By JULIE JAG
Sentinel staff writer
SANTA CRUZ ? Eric Thuygerson, a Santa Cruz kneeboarder who has grown to resemble his nickname "Caveman," broke into a big, almost toothless grin.
"Caveman stoked!" he said.
Caveman had good reason to be.
Thuygerson has a spot in Friday's fourth round of the Men's Open division of the World Kneeboarding Championships after winning his third-round heat Wednesday. The No. 11-ranked kneeboarder in the United States, Thuygerson earned the big win by beating out second-place finisher Bob Gove [ranked No. 14 in the U.S.] and Karl Ward [Britain's No. 2], who finished third.
Thuygerson, 48, was one of three local kneeboarders to move into the round of 32, and one of only two to make it outright.
Jon Manss took second in his heat to also advance directly. Scott Wessling took a more circuitous route. After placing third in his second-round heat, he took first in the third repechage Wednesday afternoon to qualify for Friday's fourth round.
The U.S.'s top three kneeboarders ? Jack Beresford, Barry Baker and Tom Linn, respectively ? also advanced. Other notables who moved on in the Men's Open were: Jose Maldonado [Puerto Rico's No. 1], Baden Smith [Australia's No. 1] and Gigs Cellars [South Africa's No. 1].
Contestants in the Seniors [ages 25-35] division also completed their first round Wednesday, with Ward, Armando Colucci of Venezuela and Gavin Coleman and Mark McLeod of Australia advancing.
Today's lineup includes mostly first- and second-round age-group heats, beginning with the Masters [ages 35-45] and Grandmasters [45-55]. Surfers still in the running for the Men's Open who also make it through those rounds by placing first or second may end up with wrinkled fingers and toes on Friday after pulling double duty.
Thuygerson, for one, hopes he's one of them. He has been relishing his time in the water at this contest because, he said, unlike in typical surfing contests, there are hardly any aggressive attitudes or jockeying for position in kneeboarding.
"Here, people will be saying, 'Take off on that wave,'" he said. "Competitors actually cheer for you"
They may be the only ones out cheering for the contestants today, when rain, sleet and record low temperatures are supposed to hit the coast.
But if Caveman can sustain the glow he radiated Wednesday, it just might be enough to keep all the competitors warm.
Contact Julie Jag at
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