Encinitas Board Riders On A Roll, USBRC Nationals Field Locked In

Originally posted on SURFER | By Andrew Nichols | Last updated 5/7/24

That’s a wrap. The 2023/2024 West Coast Board Riders season is finished following the Sun Bum at Ponto event and the USBRC National Championships presented by New Earth Project field is officially finalized.

The last two spots were secured at the South region’s final event with Team Encinitas, Carlsbad, Oceanside, and La Jolla vying for their chance at National Championships glory. Team Encinitas entered Sum Bum at Ponto with a slim, nine-point lead over Team Oceanside – who held a tight, three-point advantage over Team Carlsbad.

A standard “May Gray” day couldn’t damper the electric atmosphere and performances with solid two-to-three, occasional four-foot sets elevating the scale throughout the day. A dominant showing from Team Encinitas with the likes of Nick Marshall leading the younger guard alongside veteran talents and kept their place atop the rankings after posting 226.20 points. The team garnered an impressive 413.72 total for the season and a place into Lower Trestles May 17.

But the battle for second-place (and a subsequent spot in the USBRC National Championships) witnessed a storm of brilliance from Team Carlsbad, including the likes of Timothy Simmers and heavy-hitting veterans, who pushed past Team Oceanside. The surge into runner-up and a 188.65 total was enough to overtake Team Oceanside for a spot toward a Lowers surf-off with the other regions’ second-place finishers.

The second-place clubs join the “High Third” wildcard spot claimed by Dana Point, and will surf on Thursday May 16 with the winning club moving on to Friday May 17 to meet the first-place clubs in the Final.

Top 3 clubs will move on to USBRC National Championships presented by New Earth Project Saturday May 18.

Final Rankings 2023/2024

NORTH

1st-Santa Cruz

2nd-Central Coast

NORTH CENTRAL

1st-Huntington Beach

2nd-South Bay

SOUTH CENTRAL

1st-San Clemente

2nd-Newport

SOUTH

1st-Encinitas

2nd-Carlsbad

HIGH THIRD WILDCARD

Dana Point

The 2nd place clubs plus the High Third will surf on Thursday 5/16 with the winning club moving on to Friday 5/17 to meet the first-place clubs in the Final. Top 3 clubs will move on to USBRC National Championships on Saturday 5/18 to face the North Shore Board Riders, the Cape May Board Riders, the Outer Banks Board Riders, Spacecoast Board Riders and the Jacksonville Board Riders.

This article first appeared on SURFER and was syndicated with permission.

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