Mike SwansonBasketball and surfing fans across the...

Mike Swanson

Basketball and surfing fans across the globe often hail basketball’s

Michael Jordan and surfing’s Kelly Slater -- each with six world

championships -- as the greatest of all time at their sports.

After narrowly skimming to victory over 19-year-old Brandon Sears

Saturday and Sunday at the 27th annual Victoria Pro/Am at Aliso

Beach, South Laguna resident Bill Bryan claimed his 10th world title,

strengthening his reputation as the greatest skimboarder ever.

“This was perfect,” the 30-year-old said. “I get my 10th title,

and my little protege, who pushes me every day to stay sharp and in

shape, is right next to me. He’ll win this soon, and I’ll be happy

when he does.”

Defending champion Mike Stanaland and last year’s third-place

finisher, George Bryan, Bill’s younger brother, were both out of the

competition with injuries. Bill Bryan and Sears finished second and

fourth, respectively, in 2002.

“This is the first time I’ve been in it without George, so Brandon

was sort of like my other little brother out there,” Bill Bryan said.

“I’m just so stoked for both of us. This is the biggest pot ever,

which is pretty good for me since this is how I make my living, and

Brandon’s never had more than 200 bucks in his life.”

Bill Bryan earned $3,550, Sears $2,200, and Eric Christensen took

a $1,300 check for third.

Sears also took the award for best maneuver with a front-side

big-spin air, a trick never before performed in competition.

“Me and my buddy tried it a bunch of times practicing for the

event, and I had to do a front-side as part of the requirements,”

Sears said. “Before I’d really decided to do it, I landed it and it

was done.”

Bill Bryan, also a former professional surfer, said his grasp of

the competition’s requirements probably kept him ahead of Sears this

year.

He added that he isn’t quite ready to pass the torch.

“I figure I have another 13 years,” Bill Bryan said, citing his

still-competitive, 40-plus mentor Chris Henderson as inspiration to

keep at it.

Sears said he’d never skimmed so well in his life, attributing his

peers’ high expectations to how well he performed.

“Everybody kept telling me I could win it this year, and it made

me want it pretty bad, but I still feel kind of lucky to have done so

good in a competition like this,” Sears said.

Sears is looking forward to facing his longtime teacher again next

year, his fourth year as a pro.

“Oh, he’s done,” Sears said.

Bill Bryan gave the waves an A-minus, adding that contest

organizers had the pros skim when the surf was best.

The amateur divisions saw several repeat winners, including Shonna

Cobb, who won her fifth straight women’s title. Skip and Tony Prietto

were back-to-back winners in the youngest and oldest divisions, with

Skip taking the under-8 title and Tony taking the over-40. Lagunans

again dominated the amateur and professional ranks while facing

competition from Mexico, Chile, Portugal and Japan.

Sam Stinnett repeated as the champion in the 9 to 11 division and

drew praise from the world champion.

“A lot of people were talking about Sammy,” Bill Bryan said. “I

heard more than one person say they were more impressed with him than

anybody.”

During a phone interview Tuesday, Bill Bryan said Stinnett was

skimming on a Slip and Slide in his front yard with a bunch of kids,

including Coby Bryan, Bill’s 3-year-old son, who took fourth in the

under-8 division. Bill Bryan, Sears and fifth-place Victoria Pro/Am

finisher Miles Grobman left for Florida later that night for a

combination skate/surf/skim competition, Sears’ first.

“What’s really kept my heart in skimming is the heart and the

culture,” Bill Bryan said. “Everybody’s so tight-knit around here and

stays focused on the kids. It works its way down from generation to

generation. Coby won’t listen to me if I try to show him something,

but he listens to everything Sammy [Stinnett] says.

“It’d be nice if more of us could make a living doing it,” he

said.

Other amateur winners at the 2003 Victoria Pro/Am

12-14: Tyler Stanaland

15-17: Kyle Thoresen

18-21: Drew Peace

22-24: Aaron Kreiss

25-29: John Collins

30-39: Larry Allen

Women 14 and younger: Kristina Graf