Christie continues US Open run,Christie advances at US Open

ROUND 4 NEXT: Gisborne’s Ricardo Christie in round 3 action at the US Open of Surfing 10,000-point Qualifying Series contest at Huntington Beach, California. Gold Coast-based Christie placed second in his four-man heat against three Championship Tour contenders to advance to round 4 and is on track to pick up valuable points in his bid to return to the top tier of world surfing. Christie picture by Kenneth Morris/WSL, Stairmand pic by Sean Rowland/WSL

GISBORNE/MAHIA surfer Ricardo Christie has ground his way through another tight heat at the Vans US Open of Surfing in California this morning.

In his round 3, four-man heat in head-high, wind-affected waves at Huntington Beach, Qualifying Series (QS) competitor Christie was up against three Championship Tour (CT) surfers, including two locals.

With the top two progressing, Christie just made the cut with a close second placing.

His 11.13 total for his two best waves beat third-placed American Kolohe Andino by just 0.2 points.

Heat winner Kanoa Igarashi, who grew up at Huntington Beach, topped the heat with 11.84 while Australia’s Ethan Ewing was fourth on 10.70.

The US Open is the second men’s QS 10,000-point-rated event of the year, offering valuable points toward CT qualification.

Due to the prestige of the event, it also draws in plenty of CT surfers, who can requalify for the 2018 CT through the QS as a back-up.

While the earlier rounds of the competition saw heat scores in the 14 to 16 range, a dying swell and variable winds resulted in lower scores in round 3.

The forecast over the final days of competition to Sunday is for the swell to further drop to the waist-to-shoulder high range, with light but variable winds.

Gold Coast-based Christie comes up against Australian CT surfer Stuart Kennedy and Brazilian QS surfer Alejo Muniz in round 4.

He will be looking to make the most of the high points on offer at the US Open.

After a maiden QS win in April, the Martinique Surf Pro, Christie was in 10th place on the QS.

Since then, he has slid down the rankings to 26, with his last result a 49th at the Ballito Pro 10,000 event in South Africa.

At the end of the year, the top 10 QS surfers qualify for the 2018 CT.

Christie made the CT in 2015 but despite a few solid results he was not able to requalify, and returned to the QS to work his way back. He failed to requalify last year but has had a much stronger 2017 so far.

Fellow Kiwi Billy Stairmand was knocked out in his round 2 heat at the US Open, coming in third.