With the SLO CAL Open Pismo Beach presented by French Hospital Medical Center returning to action January 27 - 30 comes a plethora of talents from across the North America region. In that region, competitors residing in mainland USA and Canada, the Caribbean, and Central America all gather to vie for valuable points toward Challenger Series rankings.
A 96 men's format and a 40 women's format leaves plenty of space for an array of talent in both fields ready to put their bid in for 1,000 points. Here's just a shortlist of what you can expect to watch LIVE from Pismo Beach this weekend.
Former Championship Tour Competitors and QS Veterans
The Championship Tour (CT) veteran stepped into his first-ever competitive heat at Morro Bay and put on a showcase.
A deep field of men's competitors descends upon Pismo Beach with the likes of former Championship Tour (CT) competitors Brett Simpson and Nathan Yeomans at the helm in terms of experience. Simpson's runner-up performance last time around in 2020 showed he's lost none of his potency while one of North America's most winningest surfers on the QS, Yeomans, can still throw it to the best up-and-comers.
The women bring their own former CT surfers to the mix with the highly decorated Sage Erickson joining competition alongside fellow former CT competitor and QS warrior Chelsea Tuach.
Reflecting on life outside of competition, Erickson describes the emotions around dedicating this win to her late grandmother.
Arguably one of the East Coast's most consistent competitive surfers on the QS, Evan Geiselman leads the likes of fellow Floridians Chauncey Robinson and Ryan Huckabee along with fellow QS veteran and East Coast representative Cam Richards. Richards comes into the event with the No. 1 seed based on his 2020-21 regional ranking and hopes to eclipse his equal 17th from the Outer Banks right away but Josh Burke looks to cement his place within the Top 9, bringing his veteran competitive knowledge to the arena.
Defending event winner, Kevin Schulz, former event winner and QS veteran Cory Arrambide are back for more alongside Brazilian veterans David do Carmo and Wesley Santos, former North America Regional Champions Kilian Garland and Noah Schweizer, and recent CT qualification threats Nolan Rapoza and Cole Houshmand are in attendance.
High-Caliber Women Ready for Pismo
The Oceanside, California, competitor lit up Huntington Beach to overcome Sawyer Lindblad in a stacked Final and claim her first QS victory.
The future of surfing belongs to tomorrow's rising stars and the North America regional women's contingent are aplenty in that regard.
After turning down the opportunity to compete among the world's best, 16-year-old Caitlin Simmers comes to Pismo looking to keep her skills sharp. Fellow teenagers already proven against some of the world's best such as current North America No. 1 Alyssa Spencer, 2018 event winner Kirra Pinkerton, and recent CT qualification threat and defending event victor Sawyer Lindblad.
Bella Kenworthy has shown herself capable of being consistent toward making finals day. - WSL / Andrew Nichols
But, they will have to face emerging threats such as Bella Kenworthy, Zoe Benedetto, and proven competitors including the likes of Izzi Gomez, Autumn Hays, and 2021 Olympian Leilani McGonagle.
Familiar Faces Locked In
The rising talent overcame East Coast veteran Michael Dunphy to win his second-career QS event.
Joining this already stacked list, familiar faces including current North America No. 1 Taro Watanabe, event threats John Mel, Kei Kobayashi, Luke Gordon, Eithan Osborne, Tyler Gunter and countless more are ready for battle.
Also, 'The Ultimate Surfer' winner Tia Blanco, contestant Malia Ward, and decorated competitor Samantha Sibley add their names to the event looking for a big win.
Watch all these competitors and more LIVE beginning January 27 - 30 at www.WorldSurfLeague.com.
Who's In? A Stacked Field Heads To The SLO CAL Open Pismo Beach
WSL
With the SLO CAL Open Pismo Beach presented by French Hospital Medical Center returning to action January 27 - 30 comes a plethora of talents from across the North America region. In that region, competitors residing in mainland USA and Canada, the Caribbean, and Central America all gather to vie for valuable points toward Challenger Series rankings.
A 96 men's format and a 40 women's format leaves plenty of space for an array of talent in both fields ready to put their bid in for 1,000 points. Here's just a shortlist of what you can expect to watch LIVE from Pismo Beach this weekend.
Former Championship Tour Competitors and QS Veterans
A deep field of men's competitors descends upon Pismo Beach with the likes of former Championship Tour (CT) competitors Brett Simpson and Nathan Yeomans at the helm in terms of experience. Simpson's runner-up performance last time around in 2020 showed he's lost none of his potency while one of North America's most winningest surfers on the QS, Yeomans, can still throw it to the best up-and-comers.
The women bring their own former CT surfers to the mix with the highly decorated Sage Erickson joining competition alongside fellow former CT competitor and QS warrior Chelsea Tuach.
Arguably one of the East Coast's most consistent competitive surfers on the QS, Evan Geiselman leads the likes of fellow Floridians Chauncey Robinson and Ryan Huckabee along with fellow QS veteran and East Coast representative Cam Richards. Richards comes into the event with the No. 1 seed based on his 2020-21 regional ranking and hopes to eclipse his equal 17th from the Outer Banks right away but Josh Burke looks to cement his place within the Top 9, bringing his veteran competitive knowledge to the arena.
Defending event winner, Kevin Schulz, former event winner and QS veteran Cory Arrambide are back for more alongside Brazilian veterans David do Carmo and Wesley Santos, former North America Regional Champions Kilian Garland and Noah Schweizer, and recent CT qualification threats Nolan Rapoza and Cole Houshmand are in attendance.
High-Caliber Women Ready for Pismo
The future of surfing belongs to tomorrow's rising stars and the North America regional women's contingent are aplenty in that regard.
After turning down the opportunity to compete among the world's best, 16-year-old Caitlin Simmers comes to Pismo looking to keep her skills sharp. Fellow teenagers already proven against some of the world's best such as current North America No. 1 Alyssa Spencer, 2018 event winner Kirra Pinkerton, and recent CT qualification threat and defending event victor Sawyer Lindblad.
But, they will have to face emerging threats such as Bella Kenworthy, Zoe Benedetto, and proven competitors including the likes of Izzi Gomez, Autumn Hays, and 2021 Olympian Leilani McGonagle.
Familiar Faces Locked In
Joining this already stacked list, familiar faces including current North America No. 1 Taro Watanabe, event threats John Mel, Kei Kobayashi, Luke Gordon, Eithan Osborne, Tyler Gunter and countless more are ready for battle.
Also, 'The Ultimate Surfer' winner Tia Blanco, contestant Malia Ward, and decorated competitor Samantha Sibley add their names to the event looking for a big win.
Watch all these competitors and more LIVE beginning January 27 - 30 at www.WorldSurfLeague.com.
News
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Five years in the making, the QS is back on mainland Mexico's famed stretch of beach, La Zicatela, for 1,000 valuable points.
Relive one of Puerto Escondido's own, Tehuen Petroni, charge through Quarterfinals to earn a place into the Semifinals at his home break.
The QS is back at the famed stretch of La Zicatela for the first time since 2019 with some of Mexico's premier competitors set to clash
2019 marked the last time QS competitors put on a showcase in solid Puerto Escondido conditions and John Mel earned his first-ever victory.