Perennial favorites Pacific Wave clinched the Northwest Oakley Surf Shop Challenge regional title yet again this weekend in knee-to-waist-high wind swell, at Pleasure Point on the east side of Santa Cruz, California. Teams, from Santa Barbara to Half Moon Bay, commenced for the lackluster surf including a handful of local legends such as Pete Mel surfing for Freeline Design Surf Shop and Adam Replogle representing Santa Cruz Billabong Surf Shop. For their win, the four-man Pacific Wave team earned an all-expense-paid trip to Southern California this fall to compete against six other regional finalists from North Carolina, New Jersey, Southern California, Florida and Hawaii for the National Championship.
Two shops, Norcal Surf Shop and O’Neill Surf Shop, emerged from the heat one dogfight to garner a spot in the final. With local knowledge and newly hired team manager Darryl “Flea” Virostko standing in the tide pools coaching rippers such as Noi Kaulukukui and Ben Coffey, O’Neill had the edge from the get go. Norcal answered back with some decent scores, but it was team rider Brogie Panesi’s massive floater to blow tail combo, which he whammied, that earned them a spot in the final.
The second heat was another “barn burner,” as coined by contest announcer MC Ryan Buell. Pacific Wave utilized the East Side’s own Austin Smith-Ford, who threw caution to the wind with his explosive fin free power surfing. Team captain Randy Bonds further helped their cause with his reliable backhand attack, putting Pacific Wave into the finals along with new comers Berdels, which recently opened in downtown Santa Cruz.
The first half of the final saw a flurry of sets as the tide pushed in. Despite putting up some decent scores, O’Neill Surf Shop and NorCal Surf Shop couldn’t keep pace with Berdels and Pacific Wave. Pacific Wave’s Smith-Ford whammied a 7.10, putting together a series of searing layback gouges punctuated with a hard bank off the end section to put Berdels on the ropes. At the end it came down to Berdels’ shop owner and team manager Bubb Radar, who only needed a low 3 in the dying minutes, but the ocean didn’t cooperate, handing the title back over to Pacific Wave.
Pacific Wave rider Willie Eagleton was pumped at another chance to represent Santa Cruz and Pacific Wave at the National Championships. “The whole day was so much fun. Surfing can be a really selfish and individual sport, but when you compete in a team format, it makes you have to think like a team. If you miss your chance, you have to make sure to barge back to shore to give your other teammates a shot. So there’s a lot of cooperation happening, and it feels great to accomplish this win with good friends. I’m proud of our team and big props to Oakley for putting on such a cool event!”
Final Results:
1 – Pacific Wave (29.1)
2 – Berdels (26.05)
3 – Norcal Surf Shop (16.6)
4 – O’Neill Surf Shop (12.2)
The 2016 Oakley Surf Shop Challenge heads south for the West regional at 54th or 56th Street in Newport Beach, Calif. on June 3.
The 2016 Oakley Surf Shop Challenge schedule:
· March 25 – Southwest – Seaside Reef, Cardiff, Calif. – Winner: Surf Ride
· April 11 – Mid-Atlantic – Nags Head, Outer Banks, NC – Winner: Sweetwater Surf Shop
· April 14 – Northeast – Manasquan Inlet, NJ – Winner: Heritage Surf & Sport
· April 19 – Southeast – Paradise Beach Park, Melbourne, Fla. – Winner: Quiet Flight
· May 27 – Northwest – Pleasure Point, Santa Cruz, Calif. – Winner: Pacific Wave
· June 3 – West – 54th or 56th Street – Newport Beach, Calif.
· July 7/8 – Hawaii – Ala Moana Bowls, South Shore, Haw.
· Fall 2016 – National Championship – Southern California
For all of the latest information including photos, video footage, results and more, check out surfshopchallenge.com.
Special thanks to Oakley, SURFER Magazine and event partners, Futures Fins, GoPro, Xcel Wetsuits, JS Industries and Official Forecaster Surfline.com for their support, without which the Surf Shop Challenge series would not be possible.
About Surf Shop Challenge
Originally conceived to provide a fun and competitive format for the hardcore surf shop riders, the SURFER Shop Team Challenge was one of the most popular and exciting Southern California contests of the early 1980s. Through the years the contest has evolved, with seven qualifying regional events around the country, culminating in a national championship in Bali, Indonesia for the first time in 2012. The underlying principles, however, have remained the same. The Oakley Surf Shop Challenge is still about giving back to the shops, the true backbone of the industry and the heart of the sport of surfing. Each year the competition level rises, the stakes become greater and the prizes become bigger.
About Oakley, Inc.
Established in 1975 and headquartered in Southern California, Oakley is one of the leading product design and sport performance brands in the world. The holder of more than 600 patents, Oakley is a culture of creators, inventors, idealists and scientists obsessed with using design and innovation to create products and experiences that inspire greatness. This philosophy has made Oakley one of the most iconic and inimitable brands on the market, with products that world-class athletes around the globe depend on to compete at the highest level possible. Oakley is known for its High Definition Optics®, which feature unparalleled optical clarity and precision along with impact resistance and UV protection, incorporated into all of the brand’s sun, prescription eyewear and premium goggles. Oakley extended its position as the world’s leading sports eyewear brand into apparel and accessories. Oakley has men’s and women’s product lines that appeal to Sports Performance, Active and Lifestyle consumers. Oakley is a subsidiary of Luxottica Group. Additional information is available at www.oakley.com.
About SURFER
In 1960, SURFER Magazine began as the original. After a long history of delivering provocative and insightful editorial features, revealing interviews and award winning state-of-the-art photography, SURFER remains the authoritative voice of the surfing world and thus earned the moniker “the bible of the sport.” The SURFER brand has also grown to include SURFERmag.com, Fantasy SURFER, and the SURFER message boards. All of these assets combine to make the SURFER network the most current and reliable channel of information to the surf community. The magazine is published by TEN: The Enthusiast Network, which reaches more than 45 million active sports enthusiasts through an integrated network of magazines, online properties, events and television programming. To learn more, visit SURFERmag.com.
About TEN: The Enthusiast Network
TEN: The Enthusiast Network is the world’s premier network of enthusiast brands, such as MOTOR TREND, AUTOMOBILE, HOT ROD, SURFER, TRANSWORLD SKATEBOARDING, and GRINDTV. With more than 50 publications, 60 websites, 50 events, 1,000 branded products, TEN delivers both the world’s largest audience in the automotive category, and the world’s largest action/adventure sports media platform. TEN inspires enthusiasts to pursue their passions. For more information, visit enthusiastnetwork.com.
