Seth Moniz, Kanoa Igarashi and more ripped up Zippers on finals day at the Los Cabos Open of Surf.
The Junior Men put on a showcase of top-class surfing in challenging Zipper's conditions as Kanoa Igarashi (USA) earned a huge win over Seth Moniz (HAW) becoming the inaugural Los Cabos Open of Surf Junior Series Champion. This is Igarashi's second Junior Series win of the season, but the first in the North America region.
"This win will definitely solidify my spot and I'm really stoked on winning this contest," Igarashi said. "My goal is to make it to World Juniors and to win the North American Junior Series. This win gets me one step closer to those goals."
Igarashi had his strategy set for the Final after battling through the Quarterfinal and Semifinals. "I rode a different board than what I've been riding and it felt good," Igarashi said. "I feel confident in my surfing right now and I knew if I got a good one I would get a good score."
Moniz went on a tear during the last two days of competition, culminating into a Final appearance. "I was stoked to make the Final," Moniz said. "The contest was kind of slow today and struggled through some heats but there were some guys throwing up big scores. I just had to keep a strong mind and stay calm."
The Hawaiian made a board change after watching the conditions, something that was needed with the difference in size between his heats. "I switched boards twice in this event," Moniz said. "I rode a regular glassed board and also an epoxy because it was a little faster and more buoyant -- I was just adapting to conditions."
Kalani David (HAW) also fell short to the ripping of Igarashi, posting a 16.34 in the Semifinals, but felt he gave it his all earning a heat-high 8.83. "I got a wave with two air-reverses after he got another 8 and I paddled right back out," David said. "I got another wave so I took that not knowing what I needed and just did whatever I could on it but didn't get the score."
Jake Davis (USA) was eliminated by an in-form Moniz in his Semifinal appearance after a great campaign in this year's contest. Davis was just missing the last piece of the puzzle to earn a win. "I felt like all I needed to do was wait for the sets and finish them," Davis said. "I got the best wave of the heat and I didn't take advantage of it. That was the big difference in the heat and I think I would've won had I completed that wave."
Defending Women's Champion Coco Ho (HAW) dazzled the crowds of Zippers earning the event's first and only perfect 10. Ho knows this wave all too well and is enjoying the venue. "I'm really excited to be back and when they come they're very familiar to us," Ho said. "I was having so much fun getting to open up."
Ho has her strategy set, throwing in a bit of flair while reserving herself to get the scores needed. "You do have to surf to a criteria but put your own twist on things," she said. "It's so easy with fun little rights like this to want to go out and do everything. I just slow my pace and think about what the judges want to see -- but do my own thing as well."
Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) has not let up in her campaign so far and is only feeling stronger. "Every round I'm getting hungrier because I want to keep going," she said. "It feels really good with each heat being one step closer and earning more points. I'm just getting lucky with good waves and choosing them wisely."
Tomorrow's 7:30 a.m. call will determine an 8 a.m. start for either the Women's QS or the Junior Women's with take the water.
Igarashi Crowned Champion in Los Cabos
WSL
The Junior Men put on a showcase of top-class surfing in challenging Zipper's conditions as Kanoa Igarashi (USA) earned a huge win over Seth Moniz (HAW) becoming the inaugural Los Cabos Open of Surf Junior Series Champion. This is Igarashi's second Junior Series win of the season, but the first in the North America region.
"This win will definitely solidify my spot and I'm really stoked on winning this contest," Igarashi said. "My goal is to make it to World Juniors and to win the North American Junior Series. This win gets me one step closer to those goals."
Igarashi had his strategy set for the Final after battling through the Quarterfinal and Semifinals. "I rode a different board than what I've been riding and it felt good," Igarashi said. "I feel confident in my surfing right now and I knew if I got a good one I would get a good score."
Moniz went on a tear during the last two days of competition, culminating into a Final appearance. "I was stoked to make the Final," Moniz said. "The contest was kind of slow today and struggled through some heats but there were some guys throwing up big scores. I just had to keep a strong mind and stay calm."
The Hawaiian made a board change after watching the conditions, something that was needed with the difference in size between his heats. "I switched boards twice in this event," Moniz said. "I rode a regular glassed board and also an epoxy because it was a little faster and more buoyant -- I was just adapting to conditions."
Kalani David (HAW) also fell short to the ripping of Igarashi, posting a 16.34 in the Semifinals, but felt he gave it his all earning a heat-high 8.83. "I got a wave with two air-reverses after he got another 8 and I paddled right back out," David said. "I got another wave so I took that not knowing what I needed and just did whatever I could on it but didn't get the score."
Jake Davis (USA) was eliminated by an in-form Moniz in his Semifinal appearance after a great campaign in this year's contest. Davis was just missing the last piece of the puzzle to earn a win. "I felt like all I needed to do was wait for the sets and finish them," Davis said. "I got the best wave of the heat and I didn't take advantage of it. That was the big difference in the heat and I think I would've won had I completed that wave."
Defending Women's Champion Coco Ho (HAW) dazzled the crowds of Zippers earning the event's first and only perfect 10. Ho knows this wave all too well and is enjoying the venue. "I'm really excited to be back and when they come they're very familiar to us," Ho said. "I was having so much fun getting to open up."
Ho has her strategy set, throwing in a bit of flair while reserving herself to get the scores needed. "You do have to surf to a criteria but put your own twist on things," she said. "It's so easy with fun little rights like this to want to go out and do everything. I just slow my pace and think about what the judges want to see -- but do my own thing as well."
Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) has not let up in her campaign so far and is only feeling stronger. "Every round I'm getting hungrier because I want to keep going," she said. "It feels really good with each heat being one step closer and earning more points. I'm just getting lucky with good waves and choosing them wisely."
Tomorrow's 7:30 a.m. call will determine an 8 a.m. start for either the Women's QS or the Junior Women's with take the water.
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Los Cabos Open of Surf
Seth Moniz, Kanoa Igarashi and more ripped up Zippers on finals day at the Los Cabos Open of Surf.
On the Day 3 at the Los Cabos Open of Surf, all divisions hit the water.
Rippable, sunny Zippers let the up-and-coming surfers show off their hacks and small-wave manuevers.
Catch all the action at Zippers on the second day of the Los Cabos Open.
Day 2 of competition saw top seeds for the Women's QS and Round 1 of Junior Men's contests unfold at the Los Cabos Open.