The streak of improving waves has finally come to an end. But don't you worry, today's surfing performances more than made up for the slight decrease in wave size. There was an abundance of above the lip surfing along with pure, entertaining goofball maneuvers. Click into the story for full highlights and photos from RMSS Mission Beach. Photos/video: PK.
San Fernando St. offered up some playful head-high peaks for the competitors at today's RMSS stop in Mission Beach. We saw everything from first-time, absolutely stoked surfers, like Nick Bell, to absolute rippers, like Jay Christensen, who must have spent just as much time in the air as all the Hurley pros combined.
A few of the day's many highlights included Nick's five hour marathon surf session – which he spent in trunks, battling off hypothermia alongside Brad Ettinger – and ten-year-old Tiare Thompson who showed off her wide range of board riding skills, ripping on her shortboard in her first heat and then walking the nose on a Hurley soft top in the second round.
In the end, it was Niko Traubman who took home the win. Niko outlasted Nick Bell's signature double shaka belly rides and the other competitors' airs, hang-fives and headstands to finish in the top spot. For his efforts, he took home a new HD Go Pro camera and some serious bragging rights.
Following the surf contest, the event moved up the boardwalk to Sun Diego Surf Shop where everyone was treated to the day's highlight video and the Phantom Truck's customization station. Thanks to Daphne's California Greek restaurant for the amazing food at the beach and everyone else who made it to the event for putting together yet another successful stop.
We hope you can make your way down to the beach for one of the next RMSS stops, where you can surf with your heroes and get hooked up with free goodies from Hurley.
Stay tuned as the RMSS Tour's next stop is Friday at Santa Monica, followed by Camp Pendleton on Saturday. We'll see you there!
RMSS Mission Beach.
Timmy Curran and friend.
Timmy Curran.
Lots of smiles down at Mission Beach.
Anthony Peters and Gabriel Castillo.
Soft top shredding.
Full extension kick out.
Tiare Thompson walking the nose.
Brandon Guilmette with the assist.
Nick Bell. So much stoke!
The near impossible soft top aerial.
High five!
Brad Ettinger gives a push.
Jay Christensen. One of the best surfers we have seen on tour.
Tandem teamwork.
PK's new duct tape contraption. The latest and greatest in emcee head gear.
Did we mention Nick was stoked? So many double shakas – enough for a 3rd place finish.
The Champ! Niko Traubman.
Daphne's supplied the groms with plenty of tasty food.
Color coordination earned these guys some bonus points.
Mission Beach finalists.
Dominique "Ninja" Astorino. Tweeting up a storm.
Super intern Jack.
Mitch Crews made the trip out from Australia.
Phil Bannan trying to get the shot while PK takes to the water with the GoPro.
The scene in front of Sun Diego.
Rip My Shred Stick's seventeen-stop tour, allows kids 16 and under to hang out with the Hurley team, test-drive their boards and compete in a no-pressure, all-fun surf event. “We’ve had so much fun with the Rip My Shred Stick tour in years past,” says Hurley’s VP of Marketing Pat O’Connell. “We're excited to bring the Tour to the West Coast. I know our athletes are fired up to get out there and mix it up with surfing's next generation.”
Results from the RMSS Mission Beach, CA:
1st place - Niko Traubman
2nd place - Jay Christensen
3rd place - Nick Bell
4th place - Jason Belgan
5th place - Sabrina Brown
6th place - Remy Juboori
Remaining 2011 Rip My Shred Stick Tour Schedule:
DATE LOCATION SHOP
July 15 - SANTA MONICA/ TOWER 26, CA, ZJ BOARDING HOUSE
July 16 - CAMP PENDELTON/ DMJ'S, CA NAVAL EXCHANGE
