Stop number two of the USA Surfing Prime West series traveled to Oceanside over the weekend, as some of the top surfers on the west coast and beyond ascended to the pier for top level competition.
The waves were firing, and the surfing was at a peak level as a new set of champions were crowned. Let's go to Oceanside and see what happened.
BOYS U18
Cole McCaffray 2. Gavin Lusby 3. Jak Ziets 4. Hayden Rodgers
In the best heat of the event, Cole McCaffray put up some big numbers, then survived a late scare to take the title.
The surfer from Encinitas put up an early 8.00 score to take the lead but soon found himself trailing when Jak Ziets put up back-to-back scores of 7.00 and 8.33. McCaffray battle back retaking the lead with an 8.10.
As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Gavin Lusby, who already had a 7.67 on the board, needed an 8.43 to take the win, took off on a three-turn wave that when all was said and done, netted him an 8.20 good enough for second place.
"I kind of got in the zone today," said McCaffray. " My board worked really well for me today, I got back from Hawaii two nights ago just to do this comp and I'm glad I did."
Zietz put up the high wave score of the event with a 9.60 in the quarterfinals.
McCaffray came into the event ranked 5th based in his 7th place finish in the season opener in October.
GIRLS U18
Syd Ott 2. Eden Walla 3. Sara Freyre 4. Brooke Stephens
17-year-old Syd Ott won her first prime event in over a year as she scored on just two waves, but it was enough to nail down the win.
Ott's two waves were 5.83 and 6.83 for a total of 12.66, just enough to win by .26 over Eden Walla. Wall put up 5 scores with her best being a 7.00 and 5.40. Sara Freyre and Brooke Stephens stayed within striking distance but could not get the required scores to grab the top spot.
"The lefts seemed to be the best waves for ne today" Ott said. " This was pretty typical for Oceanside, so I feel I had a little advantage since i surf here when there aren't waves at my home in Encinitas.
"I had a rough year last year, I had a hurt ankle and only did three events so getting a good result here is huge for me, it boosts my confidence"
The defending national champion Freyre had the high heat for the girls, with a 14.46 total in the semifinals. Ott also had a heat score of 12.77 earlier in the event.
BOYS U16
1. Quaid Fahrion 2. Alberto Barzan 3. Adam Bartlett 4. Eeli Timperi
Quaid Fahrion won all three of his heats, including a hard-fought final.
Fahrion dropped a 7.33 on his first score in the finals but could only catch one more wave, a 3.00 as a backup. Adam Bartlett stayed close with a 6.57 second wave but he too was unable to get a high back up score as his 2.70 kept him from winning.
Alberto Barzan, surfing in his firsts ever USA Prime event, battled all the way to end as his 5.83 and 3.90 was good enough for a second-place finish, just ahead of Bartlett.
Fahrion ripped all weekend with an 11.63 in round two, a 10.50 in the quarterfinals and a 13.70 in the semis. Barzan, who came in unseeded being in his first event, surfed in 5 rounds all together.
"I've been thinking about some of the things I need to do in these comps and it definitely came in handy today," Fahrion said. "I wanted to catch the best waves that I can, and not waste time on the small ones. Also, I wanted to be more patient because in the past I'd be antsy and pop up on the wrong waves.
"I been working on my cardio a lot and that also helped today."
A couple high scores came from round two by Jesse Rapp (8.33-15.10) and Timothy Simmers (8.33-15.00).
GIRLS U16
Avery McDonald 2. Vela Mattive 3. Eden Walla 4. Victoria Duprat
Avery MacDonald saved the best for last in her final round and it resulted in her first win in an USA Prime event.
All four ladies were in a close battle past the halfway point and in the final stages, McDonald broke free. Her last two scores were her best, dropping an 8.60 and 5.00 back-to-back to take the lead at just the right time.
After finishing second in her round two heat, she won her semifinal heat, setting up her finals triumph.
"Feels good to win my first prime event." said McDonald. "The last wave was good.
I had a couple good back side turns then then the last right was open faced and did some good turns there."
Mattive, who finished second, was hot all day as well. he put up a 13.47 in the semi finald and a 10.77 in round two.
BOYS U14
1.Makai Castle 2. Finn Castle 3. Brody Price 4. Bodhi Aguilar
The Castle brothers threw it down on the division and older brother Makai got the best of Finn this time around.
Makai dropped cores of 5.87 and 5.53 in the finals to narrowly beat Finn who had scores of 6.50 and 4.33.
Mikai won by a margin of 0.87.
"I feelk like my first heat gave my momentum and confidence," Miaki said. " I felt like I did the training and once I got here I just tried my best to play the game.
"My brother is hard to surf against, he's really good. He's a really smart competitor but when we are in heats together is definitely gets competitive."
Brody Price and Bodhi Aguilar rounded out the top four.
After each of the Castle's woin their quarterfinal round heat, (Makai 15.90, Finn 11.00) they met up in the semis with Finn edging out Makai with a 13.10.
Body price was hot all day as well with a 13.40 heat win in the semis and a 10.90 heat win in the quarters.
USA Prime event number three will be held January 7th and 8th at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz.