- WSL / John Ferguson

The East Coast can provide moments of sheer magic and the WRV Outer Banks Pro presented by Pacifico continually delivers each year. In 2021 the title went to a well-deserving Taro Watanabe, his second-career Qualifying Series (QS) win, and now looks to break into the Challenger Series (CS) qualification conversation with another big result beginning August 31 - September 4.

The WSL had a chance to catch up with the 20-year-old, Malibu, California competitor briefly ahead of his Outer Banks jersey debut.

Watch: Taro Watanabe Victorious at WRV Outer Banks Pro pres. by Pacifico
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The rising talent overcame East Coast veteran Michael Dunphy to win his second-career QS event.
WSL: How exciting is it to be back at a place where you've had big success?

Taro Watanabe: It's always nice to come back to a spot I've done good at. I've only been here once but I really enjoyed it last year. Probably because it couldn't have gone better (laughs)

WSL: There's still plenty of season left in the regional season, but what would a result here mean for you?

Every year is different so I'm just gonna enjoy it and hope some fun waves come to me. I just want to stay consistent this year.

Taro Watanabe (USA) earning runner-up in his Round Two heat at the Ron Jon Quiksilver Pro QS 1,000. Watanabe is no stranger to the East Coast and delivers his blows whenever possible. - WSL / John Ferguson

It's the start of a new season so a good result would be great in building confidence for the rest of the year. But in saying that there's still a lot of time to figure out things and hopefully many more contests to do good in.

Watch Watanabe and more of North America's finest LIVE beginning August 31 - September 4 at the WRV Outer Banks Pro pres. by Pacifico.

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