It has been a golden year for Orange County up-and-coming surfers.

Contest after contest – especially at the vital ones with hefty points attached – they ranked near the top. And after a year of hard work, a handful of county surfers appear likely to be moving from the minors (the World Qualifying Series) to the majors (2010 World Tour), and will be competing next year against the top 45 in the world.

“They get to surf the best waves, in the best conditions, against the best surfers,” said Robert Shadley, spokesman for the Association of Surfing Professionals. “To be among that category puts you in an elite group.”

The top 26 surfers on the World Tour and the top 15 surfers on the WQS make up the list of 2010 Dream Tour competitors.

And for one local surfer, his performance at the O’Neill World Cup of Surfing at Sunset Beach – which started its waiting period Tuesday – will be make-it-or-break-it time. It’s the last WQS contest of the year, and the last chance to qualify.

I had a quick chat with Shadley for the scoop on hometown surfers. Here’s a look back, and who to keep an eye on for next year:

Patrick Gudauskas: The San Clemente surfer is the only Orange County hopeful guaranteed a spot on the 2010 Dream Tour, and even if he didn’t surf this last event, he’d make it to the big leagues.

He’s ranked second on the WQS, and has consistently pulled out big results. Mid-year, he busted out unprecedented Rodeo Clown aerial flips that made headlines.

Nate Yeomans: The San Clemente surfer has been on fire lately.

Taking home the win at the 6-star prime O’Neill Cold Water Classic in Santa Cruz, he rocketed up the ranks and this week made it to the quarterfinals at the Reef Hawaiian Pro, the first leg of Hawaii’s Triple Crown of Surfing.

His showing at the latest contest virtually qualifies him to compete in the 2010 ASP Dream Tour. He technically could get bumped still, but “there’s a really, really small chance of that,” Shadley said.
Brett Simpson: Who can forget Simpo’s fairy-tale victory at the Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach this year in front of a hometown crowd? That victory – as well as a few other solid performances at key events – puts him in a good spot to qualify for next year’s World Tour.

Tanner Gudauskas: Tanner had big victories this year – winning at the 6-Star Mr. Price Pro Ballito in South Africa and a third-place finish at the 6-Star Prime at the 6.0 Lowers Pro.

The San Clemente surfer is just one spot away from qualifying for the World Tour – he’s ranked 16th on the WQS – so his performance at the O’Neill World Cup is crucial for him to join older bro Pat on the World Tour.

He needs to at least make it to the quarterfinals. He’s been surfing well, making it just one spot away from the quarters at the Reef Hawaiian Pro.

Chris Ward: Currently on his fifth year of the World Tour, the San Clemente surfer isn’t looking too good to re-qualify and might get bumped back to the WQS next year. He’s ranked 32nd in the WCT.

Tim Reyes: The Huntington Beach surfer is also on the cusp to make it back on the World Tour.

He needs a big result at the Billabong Pipeline Masters – the last event of the year for the World Tour – to re-qualify.

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