that supersedes the results.”

Nobody would question Bryan’s love of the sport, one that he said is only bettered by his love of his family.

That’s why he was down in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico earlier this year, putting together a last-minute skimming event after the UST canceled its official event due to health concerns stemming from the swine flu.

And that’s why Bryan was so energized in the pro final Sunday at Aliso Beach, raising his arms to get the crowd hyped up after riding his first wave.

Plus, there was “Up in Stoke,” which got a very positive reception.

“We get to do this for a living,” Bryan said. “At least on this weekend, it’s a full-time job. The rest of the year, it may be considered that, or I may be considered a slacker. But at least this weekend with the movie premiere and seeing all these kids who I gave them their first board or a lesson, and now they’re able to take me out with class and with style? I couldn’t ask for anything more, except for the waves next year.

“In that case, you could see me a little bit further up, back where I used to be. You never know.”

Nobody should doubt it.

MATT SZABO may be reached at (714) 966-4614 or at [email protected].