I got the invite to the US championships 2 weeks prior to the event which would be held June 18-19 at HB.If u did well in that then June 21 i would be surfing Lowers for the 25 min Final.
I arrived fit and ready for the task ahead.Got up at 6am on the 18th and headed to HB for my 930 heat.I arrived to 3-5 ft clean peaks and was so amped to surf,went out for a free surf to work out all the kinks,and it was a good call the surf was a little tricky.
Finally its 920 i check in grab my jersey and wait for the horn.
Paddle out and wait in the line up for the heat to start.Finally its time a set approaches right at the start i get a good left and put a score on the board,i get a few more good waves and I'm in 1st for most of the heat then a guy gets a 6 and takes the lead with 2 minutes to go i just stay calm and sit on the guy in 3rd who happens to be my good friend Tom, a wave approaches and he manages to get to the inside of me he takes off and i just sit and watch he drops in a little late and doesn't make the section and i sit there with a smile an 20 seconds left and knew i would advance to the final.I was a little bummed i didn't win but so stoked to be heading to lowers in 3 days for the final.
the next few days were nerve racking all i could think about was surfing lowers with 3 others out its a dream scenario for sure,And i wanted to win so bad ,I would be surfing against the #1 guy from Hawaii who are always a threat a friend from Ca and and the guy who beat me in HB .I wasn't going to let him beat me again hahah.I also checked the forecast and new the waves were going to be fun and pumping.
For those 3 day i just though in my head I'm going to win this is my time and may never get this chance again,
June 21 rolls around I had talk to my photog buddy Lance Smith of FreeLancevisuals.com an asked if would come and shoot photos he said for sure.I pick him up at 7am my heat was at 825am.The drive up was just nice and calm we talked about lowers and i was hoping it would be good lowers,
We arrive at 730 to the Lowers lot they only open for comps ,as we pull up you can see A Frame peeks and 25 guys practing before the comp,I was so excited pretty much jumping up and down.I get my stuff and we walk to the contest site and just see wave after wave and just perfect.
We arrive and i go right in to stretching and just talking in my head this is it now u have to go out and kick some ass.
I pick up my Jersey head to the water wait for the 5 min horn so i can paddle out.I jump in an paddle out and wait for the horn.
Horn blows and the 4 of us paddle to the line up and settle in..!st wave comes in and me and the Hawaiian paddle and he gets to my inside an goes i end up going over the falls and he gets a score i think here we go again not a good start,
Everyone gets a wave and I'm sitting in 4th with 22 mins left in the 25 min final.I finally get a little right and get a 3.2 not a great score but something still in 4th,The guy who beat me in HB gets a good wave and score a 5.5 he is in 1st with a 5 and a 4 I'm starting to get upset an freak out a little.Then a good head high left approaches and the Hawaiian paddle battles me again but I'm not letting him have it.I catch in and do a big turn right off the bat and do a few more turns a floater and 1 last turn.I wait for the score and i hear 7.83 the best wave of the heat so far.With that and a 3.5 I'm now in 1st .I get a few more waves and there is 2 mins left.The guy who beat me in HB is in 2nd and only needs a 3.5 to take the lead an there is only 2 min a set approaching and I'm still inside ,i watch as he paddles into a nice right with a long wall,He does a huge turn from the take off and i watch him get some more turns .I hear the score a 4.9 and I'm going shit hes going to beat me again.I make it outside with 30 seconds to go,I'm by myself and see a nice wave approach i hear the countdown from 10 and i need a 4.8 to win.I catch the wave do a big hit out the back and 3 more turns an hear the horn blow,I finish the wave and were waiting for the score i was pretty excited and clutching my fists with a grin,Finally 30 seconds go by and i hear the announcer say score is coming in will it be enough oh here it is a 4. and I'm thinking dam I'm not going to get it then he says 4.91 and i just freak out i did it i had won ,I saw Lance standing there with his camera and his hand in the air he was so excited ,I look over the other guy who beat me in HB and he was so bummed but i didn't care i was so excited .I hear over the loud speaker Here comes Ur 2011 Masters Champ PAUL PUGLIESI.
I get a bunch of high 5s and congrats from people watching the comp and other competitors,.
They announce the awards will be at 12 so i had a few hrs to spare,I drive home and come back and they do the whole awards ceremony .
I was so stoked and proud,I had fulfilled my goals ,Not only to win the West Coast title but to win The USA Championships put on by Quiksilver.
I would like to thanks all my sponsors,family,friends ,fans ,WSA,Surfing America and Quiksilver.
Now what will i do next stay tuned
Thanks for all the love and support.
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