Another chance for the big dance

Mike Sciacca

Ryan Simmons is ready for the big time, all he needs is a chance.

He’ll get that chance this weekend at the U.S. Open of Surfing.

Simmons is seeking to land a spot on the World Championship Tour. He

came oh-so-close to qualifying for his dream a year ago, when he finished

17th overall in the World Qualifying Series, four spots short of making

the big show.

There are 45 men on the WCT, which consists of 10 big events

throughout the competition season. Fifteen new surfers qualify every year

and Simmons, currently rated No. 1 on the U.S. Tour of the Professional

Surfing Tour of America, is focused on being one of those select few.

Currently, he’s in his seventh year on the WQS.

But the World Championship Tour is the creme de la creme of the

surfing world. The WCT is to surfing what the PGA is to golf or the NBA

is to basketball.

“It’s definitely the upper echelon,” Simmons said. “The WCT is where a

surfer wants to be. This is a lifelong goal for me, and it was really

tough to come so close to qualifying last year, and not making it. But I

look at it as a learning experience. Everything, I believe, happens for a

reason. I know I’m getting better and physically stronger since last

year, and I really feel that I’ll hit my peak within the next couple of

years.”

Simmons, 27, wouldn’t mind beginning that ride with the U.S. Open of

Surfing.

He will compete in some 20-odd events during the season, looking for

his best eight results that will give him a point total large enough to

make the WCT. This year he figures he’ll need roughly 7,800 points to

qualify due the number of big surf events this season.

He already has one “keeper” under his belt.

“If I make the quarterfinals or finals at the U.S. Open, I’d be pretty

happy. But I definitely want to win this thing. A win is worth 2,500

points. I just want to do it because I’m a local guy in the competition.”

said Simmons, who has had one semifinal and two quarterfinal appearances

in the last five years of the event. “I think of the U.S. Open in terms

of being the biggest surfing show for American audiences. When you do

really well in this event, especially since it’s in your own backyard,

you feel pretty great. I’m looking to give another good show.”

Simmons has traveled pretty much all over the world. If there’s a

coast to surf, he’s been there. Yet, even though he’s considered one of

the top surfers in America, Simmons doesn’t receive much exposure.

He’s not all over the magazines, like some who are featured on a

regular basis, and he doesn’t have a main clothing sponsor. He considers

himself an “underground” surfer, whose style is all about “smooth, rail

and power.”

Still, Simmons isn’t complaining. Instead, he just goes out and

competes on the WQS -- and continues to do it well.

He comes into the U.S. Open having won a recent competition in San

Clemente.

“I’m really looking forward to the U.S. Open,” added Simmons, who gave

up all other sports as a teen to concentrate on surfing. “I came really

close to qualifying for the WCT last year, and I hope to get there this

year. I’m giving it everything I’ve got.”