When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect information. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences or your device, and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to and to provide a more personalized web experience. However, you can choose not to allow certain types of cookies, which may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings according to your preference.
These cookies are essential to enable user movement across our website and for providing access to features such as your profile. These cookies cannot be disabled. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information and cannot be used for marketing purposes.
These cookies allow us to analyze visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site and enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers, such as Google Analytics, whose services we have added to our pages. Information collected through these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly and/or we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts or content. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
These cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have added to the site to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They are capable of tracking your browser across other sites and building up a profile of your interests. This may impact the content and messages you see on other websites you visit. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to use or see these sharing tools.
WSL Season Kicks Off With Shoe City Pro
ASP North America
The 2015 World Surf League (WSL) season kicked off with the opening rounds of the Qualification Series (QS) Shoe City Pro. Young up-and-comers to Championship Tour (CT) surfers alike put on impressive performances looking to kick off the new year with a good result at this QS1000 event.
The standout surfer of the day was San Diego's Jake Marshall (USA) who put on a clinic in Heat 13 of Round 2. The young regular-footer dropped a near-perfect 9.50 on a clean left-hander going into the pier where he blasted three strong backhand turns. Not only did Marshall take home the day's highest single wave score, but he also pocketed the highest heat score with a two-wave total of 16.50 points.
“I caught all of my best waves in that heat all in a row, so I was pretty lucky to get in that rhythm before the waves went flat in the back half of the heat,†said Marshall. “To win this event or any other QS event would mean a lot to me because I've never done that; I haven't even won a Pro Junior before. I got third here last year so I think this event could be a good opportunity for me to do well.â€
Marshall made the Semifinals in Huntington Beach at last year's Shoe City Pro and definitely won't be one to count out as one of this year's contenders.
Another top performer of the day was CT competitor Kolohe Andino (USA). The San Clemente native went to town in Heat 1 of Round 2 during the morning's high tide conditions, laying down precise backhand cracks and throwing a lofty forehand air-reverse with ease. Andino walked away from the heat with the one of day's highest heat totals of 16.24 points as well as some serious momentum going into tomorrow's competition.
“I always love competing here in Huntington, this is where I grew up doing contests so it's always nice coming back here,†said Andino. “I jumped into this event to keep the rhythm going from last year and to try and get back into competitive shape after the holidays. I think it's great that this new North America series is offering some of young guys a better chance to get a seed into some of the bigger [QS] events. It's also nice just to have events like this close to home where you can compete with some of your hometown friends.â€
Josh Benjoya (USA) also made a solid showing today, winning both his Round 1 and Round 2 heats with smooth, technical surfing. The goofy-footer dropped an impressive 8.17 in Heat 4 of Round 1 on a beautiful left-hander where he put together a string of clean forehand hacks. Benjoya is looking to capitalize on this event and kick off his 2015 QS campaign with a solid result.
“My heat this morning was super slow to start, but then I lucked into that bigger set and that's when I got my eight,†Benjova explained. “The waves got a lot better in my heat this afternoon, and I sat further south towards Machado peak. I'm from Salt Creek and that left reminded me a lot of home, so it was nice to get some fun waves and I'm stoked to get through to tomorrow.â€
Ian Gouveia (BRA) was another surfer that looked to be in top form. The Brazilian goofy-footer showed some smooth, powerful surfing and pocketed a solid 14.93 heat total. Gouveia is one of the top seeds of the event and will be one to watch in the coming rounds.
The 2015 World Surf League (WSL) Shoe City Pro will finish January 8th, 2014.
Josh Benjoya
In fun surf and clean conditions, Steamer Lane produced plenty of scoring potential as locals take full advantage alongside top seeds.
Shoe City Pro
International field battles in Huntington Beach to start the 2015 WSL season.
Inaugural World Surf League event schedule kicks off on Huntington Beach, Ca from January 5-8th.