On Thursday, June 30th, a mix of the US’s finest and bravest arrived to do battle in the SUP Surf event at Oceanside Harbor. On tap was some challenging southern hemi energy generating head high plus sets. The three-day competition began with short boarding and long boarding and culminated with SUP surf and bodyboard on the final day. All three days had more than their fair share of surf.
After a scouting mission out to the lineup to catch a few waves I kicked off the day in the Open Men’s Division. With consistent sets and a dropping tide the contest director graciously allowed the heat to paddle out before the heat began. After hugging the jetty on the paddle out and taking a handful of waves on the head the heat emerged from the calamity, like warriors tearing through the battlefield.
The heat started off slow and the takeoff zone out past the jetty was turbulent and mixed with sidewaves, eddies, and rip current. I was able to paddle into the scores I needed for the win including a head high bomb that offered a late take off into a power carve before the wave thundered to a close out.
In the 55+ division Hobie SUP and Surf Shop Ambassador Mike Skelly had his hands full. The tide was almost peak low and the swell was building. While other competitors decided to stay towards the inside Mike took the building swell head on and managed to make it out the back. The waves even began to break into the opening of the harbor causing a few boats to reconsider their oceanic voyage. Mike dominated the pack and with Chandler-like wisdom he surfed every wave to its full potential.
With one minute left and the victory already in his hands Mike wanted to make sure that he took the win, so he paddled into a small inside wave.
The unassuming inside wave suddenly found a shallow spot in the sand and like a baby version of Teahupoo it went below sea level sending Mike’s board upside down.
Mike, unable to control his fall, landed on his outside fin blowing out the fin box and feeding the ocean one Colin McPhillips Futures side bite fin. Mike thought for sure there was a hole in his back after seeing the board but due to his steel frame molded through years of working out he emerged with merely an abrasion on his back.
The day ended with Mike and I taking home a shiny gold medal each. As in years past the day was epic and filled with meeting new faces as well as reuniting with old friends during this annual pilgrimage to the beach. Huge thank you to the USPFC for always putting in a great event, to Hobie SUP and Surf Shop for supporting and taking care of your team, and lastly to Hobie Ambassador Fred Merril and my wife Carrie for being the teams support crew for the day! Can’t wait until next year when we try and defend our titles.
