Surf’s up dudes and dudettes! The Rip Curl Pro Search competition has hit the waves at Ocean Beach. Instead of a night out on the town, head on over to Ocean Beach to see some totally awesome surfers shred some totally gnarly waves. This highly anticipated event has been talked about for months and luckily, 7×7 has a comprehensive guide to the big show. Cowabunga!
On Tuesday, November 1, the Rip Curl Pro Search, set “somewhere in San Francisco,” officially opens. It’s an event that has been anticipated by the local surf community for months and many of the world’s best surfers have been spotted at Ocean Beach in recent days, adjusting to the cold water and unique waves. After all the hype, it’s time for the big show. Let the surfing begin.
The contest window runs from November 1 through 12, but the competition itself will not be held every day. Each morning, contest officials will evaluate the wave and wind conditions to decide whether or not it looks good enough to compete. Surf contests typically need 3-5 days of rideable surf, and Mother Nature seems to be cooperating for the opening day, with good conditions predicted in the forecast for Tuesday.
To surfers and non-surfers alike, the contest will make for a cool spectacle. Ocean Beach has traditionally been a hidden surf scene, lurking in the shadow of one of the country’s best cities and it hasn’t hosted a professional surf contest in almost two decades. The cold water and unpredictable conditions—it can be 5 feet one day, and then 20 feet the next day—make for an interesting challenge, even for the world’s best.
Beyond the uniqueness of a San Francisco surf contest, there is potential for history to be made in the next two weeks. Kelly Slater, the world’s most famous surfer and 10-time world champion, only has to place 9th or better at Ocean Beach in order to once again be crowed champion. He has been dominant throughout competition this year, so a historic 11th world title seems like a distinct possibility.
To read the full article that includes more information on the show and insider tips on how to best enjoy it, click here.
by Mark Lukach
This is our weekly guest post from our friends at 7×7, a site that keeps you up on the best of SF. We’ve teamed up for an exciting partnership to bring you a fantastic Date Night idea each week. Be sure to check out their blog for hourly doses of the best of SF.
