OCEANSIDE -- Regardless of age, gender or division, the finals heat of any surf contest is loaded with talent. Most surfers who advance into the late rounds can perform the same tricks with equal intensity. They employ similar strategies and can read breaks with egalitarian accuracy.

So what separates one surfer from the rest in the eyes of the judges?

"Stage presence," says Del Mar resident Tim Seneff. "Everyone can execute high-quality maneuvers at this level, so you have to draw attention to yourself with some theatrics. I throw my tail out to generate a little more spray on cutbacks and I try to maximize my movements to make the trick look as dramatic as possible. You have to do those things if you want the judges to notice."

Seneff's performance in the U. S. Surfing Championships at Oceanside Pier on Tuesday validates his advice. The 43-year-old veteran won his second consecutive senior men's shortboard competition with slashing maneuvers that impressed the crowd and judges alike.

"This year's title was a little sweeter than last year because of the talent I was up against," said Seneff, the only North County winner in the four-day amateur competition. "I think my patience helped during the finals heat. The other guys were taking more waves than I was early on, but I waited for the big-set waves to roll in. And when they did, I was in position to take advantage of them."

Goleta resident Bobby Morris took advantage of the waves he was given in the men's shortboard final to beat Hawaiian favorite Masijah Lani. Morris and Lani exchanged powerful cutbacks throughout the heat, but Morris took home the title thanks to a higher level of consistency.

The 21-year old won his first U. S. Surfing Championships title after finishing second three years in a row. Awards are given out in reverse order, so when he and Lani were left without trophies at the awards ceremony, Morris started getting nervous.

"I was hoping that my name wouldn't be called next, but I was nervous that it would be after seeing how well (Lani) surfed," Morris said.

"When I didn't hear my name I was so excited. It was frustrating to finish second so many times in a row, but it made this victory much more gratifying."

Lani, who turned 19 on Tuesday, got his birthday wish in the open shortboard competition. He beat out three other Hawaiians to claim the title.

"I'm really excited about this win," Lani said. "I was disappointed when I lost the men's title, but winning the open division definitely makes up for it."

Several North County surfers fared well on the last day of competition. Oceanside's Chris Davis finished fourth in the men's shortboard division, Oceanside's Todd Ayres took third in senior men's shortboard, Carlsbad's Paul Spencer was second in the master's shortboard and Encinitas' Christian Clark finished third in the open longboard competition.

Contact staff writer Scott Bair at sbair@nctimes.com.