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Here’s the truth: anyone who surfed in the 2025 Rincon Classic is a winner. Barring an apocalypse or the closure of Highway 101, this is the only time you’ll see six people in the lineup with clean, head-high rights coming in at Queen of the Coast. 

But as fun as it was, there were several division winners named after two days of competition at the cove. Props must go to event director Chris Keet for calling the event on and scoring on the last day of the waiting period. You can watch highlights from all the heats here and keep reading for the results. 

Here are some of the day’s most memorable moments per the comp website:

  • Vela Mattive Wahines, Women's Champ, only female in the pro division made the semi-finals and beat Pete Mussio, Conner Coffin, Dan Malloy.
  • 2024 Legends Champion Brett Jordan paddling out and surfing a heat on a shortboard after having open heart surgery and a stroke. Pure heart. 
  • Dimitri Poulos won his second title in the pro division. He’s the first person from Ventura to win two.
  • The highest single wave score was 9.87 by Chris Keet in the Grand Masters quarter-final
  • The highest combined two-wave total was 17.77 by Mike Billgren Grand Masters Round One.

With an injured Dane Reynolds and 1977 world champion Shaun Tomson commentating and keeping a critical eye on the heats, the pressure was on from the jump. But Vela Mattive’s power and flow have some calling her the heir to the Queen’s throne. Nimble and surefooted, she won both the 17U Wahines and Women divisions. She was also the only woman in the pro division, and scored one of the best waves of the quarters, beating Pete Mussio, Conner Coffin, and Frank Curren. 

Twenty-two-year-old Dimitri Poulos won his second pro title, using the same speed, unbridled energy and radical airs that caught Dane's attention. You can watch more of Dimitri’s surfing in the clip below. 

A Rincon legend in every sense of the word, Lisa Luna made a triumphant return to the top of the podium winning the Lady Legends division, her ninth Rincon Classic title over Lynn Cochrane. Her backside attack reigns supreme. 

Pete Mussio is hands down one of the best surfers south of Point Conception. He’s been a standout in the Rincon Classic Masters division (35+) since the event came back in 2021. This year was no different. Peter also was the recipient of the 2025 Chris Brown Eternal Stoke award “for his positive energy, commitment to sharing the sport with kids and lifting others up.” 

In the men’s 18+ division, Brandon Benjamin channeled new dad energy in the final, going vertical on his backhand again and again. Meanwhile “power bandit” Greg Venable went ballistic with frontside rail gouges and won the 45-and-up Grand Master title. The men’s Legends division (age 55 and up) ended with a buzzer-beater finish as Tony DeGroot linked numerous turns through a big set wave. In the men’s Super Legends (65+), Goleta’s Dave Johnson got the W. 

The groms ripped too. Henry Goldstein took home his first title in the 12 and Under division. Santa Barbara's Dominic Arce beat last year’s winner Ronin Castorino in the 14U final. Ventura's Fynn Neth stomped two big layback turns en route to winning the 17U juniors.

For as much as this community came together for a surf event, they also supported an important cause. The awards ceremony was held at Padaro Grill in Carpinteria and all proceeds from the raffle went to support victims of the Los Angeles wildfires. Goon on ya, Rincon.

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

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