2015/16 SOUTHWEST OPEN SEASON OPENS UP WITH A BANG AT HB PIER! WAVES WERE PUMPING!
NSSA SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE
OPEN SEASON EVENT #1
HUNTINGTON BEACH PIER, SOUTHSIDE
SEPTEMBER 5-6, 2015
CONDITIONS: RANGING FROM 4-6 FOOT PERFECTION ON SATURDAY BUILDING TO POWERFUL AND CHALLENGING 8-10 FEET ON SUNDAY WITH CLEAN TO WINDBLOWN SURFACES.
(Huntington Beach, Ca – September 23, 2014) – the Southwest Conference Open Season launched the first event of the 2015-16 season September 5-6 on the southside of Huntington Beach Pier. Without fail, the legendary surfbreak delivered pumping surf in the 4-10 foot range with powerful 12 foot sets compliments of a solid, building southwest swell that was pounding the Southern California coastline. The conditions ranged from southside perfection to victory at sea windblown peaks setting the stage for the elite season opener as student surfers battling in the demanding conditions and getting a substantial head start in the season rankings. Without a doubt, the kids showed up on opening weekend pushing the performance envelope as we witnessed the talent level soaring to new heights.
The Southwest Conference Open Season is regarded as the leading competition for west coast surfers. Divisions are offered in Men’s, Juniors, Boys, Mini Groms, Womens and Girls. This event was the first of 10 events in the Southwest Conference Open Season series. The NSSA Open Season is open to student surfers only.
Many thanks to the City of Huntington Beach, Huntington Beach lifeguards and the NSSA staff for assisting us in staging a professional quality event to kick off the elite Southwest Open Season series. And a big shout out to local shredder and commentator Christian Saenz for calling the action at the season opener.
The NSSA Southwest Conference is proud to have support from Body Glove, Huntington Surf and Sport, Java Point, Surfing Magazine, Sex Wax, Scosche and Channel Islands.
THE SCOREBOARD
RESULTS
SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE OPEN SEASON EVENT #1
HUNTINGTON BEACH, SOUTHSIDE
SEPTEMBER 5-6, 2015
OPEN
MENS
1. Kei Kobayashi-San Clemente 13.16
2. Liam Gloyd-Carlsbad 8.74
3. Cole Houshmand-San Clemente 6.90
4. Nick Marshall-Encinitas 6.70
OPEN JUNIORS
1. Cole Houshmand-San Clemente 18.87
2. Reef Tsutsui-San Clemente 6.17
3. Ben Seaberry-Huntington Beach 5.24
4. Nick Marshall-Encinitas 4.10
OPEN BOYS
1. Jett Schilling-San Clemente 14.33
2. Dane Matson-San Clemente 6.00
3. Levi Slawson-Encinitas 5.73
4. Taj Lindblad-San Clemente 4.73
OPEN MINI GROMS
1. Dane Matson-San Clemente 9.73
2. Cole McCaffray-Cardiff 6.63
3. Lucas Owston-Oceanside 6.30
4. Hayden Rodgers-Laguna Beach 6.14
OPEN WOMENS
1-Tiare Thompson-La Jolla 8.60
2. Bethany Zelasko-Dana Point 7.37
3. Kiersten Noonan-Encinitas 3.84
4. Alyssa Spencer-Carlsbad 3.10
OPEN GIRLS
1-Samantha Sibley-San Clemente 11.83
2. Kirra Pinkerton-San Clemente 10.10
3. Tiare Thompson-La Jolla 8.60
4. Olivia Pessanha-San Diego 6.76
PERFORMERS OF THE EVENT
Kei Kobayashi-San Clemente’s talented 16-year-old won all of his heats en route to the Open Mens win. Kei is the defending Southwest Conference Open Mens Champion winning it in 2015. He is going for back-to-back conference crowns.
Cole Houshmand-Cole was dominating the comp the entire event. Clearly stepping up his game over the summer break, the 15-year-old from San Clemente was surfing with impressive dynamic power and progressive moves. He put on a clinic in the Juniors final posting the highest wave score of 9.7 and the highest combined heat score of 18.87 of the entire event.
Dane Matson-the 10-year-old from San Clemente was charging the big and powerful conditions winning the Mini Grom final and also taking second place in the Boys final.
Tiare Thompson-the 14-year-old from La Jolla is fearless in gnarly surf and it showed winning the Womens final and also placing 3rd in the Girls final.