Photo: WSL // Los Cabos Open of Surf
There was no June gloom in Mexico this week, just beautiful beaches, a coastline full of waves, warm water, and golden sand at the Los Cabos Open of Surf. It was the perfect pre-summer surf party, and several athletes carried their momentum from the OuterKnown Fiji Pro into the fifth edition of the Los Cabos Open. So without any further ado, here are a few of the best things worth mentioning about this incredible week.
After making the finals in three consecutive years, Silvana Lima finally took home the trophy along with 9,100 points, $10,000, and an ice cold Red Bull shower. Lima plowed trough all her heats with consistent, powerful, and graceful surfing as she managed to connect the super fast section of Zippers with dreamlike floaters followed by super strong turns, finishing all the way to the beach. Once again, she faced Bronte Macaulay – who won the event last year – Summer Macedo, and Che Allan, won the Jr. divisions.
This year was by far the best edition of this WSL QS-6000 event, as Mother Nature delivered a consistent swell with plenty of waves through both heats as well as free surf sessions that went well into the evening under a bright moon. Furthermore, the format of the event itself has evolved to produce a more low-key and intimate environment for the surfing community. One initiative included the launch of the Alana Blanchard Foundation, which aims to support young, talented surfers who need a little help to connect the dots in their careers so they can progress towards the highest levels of competition in the sport.
Speaking of giving back, folks were also really hyped about surfing on World Ocean’s day and a beach cleanup was organized with staff members, athletes, and locals helping to leave the beach even better than we found it. At the official music event, a couple of boards (including a Gabriel Medina WCT board) were auctioned to support a local hospital, which had scheduled open heart surgery for 25 kids in need of costly treatment.
As mentioned, this event has been running for five years now. I honestly believe it’s a prime example of a new trend in professional surfing events, with Cabo style party vibes floating in the contest atmosphere. The music has always been a bonus for this contest, with the appearances of Donavon Frankenreiter, Hirie, and Steel Pulse in past years. This time it was cool to have a smaller surf community gathering hosted by Chris Coté and featuring the performances of Lily Meola and a DJ set by Keala Kennelly. I don’t think there’s a better way to keep the stoke alive and strengthen the bonds of our SurFamily here in Southern Baja.
Photo: WSL // Los Cabos Open of Surf
