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Event Breakdown: Pismo Beach Open
Andrew Nichols
Last year Central California surfers rejoiced with an opportunity from Andy McKay's dream becoming a realization in the form of the Pismo Beach Open QS 1,000 pres. by Dignity Heath. McKay and his team's drive to bring this event back, along with ambitions of a California leg, with a newly added women's event spoke volumes and the opportunity for 1,000 points will be back on October 11 - 14 with a live webcast once more.
Some of North America's upcoming threats hail from California's central coastline and has also produced such competitors as Championship Tour (CT) veteran Sage Erickson of Ojai, California.
With plenty of talent ready to strike in just two days, here's a quick look at this year's Pismo Beach Open.
What to Expect
Swell. Competitors will have fun pulses of swell coming into Pismo Beach Pier's lineup with a slight drop to start weekend action before another pulse to end competition, according to surf forecasters. Similar to the recent Essential Costa Rica Surf Pro, the beachbreak changes with varying tides and winds, but with swell on tap surfers will hopefully compete in back-to-back events with rippable conditions on offer.
Spectators tuning in from around the world and those on the beach will also get to witness some of North America's finest vying for 1,000 points toward helping their last breath of 2018. For the women, this marks an all-important finale to a great season that featured three new events including the opportunity on hand. But, it's also a key factor in the men's North America QS Regional Title race as new No. 1 Lucca Mesinas can solidify his place there over now contender Kevin Schulz with another big result.
Mesinas will be in great company as last year's event champion Cory Arrambide is back to defend his win alongside fellow Central Coasters, 2016 North America QS Champ Kilian Garland, Austin Neumann, Joel Bishop, and more. Women such as 2018 breakout talent Makena Burke will hope for a great showing in front of their home crowds hailing from just down the highway in Ventura.
Opportunity on Offer
For competitors such as QS veteran Arrambide and its newest additions like Burke, this event offers more than just points in their eyes.
Burke's incredible performance at the WRV Outer Banks Pro put her on the map as a new threat and with this opportunity in front her, she can only show more of her potential within the comfort of home.
"It is a dream come true to be able to showcase my surfing in Pismo, a place not far from home and having that extra support can make all the difference when competing," Burke said. "Not many people have experienced surfing Pismo, so I think this will be a great opportunity for all the girls. I'm so excited for this week and can't wait to have a shot at earning some more points!"
A Dream Continued
For McKay, the vision of bringing a string of events to California for competitors to earn valuable points for upcoming surfers without the expense of traveling around the world came to life with last year's Pismo Beach Open. But, after the mass flooding and fires Central California endured to end 2017, as well as start 2018, left the city tourism boards in a scramble to pull their communities back together financially it also put those dreams of a California leg on hold.
However, the dream is far from dead for McKay and his ambitions are still on the rise to continue supporting competitive surfing at the grassroots level.
"My goal when I first started getting this event in order was to bring multiple events together along the California coast to give surfers that chance of making their goal of earning points and getting experience possible," McKay said. "We were devastated with the natural disasters that hit places like Ventura and Santa Barbara so hard. It hit really close to home for us and it's been a tough road back for those areas. We're hoping that next year we can bring this event and more to California."
The Pismo Beach Open QS 1,000 pres. by Dignity Health will run October 11 - 14 at Pismo Beach Pier, California.
Makena Burke
The next generation made their mark amid proven QS competitors at Oceanside.
The North America Qualifying Series leaves the hustle and bustle of Virginia Beach's shores for the sands of North Carolina's famed
The men's and women's QS 1,000 has its share of glory days to tell. Dive in.
Moving day determined finals day draws and the five-time SUP World Champion found long-awaited QS success and prepares for the remaining
Burke already has one QS victory to her name and now looks for a second at a place that helped pave the way in her amateur career.
Pismo Beach Open
An incredible finals day culminated with Glatzer's impeccable air show and Pinkerton's grit earning them big wins.
Semifinalists decided in great waves at Pismo Beach.
The women's inaugural Pismo Beach QS 1,000 pres. by Dignity Health got underway and some impressive surfing followed.
Some of North America's top QS and upcoming talents will clash along with some international showings October 11 - 14.
A season that began in January at the Florida Pro now culminates at the Pismo Beach Open QS 1,000.