The East Coast can provide moments of sheer magic and the WRV Outer Banks Pro presented by Pacifico continually delivers each year. In 2021 the title went to a well-deserving Taro Watanabe, his second-career Qualifying Series (QS) win, and now looks to break into the Challenger Series (CS) qualification conversation with another big result beginning August 31 - September 4.
The WSL had a chance to catch up with the 20-year-old, Malibu, California competitor briefly ahead of his Outer Banks jersey debut.
The rising talent overcame East Coast veteran Michael Dunphy to win his second-career QS event.
WSL: How exciting is it to be back at a place where you've had big success?
Taro Watanabe: It's always nice to come back to a spot I've done good at. I've only been here once but I really enjoyed it last year. Probably because it couldn't have gone better (laughs)
WSL: There's still plenty of season left in the regional season, but what would a result here mean for you?
Every year is different so I'm just gonna enjoy it and hope some fun waves come to me. I just want to stay consistent this year.
Watanabe is no stranger to the East Coast and delivers his blows whenever possible. - WSL / John Ferguson
It's the start of a new season so a good result would be great in building confidence for the rest of the year. But in saying that there's still a lot of time to figure out things and hopefully many more contests to do good in.
Watch Watanabe and more of North America's finest LIVE beginning August 31 - September 4 at the WRV Outer Banks Pro pres. by Pacifico.
Touching Base With Taro Watanabe: WRV Outer Banks Pro
Andrew Nichols
The East Coast can provide moments of sheer magic and the WRV Outer Banks Pro presented by Pacifico continually delivers each year. In 2021 the title went to a well-deserving Taro Watanabe, his second-career Qualifying Series (QS) win, and now looks to break into the Challenger Series (CS) qualification conversation with another big result beginning August 31 - September 4.
The WSL had a chance to catch up with the 20-year-old, Malibu, California competitor briefly ahead of his Outer Banks jersey debut.
WSL: How exciting is it to be back at a place where you've had big success?
Taro Watanabe: It's always nice to come back to a spot I've done good at. I've only been here once but I really enjoyed it last year. Probably because it couldn't have gone better (laughs)
WSL: There's still plenty of season left in the regional season, but what would a result here mean for you?
Every year is different so I'm just gonna enjoy it and hope some fun waves come to me. I just want to stay consistent this year.
It's the start of a new season so a good result would be great in building confidence for the rest of the year. But in saying that there's still a lot of time to figure out things and hopefully many more contests to do good in.
Watch Watanabe and more of North America's finest LIVE beginning August 31 - September 4 at the WRV Outer Banks Pro pres. by Pacifico.
Taro Watanabe
Eden Wall and Taro Watanabe emerge victorious after impeccable runs through competition at Morro Rock.
A third-consecutive Final yielded a highly-anticipated win for Taro Watanabe after dismantling performances throughout the event,
North America's QS contenders are back in action December 5 - 8 and some heavy hitters are keeping their momentum moving.
Jett Schilling Soars in Comeback Fashion to Claim QS 1000 Victory in Pumping Conditions
Aerial antics, power surfing, and everything in between set the stage for a massive finish in Cerritos Beach.
WRV Outer Banks Pro
Alyssa Spencer doesn't drop a heat en route to back-to-back wins, repeating her 2021 WRV Outer Banks Pro win as Michael Dunphy dismantles
Eight years in the making, after earning runner-up in 2021, Dunphy earned his second QS win on the shores of Nags Head.
The men's and women's fields were dwindled to just Quarterfinalists with Noah Klapp, Chelsea Tuach heading the women's Round of 32
A marathon day of action witnessed Kenworthy post the highest single-wave score of the event thus far, plus East Coast standouts join
Another marathon day witnessed breakthrough performances from Noah Klapp, Cole Houshmand, plus Michael Dunphy and Eithan Osborne tip the