Only two could emerge with wins at the World Surf League (WSL) North America Qualifying Series (QS) SLO CAL Open Pismo Beach presented by French Hospital Medical Center QS 1,000 and both those titles stay in California after Alyssa Spencer and John Mel emerged victorious.
Two-to-four foot, clean morning conditions provided ample opportunity for competitors to thrive with Spencer and Mel rising to the occasion amid stacked fields, taking down defending event winner Sawyer Lindblad and an in-form Levi Slawson in their respective Finals.
A remarkable showing from Spencer earned her back-to-back QS victories, this time over Sawyer Lindblad. RunAmuck Photography
Lindblad struck first in the all-goofyfooter battle against still current North America No. 1 Spencer as low tide conditions forced the best out of both competitors. Spencer's forehand attack paved the way to overtaking the defending event winner at the halfway mark, accruing a 10.00 (out of a possible 20) heat total. Lindblad wasn't going down with a fight and earned a 6.25 (out of a possible 10) to close the gap under the 10-minute mark but the waves didn't provide her another opportunity and Spencer elevated her lead to claim a big win.
"I'm super happy right now and this whole contest was just super fun," said Spencer. "I came into it without a lot of pressure because I've had a couple results early on in the season. So it was nice to really focus on cleaning up my contest surfing and just pick the best waves." Full interview in video above
Spencer stays atop the North America rankings with a comfortable lead and all but solidified her place back into the 2022 Challenger Series with a win today. The Encinitas, California competitor nearly found herself among the world's best at the end of 2021 and knows what it takes to give herself a chance at doing it again.
Mel overcame an in-form Levi Slawson to earn his second-career QS win and first on the California coast. RunAmuck Photography
A tight battle in the men's Final unfolded between Mel and Slawson, trading the lead multiple times in the first half of the heat with equal heat totals, and the nudge going to Mel with a higher single-wave score. The Santa Cruz, California competitor in Mel remained strong and added to his lead slightly to extend Slawson's requirement as the clock wound down under the five-minute mark. Ultimately, it was Mel earning the chair-up and his second-career QS victory - his first on California sands.
"I'm absolutely stoked, I came into this event wanting to win it and I've been working really hard," said Mel. "My coach Matt Myers and I have been putting in the work preparing for these moments pretty much. I want to get into the Challenger Series by the end of the year. Also, I want to shout out to my parents who own Freeline Surf Shop. They're the ones funding me for all these contests and I'm super stoked for that." Full interview in video above
A show of strong nerves was on full display for Mel with time running out and needing to secure a score over East Coast talent Evan Geiselman in a Quarterfinal battle before having to take on an in-form Taj Lindblad in the Semifinals. The win catapults him to No. 2 on the North America rankings, well within the Challenger Series qualification cutoff, but has four more events on schedule starting in Morro Bay.
Lindblad nearly defended her event title, starting off with a 9.00 in the Quarterfinals over Sage Erickson (USA). - WSL / Runamuck Photography
The defending event winner Lindblad put on a showcase in her Quarterfinal performance, garnering a near-perfect 9.00 over former Championship Tour (CT) competitor Sage Erickson before facing fellow North America rankings threat Caitlin Simmers in a Semifinal battle. Though she fell shy of back-to-back Pismo Beach Finals, the San Clemente, California competitor now sits at No. 4 on the regional rankings spot moving forward with four events under her belt.
"It was a really fun event and that was a super close heat," said Lindblad. "I only needed a four at the end and the waves just didn't offer anything. But, I'm stoked to get a couple good waves throughout today and I'm pretty relieved to get a result here. Hopefully I can do well at Morro Bay too."
An electrifying run from Slawson earned him a career-best QS result and valuable points. - WSL / Runamuck Photography
An incredible Quarterfinal showing from Slawson earned him a round-best, excellent 8.50 in the dying seconds over Jett Schilling and notched an impressive Semifinal win over East Coast threat Cam Richards. This marks a career-best QS result for the Encinitas, California surfer after falling just short of a maiden victory as he continues to build experience among the region's best and making himself known as a threat - currently sitting at No. 5 on the North America rankings.
"A Final is always and I would've liked to win but John (Mel) played the right game in the Final," said Slawson. "I'm happy and now looking forward to the next couple of events, get myself into that Challenger Series qualification. I was over in Hawaii for awhile and hanging with my buddy Taro Watanabe who won the last event in the Outer Banks, and he was just talking about wanting more points so it's good to have those friendly rivalries to push you."
Notable Finishes for Richards, Lindblad, Simmers, and McGonagle
Cam Richards - WSL / Runamuck Photography
This marked a season-best finish for South Carolina's Richards, who eliminated event threat Nolan Rapoza in the Quarterfinals, along with Costa Rica's McGonagle and San Clemente's Lindblad.
Caitlin Simmers - WSL / Runamuck Photography
This result keeps Simmers within the Top 3 of regional rankings as she looks to return to the Challenger Series and take on some of the world's top regional talents once again.
Leilani McGonagle - WSL / Runamuck Photography
Taj Lindblad - WSL / Runamuck Photography
The next North America Regional QS event will be the SLO CAL Open Morro Bay pres by French Hospital Medical Center beginning February 24 - 27.
Alyssa Spencer and John Mel Victorious at SLO CAL Open Pismo Beach
Andrew Nichols
Only two could emerge with wins at the World Surf League (WSL) North America Qualifying Series (QS) SLO CAL Open Pismo Beach presented by French Hospital Medical Center QS 1,000 and both those titles stay in California after Alyssa Spencer and John Mel emerged victorious.
Two-to-four foot, clean morning conditions provided ample opportunity for competitors to thrive with Spencer and Mel rising to the occasion amid stacked fields, taking down defending event winner Sawyer Lindblad and an in-form Levi Slawson in their respective Finals.
Lindblad struck first in the all-goofyfooter battle against still current North America No. 1 Spencer as low tide conditions forced the best out of both competitors. Spencer's forehand attack paved the way to overtaking the defending event winner at the halfway mark, accruing a 10.00 (out of a possible 20) heat total. Lindblad wasn't going down with a fight and earned a 6.25 (out of a possible 10) to close the gap under the 10-minute mark but the waves didn't provide her another opportunity and Spencer elevated her lead to claim a big win.
"I'm super happy right now and this whole contest was just super fun," said Spencer. "I came into it without a lot of pressure because I've had a couple results early on in the season. So it was nice to really focus on cleaning up my contest surfing and just pick the best waves." Full interview in video above
Spencer stays atop the North America rankings with a comfortable lead and all but solidified her place back into the 2022 Challenger Series with a win today. The Encinitas, California competitor nearly found herself among the world's best at the end of 2021 and knows what it takes to give herself a chance at doing it again.
A tight battle in the men's Final unfolded between Mel and Slawson, trading the lead multiple times in the first half of the heat with equal heat totals, and the nudge going to Mel with a higher single-wave score. The Santa Cruz, California competitor in Mel remained strong and added to his lead slightly to extend Slawson's requirement as the clock wound down under the five-minute mark. Ultimately, it was Mel earning the chair-up and his second-career QS victory - his first on California sands.
"I'm absolutely stoked, I came into this event wanting to win it and I've been working really hard," said Mel. "My coach Matt Myers and I have been putting in the work preparing for these moments pretty much. I want to get into the Challenger Series by the end of the year. Also, I want to shout out to my parents who own Freeline Surf Shop. They're the ones funding me for all these contests and I'm super stoked for that." Full interview in video above
A show of strong nerves was on full display for Mel with time running out and needing to secure a score over East Coast talent Evan Geiselman in a Quarterfinal battle before having to take on an in-form Taj Lindblad in the Semifinals. The win catapults him to No. 2 on the North America rankings, well within the Challenger Series qualification cutoff, but has four more events on schedule starting in Morro Bay.
The defending event winner Lindblad put on a showcase in her Quarterfinal performance, garnering a near-perfect 9.00 over former Championship Tour (CT) competitor Sage Erickson before facing fellow North America rankings threat Caitlin Simmers in a Semifinal battle. Though she fell shy of back-to-back Pismo Beach Finals, the San Clemente, California competitor now sits at No. 4 on the regional rankings spot moving forward with four events under her belt.
"It was a really fun event and that was a super close heat," said Lindblad. "I only needed a four at the end and the waves just didn't offer anything. But, I'm stoked to get a couple good waves throughout today and I'm pretty relieved to get a result here. Hopefully I can do well at Morro Bay too."
An incredible Quarterfinal showing from Slawson earned him a round-best, excellent 8.50 in the dying seconds over Jett Schilling and notched an impressive Semifinal win over East Coast threat Cam Richards. This marks a career-best QS result for the Encinitas, California surfer after falling just short of a maiden victory as he continues to build experience among the region's best and making himself known as a threat - currently sitting at No. 5 on the North America rankings.
"A Final is always and I would've liked to win but John (Mel) played the right game in the Final," said Slawson. "I'm happy and now looking forward to the next couple of events, get myself into that Challenger Series qualification. I was over in Hawaii for awhile and hanging with my buddy Taro Watanabe who won the last event in the Outer Banks, and he was just talking about wanting more points so it's good to have those friendly rivalries to push you."
Notable Finishes for Richards, Lindblad, Simmers, and McGonagle
This marked a season-best finish for South Carolina's Richards, who eliminated event threat Nolan Rapoza in the Quarterfinals, along with Costa Rica's McGonagle and San Clemente's Lindblad.
This result keeps Simmers within the Top 3 of regional rankings as she looks to return to the Challenger Series and take on some of the world's top regional talents once again.
The next North America Regional QS event will be the SLO CAL Open Morro Bay pres by French Hospital Medical Center beginning February 24 - 27.
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SLO CAL Open at Pismo Beach
A remarkable showing from Spencer earned her back-to-back QS victories, this time over Sawyer Lindblad. RunAmuck Photography
Quarterfinalists were determined after a decisive day of competition packed with buzzer-beaters and heavy eliminations.
The current North America No. 1 is in unstoppable form and finds herself back into another finals day. RunAmuck Photography
The San Clemente, California surfer found a 9.00 in her Round of 16 victory and is back into the Quarterfinals.
Another critical day unfolded for the men, their field whittled to just 16, and a the women's debut in Pismo Beach.