The best junior surfers on the West Coast threw down recently at Steamer Lane – a break known for challenging conditions, chilly water and sublime view from the cliffs. The contest was the third stop of the West Coast Toyota USA Surfing Prime Series season presented by Got Milk? and saw classic California conditions at the Lane.
The two-day event gave competitors plenty of learning experiences at one of the most high-performance waves in the world. Surfers had to make due with some small, inconsistent surf on Saturday that delayed both the Girls’ and Boy’s Under-14 finals until Sunday morning, but things improved over the course of the event. Coach Brett Simpson called final’s day “a classic Steamer Lane day with solid 6-to-10 foot surf all day.”
Girls U-16 and Girls U-18 1st Place, Caitlin Simmers. Photo: Jack McDaniel
Simpson gave a shout out to all the competitors and highlighted some standouts. Caitlin Simmers of Oceanside took double wins in Girls Under-16 and Girls Under-18 divisions. The highest wave score of the event – a 9.6 – went to San Clemente’s Sawyer Lindblad, one of two 9-point rides. Huntington Beach’s Keanu Igarashi earned the highest wave score of day two – an 8.83. The Ironman surfer of the day went to Lucas Owston, who surfed three heats in a row and posted solid scores all day. Jak Ziets stood out as the in-form surfer of the Under-14 division with solid backhand combos all event.
The Ironman surfer of the day, Lucas Owston. Photo: Jack McDaniel
USA Surfing’s Prime Series was created to bridge the gap young surfers experience when making the jump to the bigger leagues of surfing, including a position on the USA Surfing national teams, the World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series, the WSL Championship Tour and potentially the Olympic Games. The Prime format provides surfers with an experience similar to WSL pro events with professional WSL/ISA judges and announcers, four-person heats using priority, computer scoring live on the STACT App and instant replay for the judges.
Boys U-18 4th Place, Keanu Igarashi. Photo: Jack McDaniel
Surfers compete for Prime Series’ titles and cumulative points that qualify them to surf at USA Surfing Championships at Lower Trestles. The invite-only Prime Series includes surfers who placed highest in regional competitions held by USA Surfing’s affiliate organizations – the Western Surfing Association, and National Scholastic Surfing Association.
Boys U-18 winner Taro Watanabe. Photo: Kurt Steinmetz
RESULTS
Girls U18
1st Caitlin Simmers, Oceanside, Calif.
2nd Sawyer Lindblad, San Clemente, Calif.
3rd Keanna Miller, Santa Cruz, Calif.
4th Ella McCaffray, Cardiff, Calif.
Girls U-18 Finalists. Photo: Jack McDaniel
Boys U18
1st Taro Watanabe, Malibu, Calif.
2nd Jo Jo Whelan, Newport, Calif.
3rd Lucas Owston, Oceanside, Calif.
4th Keanu Igarashi, Huntington Beach, Calif.
Boys U-18 Finalists. Photo: Jack McDaniel
Girls U16
1st Caitlin Simmers, Oceanside, Calif.
2nd Lilie Kulber, Los Angeles, Calif.
3rd Sawyer Lindblad, San Clemente, Calif.
4th Keanna Miller, Santa Cruz, Calif.
Girls U-16 Finalists. Photo: Jack McDaniel
Boys U16
1st Tanner Vodraska, Camarillo, Calif.
2nd Niko Ripley, San Clemente, Calif.
3rd Lucas Owston, Oceanside, Calif.
4th Kai Kushner, Manhattan Beach, Calif.
Boys U-16 Finalists. Photo: Jack McDaniel
Boys U14
1st Jak Ziets, Santa Barbara, Calif.
2nd James Daniel, Soquel, Calif.
3rd Paul Karcsay, Cardiff, Calif.
4th Rex Hennings, San Clemente, Calif.
Boys U-14 Finalists. Photo: Jack McDaniel
Several World Surf League stand outs honed their skills in the Prime Series, including the first Americans to qualify for surfing’s first Olympics – Caroline Marks and Kolohe Andino. Others include U.S. Open winners Courtney Conlogue, Sage Erickson and Kanoa Igarashi, and Lakey Peterson, Conner Coffin, Griffin Colapinto and more. Looking back at the Prime Series results over the past ten-plus years is a who’s who in American surfing.
All in a day’s work for America’s top groms. Photo: Kurt Steinmetz
USA Surfing’s Prime Series is pleased to welcome a new sponsor this year – DJO®, a leading provider of medical technologies designed to support surfer mobility and rehabilitation. Other proud supporters include: SunBum, Wienerschnitzel, GoGoSqueeZ BlastZ, New Era Cap, Carver Skateboards, Got Milk?, Hot Shoppe Designs, Outlets at San Clemente, HydroFlask, Tea of a Kind, Blue Diamond Almonds, Jacuzzi, Leus, Rise Brewing Company and DSC Performance.
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