Shining on the Gold Coast

Local surf stars land in Australia for first stop of 2023 Challenger Series

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

Snapper Rocks is a long way from Lower Trestles, but for a handful of local surfers, the trip across the Pacific Ocean is a must.

This week, the first stop of the World Surf League’s Challenger Series, the Boost Mobile Gold Coast Pro, descends on the Gold Coast of Australia, where the planet’s brightest aspiring surfers, as well as some seasoned veterans, will vie for big results.

Per a slew of recent rule changes and restructurings at the WSL, the Challenger Series is now the pathway to qualifying for the Championship Tour, which will crown its world champions at the Rip Curl WSL Finals at Lower Trestles this September.

As sports analogies go, think of the Challenger Series as like playing AAA minor league baseball. It’s the last stop before graduating to the majors. And this year, with the first midseason cut in place on the Championship Tour, some top-tier talent will also be in the mix.

When it comes to top-tier talent, nobody tops the GOAT, Kelly Slater. After failing to make the midseason cut, and subsequently getting wildcards into the remainder of the 2023 Championship Tour events, Slater’s insatiable competitive appetite can’t be quenched, even into his 50s.

With his name in the heat draw (heat 12 in the Round of 64), Slater appears intent on pulling on the jersey at a location with which he’s intimately familiar. Hav-

Grom Of The Week

ing won Championship Tour events at Snapper Rocks in the past, could we see him make some magic one more time? With Slater, anything’s possible.

Also falling off the Championship Tour in the middle of the season was hometown hero Kolohe Andino. A former Olympian, Andino has spent more than a decade on tour. After coming back from a foot/ankle injury, he won the Cold Water Classic in Santa Cruz earlier this year but never quite fell into a good groove on the Championship Tour.

Looking to hit reset and reenergize Andino’s surfing, Snapper fits his surfing perfectly. A spot he’s spent ample time at over the years, he should be feeling plenty comfortable in the warm water and long, hollow rights.

Andino will surf in heat 15 of the Round of 64, which is stacked. Not only is Aussie heavyweight Morgan Cibilic in the heat, but so is goofy-footed powerhouse Cole Houshmand. As a generational clash of San Clemente, hopefully the pair go 1-2 in the heat and advance into the next round (which may have happened by the time you read this).

The waiting period for the event kicked off May 6, but as of press time, results were not available.

San Clemente has a lot to cheer for when it comes to the next generation. Besides up-and-comer Houshmand, Kade Matson and Crosby Colapinto are also in the event.

Matson’s back from back surgery and

Addison Mcphillips

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

A standout competitor and role model for the San Clemente High Triton surf team, Addison McPhillips has been enjoying a lot of competitive success over the past year. As the grom life goes, McPhillips just wrapped up her NSSA career on a beautiful high note. With the NSSA Southwest season finale coming to C Street in Ventura, McPhillips made the drive north to compete in her last regular-season event.

“No stranger to right pointbreaks, she was in her element in the fun, lined up rights of the Pipe,” the NSSA reported. “With a polished approach and linking solid maneuvers together, Addie finished off the regular season with her best performance and first win of the year!”

A huge congrats to McPhillips on finishing her NSSA days with a bang. No doubt, big things are on the horizon, as the women’s movement is roaring in San Clemente, and she’s right there with the most talented girls in town.

With McPhillips already having some WSL experience under her belt, we can’t wait to surfing better than ever, while Colapinto’s taking a lot of inspiration from what his brother, Griffin, is accomplishing on the Championship Tour this year. Ranked fourth in the world, Griffin’s setting the pace for everyone in our local waters. On the women’s side, it’s amazing to see so many former Groms of Week rising to the occasion in Australia.

Bella Kenworthy and Kirra Pinkerton were both seeded into the opening round, but unfortunately were unable to advance. Meanwhile, Sawyer Lindblad is hoping to capitalize on a strong run through the North American Qualifying Series to catapult onto the Championship Tour.

The waiting period for the Boost

Mobile Gold Coast Pro runs through May 13. Hopefully, by the time weekend hits, there is still plenty of local talent in the heat draw and the waves at Snapper are pumping.

At one of the best pointbreaks in the world, the stakes are huge, and the surfing’s sure to go next-level. DP

Jake Howard is a local surfer and freelance writer who lives in San Clemente. A former editor at Surfer magazine, The Surfer’s Journal and ESPN, today he writes for several publications, including Picket Fence Media, Surfline and the World Surf League. He also works with philanthropic organizations such as the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center and the Positive Vibe Warriors Foundation.

Surf Forecast

Water Temperature: 60-62 Degrees

Water Visibility: 4-6’ see where she takes her surfing from here. DP If you have a candidate for Grom of the Week, we want to know. Send an email to jakehoward1@gmail.com.

Outlook: SSW swell slowly tapers off on Friday, as NW swell drops out. Surf is shoulder to head high, (4-5’), at well exposed spots, while best breaks are head high to a few feet overhead, (5-7’). Slightly smaller combination of SSW swell and NW swell rolls in over the weekend, with waist to shoulder high waves, (3-4’), for good spots, as standouts are 4-6’. Friday and Saturday have light southerly winds in the morning, veering to light+ westerlies for the afternoons. Moderate southerly winds prevail on Sunday.