Lightning Strikes At Oktoberfest Day One
By Aaron Peluso
There are good day and there are bad days. Today was a good day.
After five years of trying to get an earlier date for the Exile Skimboards and Main Street Oktoberfest, a permit was finally issued for the weekend of October 2nd 2010. The date change appears to be paying off. Early on however, things were looking dubious.
The Oktoberfest had been forced into mid/late October dates for years which often seemed to coincide with the first weekend of bad weather of the fall. This year, the contest organizers were very excited about the earlier date, especially considering the week of beautiful weather leading up to the event. As if on cue, Sat morning at 5am things seemed to be taking a turn for the worse as I awoke in Laguna Beach to consistent thunder over the ocean. Arriving at the contest site at 7:30, the sun was out but a nasty south wind had picked up, putting a weighing heavily upon the mood at the beach. Additionally, dark and ominous clouds loomed on the horizon. People spoke in jest of “the curse of Oktoberfest”.
After dragging our feet on contest setup the first amateur heats ran in slightly improving conditions, as the south was subsiding and the chop on the water began to disappear. Things were getting a little better so the decision was made to run the pros right away, figuring this might be the best its going to get… As the final heat of the amateur round wound to a close the wind completely stopped and the water got straight up glassy. Things were looking up! There was some solid south in the water and with the new glassy conditions, expectations were on the mend. As the first heat of pros ran, some large drops of tropical rain could be felt here and there. By the end of the heat it was time to run for cover as those few drops turned into a full on tropical downpour. The entire crowd huddled under tents, umbrellas and the pier taking shelter from the completely uncharacteristic warm and wet weather. People were smiling and shaking their heads, laughing at the comedy of it all.
Then, within minutes it was over. The sun came out, the waves continued getting more glassy and the swell even picked up with the incoming tide. Conditions continued to get better and better throughout the initial round of pros and spirits were high.
Several rounds of amateurs then got the opportunity to enjoy some of the best contest waves of the year… By the time the second round of pros started warming up, a different narrative took hold. People were no longer talking about it being really really good “for a contest”. Seasoned pros were simply referring to it as “really really good”, with an anticipation of getting to compete in the current conditions very rarely seen in skimboarding. People were stoked.
The second round of pros started off with a bang as 2010 UST champ Bill Bryan and handful of challengers attacked the head high south swell with renewed energy and drive. Heat after heat, the best skimboarders in the world got to compete in some of the best waves of the year. Almost every heat had standout performances but those of Paulo Prietto, Jake Stinnett and Bill Bryan stood out the most to this observer. Driving barrels and perfect launch pads were the norm rather than the exception and the energy on the was palpable as one of the largest turnouts of the year basically scored.
With over 150 competitors in the largest West Coast contest of the year, and literally miles of uncrowded perfect waves, I counted over 70 skimboarders in the water at one point. The free-skimming area stretched basically as far as people felt like walking, at least a couple hundred yards… It was epic.
Heats ran till dark and beyond with the 18-22 division running a couple heats in the pitch black, and having a great time doing it. It was a long day but a good day. Wish us luck on Tomorrow!
There are 12 pros left and tomorrow will have some stacked heats.. The following made it to the quarters:
Bill Bryan
Blair Conklin
Jake Stinnett
James Lovett
Sam Stinnett
Omar Meddeb
Paulo Prietto
Brandon Sears
Tommy D
Teddy Vlasis
Tyler Stanaland
Brad Domke
Here is a clip from the action in round two of the pros today.
I shot the Pro Round Two on Saturday with afternoon lighting
. Am posting about 150 of my favorite shots late Saturday night. Will come back down for a while on Sunday to try to get some of that morning light.
Wow…the two largest events of the year with lightning strikes and late night heats….SICK !!!