I caught up with surfer Matt Pagan for a quick interview on his advancement during today’s trials. Pagan, who can be found here in Huntington Beach training a few days a week, will now be in the men’s competition that kicks off Tuesday.

This is Pagan’s second year in the trials, but the first time he’s advanced. Also keep an eye on him during the Junior’s Nike 6.0 contest.

“I’m so stoked,” he said about moving forward.

He said the heat was pretty slow, and he was stressed out in the start. Then, he got two waves in near the end of the heat. His strategy was to not do anything too extreme.

“I surfed them the way I knew I could. I knew the heat was slow, and I needed a score. I didn’t want to blow it,” said Pagan, who is sponsored by Katin U.S.A. , Body Glove and Smith.

He’s been working with trainer Kevin Dean of DSC training, the same people who train surfers Brett Simpson and Shaun Ward.

Pagan, 19, said he’s excited about being in the same contest as some of his favorite surfers.

“Even to say I was in the same event as they are, it’s an honor. Plus, it’s the U.S. Open, it just pumps you up,” he said.

Tomorrow we’ll see OC locals Micah Byrne, Dane Gudauskas, Shaun Ward, Cory Lopez, Richie Collins continue in the men’s trials.  The competition will start off at 7:30 a.m.

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