Arballo dares to make waves

By: SCOTT BAIR - Staff Writer | Tuesday, May 22, 2007 12:14 AM PDT ∞

It was a moment made for a movie.

Christian Arballo found himself behind in the waning moments of a prestigious surfing contest, needing a miracle to avert disaster.

Then, when defeat seemed imminent, a swell came his way. It wasn't huge, but it was workable. The Carlsbad High freshman turned toward the beach and started to paddle.

He popped up and milked the wave for all it was worth, nailing a huge snap and a series of cutbacks before it closed out. A loud horn signified the contest's conclusion and, no matter the score, Arballo was content with the knowledge that he had given his best.

A wave score better than 5.20 points would catapult him from worst to first, a score not unrealistic with the maneuvers he had made. With no time left to improve his standing, Arballo headed back toward the beach and began walking to camp.

Then an announcement echoed through the air. It was Arballo's wave score and it was good news.

He needed a 5.20 to win the Western Surfing Association championship for boys 14 and under. He got a 6.50.

"I was absolutely shocked," Arballo said. "I heard the score, but I don't think it registered for a while. I saw my dad rush toward the water. That's when it really hit home."

It was a moment not soon forgotten, something to be savored for a lifetime. It was a moment that few expected him to have since he was diagnosed with a life-threatening heart condition at birth.

He has a coarctation of the aorta, which restricts blood flow, especially to the extremities. He also has extra skin on his aortic valve, hindering his blood flow. He has had a number of open-heart surgeries and must always be monitored. It also hinders his immune system and makes him susceptible to sickness.

Surfing is not recommended, especially when the waters are polluted. Arballo often gets sick in those conditions, but that doesn't keep him out of the water.

"I love to surf," Arballo said. "I'm sure that I wouldn't get sick as much if I didn't go out, but I'm not going to let my condition dictate what I can and can't do."

Arballo surfs almost every day and has since age 5. He often pays the price, which comes in the form of a prolonged cold or sore throat.

"That's pretty much the only time that I think about it," he said. "Other than that, I don't really think about it."

Arballo is in firm control of his destiny and has made the most of his talents. He has also found a way to give back to those who have helped him.

He's a spokesman for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which gave him an unforgettable experience years ago. The organization allowed him to carry the torch into Qualcomm Stadium during the opening ceremonies of the California State Games in front of thousands of spectators.

"That was really fun," Arballo said. "It was a moment I'll always remember."

What Arballo enjoys more than anything is being a normal kid who lives without restriction. Well, almost.

"The doctors say I can't play football," Arballo said. "But besides that, I don't really think about my condition. I don't let it run my life. I don't let it define who I am." �

The action sports column runs every Tuesday. To suggest story ideas, report local events or offer general comments, contact staff writer Scott Bair at (760) 739-6642 or sbair@nctimes.com. Comment at sports.nctimes.com.

Perfect 10

Damien Hobgood

He won the Billabong Pro Tahiti last week by defeating Mick Fanning in the finals at Teahupoo. He earned 16.60 points in the final, most of which came on a last-second wave that secured the victory.

"Even though there was only a minute left, I was still holding on and thinking I could do it," Hobgood said in a statement. "I was able to just barely pull it off, but the heat was so close --- Mick put on a great performance." �

Total wipeout

Kelly Slater

It's not often that the most successful surfer in history makes this category, but he's here after dropping out of the Billabong Pro Tahiti in Round 4. The early exit dropped him to No. 6 in the overall rankings, nearly 1,000 points behind leader Mick Fanning.

The Burning Question

Is inline skating officially dead? If so, can it or should it be saved? E-mail your response to sbair@nctimes.com, and it might get published as next week's Answer.

The Answer

I'll take a crack at last week's BQ, "Who is the best action sports athlete to come out of North County?" There's very little argument here. While Rob Machado or Danny Way would rule the roost in many areas of the country, that's not the case in North County, the birthplace of Tony Hawk. The Del Mar native and Torrey Pines High graduate is a legend in the industry and quite possibly the greatest skateboarder of all time. Hawk's true talent sometimes gets lost in the sea of video games, McDonald's commercials and overwhelming media exposure, but it shouldn't. Hawk became the great skateboarder of his or any other time with skill, quickly surpassing the competition as a teenager. He has won countless contests and was the undisputed king of skateboarding before the X Games even existed. He ushered action sports into the mainstream and made them the cultural phenomenon they are today.