Florida Pro surfing contest Jan. 18-24 at Sebastian Inlet. Video by Hillard Grossman, FLORIDA TODAY; Photos by WSL/FLORIDA TODAY, Posted Jan. 16, 2018 Wochit
Frigid morning conditions greeted surfers Wednesday morning in the World Surf League (WSL) Ron Jon Florida Pro presented by Sunshine State Florida Lager and Florida Pro Men’s events at Sebastian Inlet.
According to a Facebook post by event director Mitch Varnes, it was 33 degrees but felt like 27 with the wind chill just before surfing got underway.
Vero Beach native Travis Beckmann has spent time living in all conditions from the warmth of Oahu’s North Shore to the frigid northeast of Montauk, New York, and even time here at Sebastian Inlet. The 29-year-old found pristine ramps for launching his preferred aerial tactics in the sectioned conditions and locked in Round One’s highest heat total of 13.07 (out of a possible 20). Now, Beckmann finds himself into an all-important Round Two where top seeds await.
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“It was more than a surprise to get those sections I was getting and with those north winds coming in you just have to throw it up there," Beckmann said. "When you get a decent score off the bat it just puts you in a better mindset. I lived here for about five years and I just know how these winds work with these conditions so it's just all about finding that landing. This place is my bread and butter whether it was ankle high or double overhead, I just knew where to go so I'm stoked to see this event here.”
Californian Tiare Thompson (USA) came out firing on all cylinders to begin her new year. The La Jolla, California, native still qualifies as a Pro Junior and is taking advantage of getting a head start on the QS level. Thompson posted one of the day’s best women’s performances, earning a 6.50 (out of a possible 10) as the round’s highest single-wave score, and now wants to carry that momentum forward.
“It's really cool to start off the year in Florida, but I was not expecting it to be this cold -- it's pretty insane with all the wind," Thompson said. "I've done the Cocoa Beach event as a junior and that wave is a bit softer, where this wave is a lot faster and more punchy. I just readjusted by catching a lot of waves and keeping the wave count up, but I realized how important training is out of the water when the current is that bad. But, the last week at home has been big with strong currents so I've kept up with it there. I'm stoked to be surfing in the same contests as some of the girls I look up to and hopefully do well against them.”
Fellow Californian Marissa Shaw (USA) was halfway around the world in Netanya, Israel, vying for 3,000 points at the start of last year and now finds herself in a QS6,000 to begin 2018. This marks Shaw’s first time competing, and surfing, in Florida and kicked off her QS campaign with a Round One heat win. The San Clemente native came up during the likes of Championship Tour (CT) surfer Sage Erickson (USA) and Courtney Conlogue (HAW), but chose a job outside of surfing. After her return to the competitive scene last year, she's now looking for more.
“I'm excited to take all the experience I got last year and get some results this season," Shaw said. "Coming into this event, I'm not trying to not look at it as a QS6,000 and focus more on it being the first event of the year. It helps get rid of some pressure, but it would be nice to make some heats here. It helps figure out what I'm doing and puts me in a better mindset. Something I've worked on the last year is the pre-heat strategy and getting into that good head space where I'm more clear minded on what I want to do."
Havanna Cabrero (PRI) pulled an early upset in her first-ever QS6,000 event by besting World Junior Championship Semifinalist Taina Hinckel (BRA) and eliminating the higher-seeded Nagisa Tashiro (JPN). Cabrero hails from the city of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and is fortunate to see her country back on the rise after Hurricane Irma’s terrible devastation. But, the Tico was all smiles after winning her first highly-rated QS heat so far in her young career.
“It was tricky out there, but there's waves so that really helps to get out and compete," Cabrero said. "I'm pretty excited to win my first QS6,000 heat and I feel like it's an experience for me. Whether I win or lose, I'm learning and that's really important so I'm pretty psyched. Back home, people are getting better and there's still parts of the island that are still without electricity. But, I think it's good for us because we get a chance to start over. My dad's been calling me, asking me about how there's good waves in Florida and these are a lot better than Cocoa Beach have been for the juniors there.”
San Clemente, California, native Kevin Schulz (USA) blasted the day’s highest single-wave score of a 7.67 on a vicious backhand attack. Schulz is no stranger to the brisk morning conditions on hand and considers Florida a second home. Though the up-and-coming talent awaits a big breakthrough on the QS scene, his air game and bottom-to-top surfing are never counted out.
“I knew it would be windy today and tried a few different boards getting ready for that aspect since I haven't surfed in these conditions a lot," Schulz said. "But, I've always felt good in cold just surfing in Canada with my friends up there and it doesn't bug me too much. It's great to start here in North America, not too far from home, and get those points while staying at my home away home here in Florida.”
Event organizers will reconvene at 7:30 a.m. EDT to assess conditions for a possible 8:00 a.m. EDT start. Tune in LIVE at www.worldsurfleague.com, or by downloading the free WSL App, to watch all the action unfold.
The Ron Jon Florida Pro pres. by Sunshine State Florida Lager Women’s QS6,000 and Florida Pro pres. by Sunshine State Lager Men’s QS1,500 runs January 18 through 24 at Sebastian Inlet, Florida.
Ron Jon Florida Pro Women’s QS6,000 Round One Results:
Heat 1: Freya Prumm (AUS) 7.53, Cassidy McClain (USA) 5.57, Jasmine Gailey (USA) 3.34, Shelby Detmers (MEX) 2.97
Heat 2: Samantha Sibley (USA) 8.10, Avery Aydelotte (USA) 7.10, Izzi Gomez (USA) 6.03, Tayla Hanak (AUS) 3.56
Heat 3: Teal Hogg (ZAF) 11.83, Kayla Coscino (USA) 6.76, Kaleigh Gilchrist (USA) 5.26, Jazmine Dean (USA) 2.13
Heat 4: India Robinson (AUS) 11.66, Julie Nishimoto (JPN) 8.13, Eva Woodland (CRI) 3.80, Molly Kirk (USA) 2.90
Heat 5: Zahli Kelly (AUS) 8.60, Brittany Penaroza (HAW) 6.50, Charlotte Lange (USA) 4.90, Raiha Ensor (NZL) 4.36
Heat 6: Havanna Cabrero (PRI) 8.27, Taina Hinckle (BRA) 7.60, Nagisa Tashiro (JPN) 6.66, Maile Davis (USA) 3.33
Heat 7: Eliza Greene (AUS) 8.93, Coral Schuster (USA) 6.26, Autumn Hays (USA) 4.47, Alexa Muss (USA) NS
Heat 8: Amuro Tsuzuki (JPN) 7.16, Marion Philippe (PYF) 4.03, Nicole Fulford (USA) 3.50, Audrey Presti (USA) 2.63
Heat 9: Tiana-Breeze De Mooij (NZL) 4.27, Loren Fica (CHL) 4.07, Camilla Kemp (PRT) 2.76, Maddy Malizia (RUS) 2.17
Heat 10: Tiare Thompson (USA) 11.40, Peony Knight (GBR) 4.80, Kayla Durden (USA) 0.50, Coral Wiggins (CRI) 0.43
Heat 11: Neis Lartigue (FRA) 6.70, Tanika Hoffman (ZAF) 2.80, Sophie Falzone (USA) 2.13, Hannah Blevins (USA) 1.90
Heat 12: Marissa Shaw (USA) 6.33, Braidyn Cunningham (USA) 5.06, Kloee Openshaw (USA) 4.00, Emily Gussoni (ITA) 3.90
Florida Pro Men’s QS1,500 Round One Results:
Heat 1: Travis Beckmann (HAW) 13.07, Phillippe Chagas (BRA) 8.90, Hagan Johnson (USA) 8.20, Ben Wingate (USA) 3.23
Heat 2: Kevin Schulz (USA) 11.27, Stevie Pittman (USA) 6.90, Mason Sapp (USA) 4.10, Sterling Foster (USA) NS
Heat 3: Ryan Huckabee (USA) 11.43, Leo Calvo (CRI) 7.74, Tab Textor (USA) 3.60, Sam Duggan (USA) NS
Heat 4: Levi Slawson (USA) 12.50, Austin Neumann (USA) 9.66, Jacob Szekely (USA) NS, Randy Townsend (USA) NS