USA Dominates World Team at X Games 13
Good-spirited heckling during competition never hurts, especially when rivals share beers and laughter afterwards. But when USA squared off against the World’s best, there was so much smack flying out of each dugout that even the announcers and judges had to dodge a few verbal darts.
"Phil Jackson picks and chooses when to get off the bench during NBA games. We don’t tell people how to act here," said event director Brad Gerlach. "None of these guys are going to talk smack on their own. By talking smack on a team, you’re showing an emotional response to the other team."
No one was more vocal than USA head coach Matt Kechele (aka Heckley), although World Coach Martin "Pottz" Potter certainly let his thoughts be known, too.
As both squads waxed up to take on the heaving Puerto barrels, the jabbering began even before the jerseys went on. "The USA wanted to wait another day to get their asses kicked by us. The waves are really good—it’s not like it’s raining and onshore," chirped Pottz in response to thoughts the waves might come up more on Friday.
No sooner had he said it, than Kechele walked up, looked him in the eye and said, "You guys are keen to run it today, right? Let’s do this."
Back at camp USA, Coach Kechele shed some light on what to expect, "We’ve got a solid lineup, but the conditions don’t favor anybody. They might favor us because of the Marzo factor, and all the freaky shit he can do … plus Wardo."
The World team won the coin toss and posted a decent first round score. But Pottz knew more was needed, "I’m quite happy with the 27, but it could be 30."
Despite a tactical error of not subbing-in Baron Knowlton’s monster barrel, the USA blazed through the bottom of the first without burning up any of their timeouts. The smack continued to flow as Kechele shouted, "Hey Pottz, we might just save all our timeouts for the last period." Kech then turned back and smirked, "Hopefully those guys realize we’re just warming up."
Period Two was the deciding heat. The wheels seemed to fall off for the World as broken boards and missed opportunities mounted. "It’s going to take a blinder of a next period to win this thing," said Pottz. "With the way the USA surfed in the first heat, it’s going to take some big scores."
Meanwhile, Team USA was just reaching their full stride. Shane Beschen was clocking multiple nine-point rides, Clay Marzo was sliding through hollow right-handers down the beach and Chris Ward earned a standing ovation when he made the unthinkable happen—the first perfect 10 in X Games history.
Even having surfed Puerto for 15 years, Wardo was on the beach at 4:30 in the morning, scoping the line-up and mentally preparing. "It was really quiet and I sat there for a while. I was kind of inside and had to paddle out for it. I swung around and was pretty committed. It was just heads down from there on out," said Ward after the wave of the day, a solid 8-foot spitting, breathing beast of a barrel."I had my arms so wide in that thing."
The USA’s stellar second period proved to be the highest point total in Game history—35 of a possible 40 points. Afterward, Coach Kechele simply smiled and said, "That was really fun to watch. Last year I had a nightmare coaching and, so far, this year has been a pleasure."
It would have taken a miracle for the World to recover from their growing deficit, but they put it all on the line and kept it close down to the wire. The top of the third period saw sub Jay Quinn bag a 9.5, Mick Campbell weave through a 9.75 on his backhand, and Julian Wilson’s deep pit score of 8.75. In need of another big score, Mar Ohno threw himself over a giant ledge and caught the lip on the head, busting his board along with the World’s chances at gold.
A somber Coach Pottz shook his head, "The boys stepped up but Team USA only needs 14 points to win. We needed one more really good score. It’s a done deal."
And done it was after 17-year-old Clay Marzo, the youngest male competitor, snagged yet another long right to put the USA on top of the small remaining point spread. Though he sensed it the entire time, Coach Kechele still smiled like a proud papa as he gathered his team, "Yeah, boys. Poolside! Poolside!" which is where the cold beers will meet the warm Mexican evening air to toast the victory.
NOTES: Perfect 10s: X Games MVP Chris Ward stayed in room #10 at the Hotel Ines, scored the first perfect 10 in X Games history, and took home 10 G’s for the USA’s win.
During Wednesday’s warm-up, Aussie Mick Campbell seemed a little lost until Coach Barton Lynch told him to just follow Puerto local David Rutherford around the line-up.
Usually a night owl, Chris Ward was on the sand at 4:30 am with all his boards after sleeping for 20 hours the day/night before.
Rob Machado and Shane Beschen have participated in every X Games surfing contest.
Puerto Escondido’s broken board count during three periods of The Game: 5
QUOTES: "He doesn’t know it, but that was probably one of the most historic moments in Clay’s life," said USA Coach Matt Kechele of Clay Marzo’s X Games performance.
"We’ve got to ride waves. First get a foundation and then get the 10," assistant USA coach, Mike Parsons, pre-game pep talk.
"Barely. Barely," Kechele screamed at the judges and the World dugout as Rizal Tanjung snuck through a smaller tube.
"Head dip! Head dip!" World coach Martin Potter screamed as USA’s Clay Marzo pulled into a backside tube with no hands.
"Get real! You’re tripping!" USA’s Shane Beschen shouted to the judges after Mick Campbell scored a 9.75 shortly after Chris Ward’s 10-pointer.
Team U.S.A.
| Team U.S.A. | Period 1 | Period 2 | Period 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shane Beschen | 8.0 | 9.0 | 1.5 |
| Rob Machado | 8.0 | 8.5 | 6.25 |
| Clay Marzo | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.0 |
| Peter Mendia (Bench) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Baron Knowlton (Bench) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Chris Ward | 8.5 | 10.0 | 0.0 |
| Total | 32 | 35 | 14.75 |
| Game Total | 81.75 |
Team World
| Team World | Period 1 | Period 2 | Period 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mick Campbell | 7.5 | 5.5 | 9.75 |
| David Rutherford | 4.5 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
| Mar Ohno (Bench) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.5 |
| Jay Quinn | 0.0 | 6.5 | 9.5 |
| Rizal Tanjung (Bench) | 5.5 | 7.5 | 1.5 |
| Julian Wilson | 9.5 | 5.0 | 8.75 |
| Total | 27 | 24.5 | 29.5 |
| Game Total | 81 |
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