West Coast Board Riders South Central Region Claims Victory in First US Board Riders Clubs Event
Stellar Surfing in the US Board Riders Clubs All Stars Presented by Jack’s Surfboards
U14’s First Heat!
Huntington Beach, CA (August 4, 2021)—In fun 3-5’ surf under warm sunny skies, the South Central Region of the West Coast Board Riders, comprised of surfers from Newport Beach Board Riders, Laguna Beach Surf Club, Dana Point Surf Club and San Clemente Board Riders, claimed victory in the first-ever US Board Riders Clubs first event.
The 2021 US Board Riders All Stars presented by Jack’s Surfboards brought together 5 teams of some of the best surfers in the US who all turned up to represent their respective local board riders clubs.
1st Place—WCBR South Central (195.35)
2nd Place—WCBR North (180.8)
3rd Place—USBRC East (175.41)
4th Place—WCBR South (174.2)
5th Place—WCBR North Central (154.96)
“We’re so stoked to take the first one” said Benji Severson, the captain of San Clemente Board Riders and coach for South Central. “All the teams were so strong, but we got a great start and we were able to hold on. Huge thanks to all the clubs who made it.”
When presented with the first place prize of $1,000, Severson and co-captain Grant Collins of Newport Beach Board Riders made the snap decision to donate their winnings to Surfer’s Healing, the organization that works to take autistic kids surfing and change lives.
“It was a no brainier for us” said Collins. “And then when Jamal and the crew at Jack’s Surfboards immediately matched the grand, that was the icing on the cake.”
USBRC Commissioner Darren ‘Brillo’ Brillhart counted 28 board riders clubs that were represented in the field. “I really want to thank everyone for making it such a great day, but especially Dane Jeffreys from the Florida Board Riders chapter, and Rob Kelly and KevMo from South Jersey Board Riders. Those dudes worked their butts off to get their team together and their froth level was off the charts.”
Fans around the world were treated to a live telecast of the event on FUEL TV, and the event was well documented by a host of photographers including USBRC’s official photographer Ron Lyon. “I got some great shots” said Lyon when asked for a comment. “But then again it’s easy when everyone is having so much fun and is so into it!”
The new 2021-2022 season for USBRC will kick off in October and run through April 2022 with the USBRC National Championships scheduled to take place at Lower Trestles at the end of April.
U.S. BOARD RIDERS CLUBS FORMED TO SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OF the BOARD RIDERS CLUB MOVEMENT IN the USA
Laguna Beach, California (July 7, 2021)—In a move to support the flourishing local board riders club movement in beach cities from coast to coast, a group of dedicated surfers has formed US BOARD RIDERS CLUBS, a California non-profit corporation, it was announced today by Don Meek, president of USBRC.
“It’s been amazing to witness the excitement and enthusiasm for local board riders clubs here in the US” said Meek in making the announcement. “For years the Australians seemed to be having all the fun with their long and storied board riders club culture, but make no mistake, we’ve caught on and we’re just getting started. The way we see it, the Future is Local”
Today USBRC counts 36 affiliated board riders clubs in 4 chapters, Including West Coast Board Riders—WCBR (16), South Jersey Board Riders—SJBR (8), Mid Atlantic Board Riders—MABR (2) and Florida Board Riders—FBR (8) with a number of additional chapters and clubs in various stages of development.
WCBR event set-up at Surfer’s Point in Ventura - Abe Alarcon
With a vision of creating lifelong relationships and allegiance to one’s hometown, each USBRCaffiliated club offers unique opportunities for surfers of all ages and skill levels to get involved and be part of their local culture and traditions.
“Our Seal Beach Board Riders Club has completely changed the vibe here in Seal Beach” said SBBRC president Chad Wells when asked for a comment about what it has meant to his hometown. “We’re tighter than we’ve ever been, and it’s just amazing to see the friendship and camaraderie across generations.”
USBRC has developed a club management framework for local clubs to follow, and also serves as the organizing body for events on the West Coast as well as the USBRC National Championship which will bring the top clubs from across the country to compete next April at world famous Lower Trestles.
Clubs compete within their chapters in events that feature seven divisions with four surfers per club per division in a tag team format that is both fun and exciting for surfers and spectators.
DIVISIONS
• U14
• 15-19
• 20-29
• 30-39
• 40-49
• 50+
• Open Women’s
Legends of WCBR and icons of surf - Ron Lyon photo
“We’ve got a proven format that is both challenging and fun for our surfers.” said USBRC Commissioner Darren ‘Brillo’ Brillhart. “But for me the best part of our events is watching the local heroes coaching the kids and cheering them on. Typically surf contests are all about the individual, but with ours it’s all about the team.”
And it’s not just the events that make USBRC clubs special.
“Don’t get me wrong, we love to compete.” said Dana Point Surf Club president Eric ‘E.D.’ Diamond “But it’s the stuff we do year-round like our annual fishing trip, beach clean-ups, scholarship awards and the days we help teach the kids from the San Juan Capistrano Boys & Girls Club how to surf that makes our club so meaningful to everyone involved. We’re building lifelong relationships and I’m stoked to be a part of it.”
USBRC is managed by a board of directors consisting of Don Meek, Christopher Moreno, Tom Reilly, David Scibal and Ziggy Williams.
In addition to the BOD, USBRC has named an advisory board which is led by USBRC Commissioner Darren ‘Brillo’ Brillhart and includes Matt Meyers from WCBR North, Val Aipa from WCBR Central, Frankie D’Andrea from WCBR South, Rob Kelley from SJBR, David Portch from MABR and Dane Jeffreys from FBR.
For more information, please visit www.usbrc.org
WCBR North Division Championship Cup 19/20 - Ron Lyon photo
HB BOARDRIDERS WINS FIRST-EVER WCBR WHEAT CUP CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY SPORT OF KINGS
It all begins with an idea.
HB’s Jake Saenz cements the win for the hometown in the last heat of the day.
Huntington Beach, California (6 June 2021)—The 2021 West Coast Board Riders WHEAT CUP CHAMPIONSHIP presented by SPORTOFKINGS went down to the wire on Saturday afternoon under sunny skies and with a crowd of more than 1,000 people on the beach who witnessed the hometown heroes of Huntington Beach Board Riders take home the WHEAT CUP.
With just 6 points separating Santa Cruz, San Clemente, and Huntington Beach going into the final heat, it was Huntington’s talented 20-29 division that came away with a heat score of 27.07 to take the win.
The event featured the top 6 clubs from WCBR’s 2019-20 season—Santa Cruz, Ventura, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, San Clemente and Encinitas—who convened for the first time in more than a year in celebration of the west coast surfing community and the life of WCBR co-founder Casey Wheat who passed away in May 2020.
“It’s a dream come true for all of us in Huntington,” said WCBR co-founder Ziggy Williams when asked for his reaction. “The West Coast Board Riders was one of Wheat’s true passions and to see the Wheat Cup stay home here in HB is incredible.”
For most of the day the powerhouse squad from San Clemente commanded a formidable lead, and at one juncture was ahead by more than 20 points. But after several miscues, the door was opened and both Santa Cruz and Huntington found themselves within striking distance.
Coach Danny Nichols began the comeback for HB with his massive double whammy score in the 40’s division.
And even with Santa Cruz’s 20-29s posting the highest heat score of the day with a 36.44 in the final heat, it still wasn’t enough to overcome HB’s lead and a final score that saw the local team win by 3.05 points.
“I’ve never been more nervous on the beach as I was all day today,” said WCBR co-founder and Huntington Beach Board Riders member Chris Moreno. “It’s almost like Casey wrote a script that kept us on the edge of our seats until the very end.”
FINAL RESULTS
Huntington Beach Board Riders—179.93
Santa Cruz Board Riders—176.88
San Clemente Board Riders—171.09
Encinitas Board Riders—154.26
Newport Beach Board Riders—139.6
Ventura Board Riders—138
“What an incredible finish to an incredibly challenging year” said WCBR managing director Don Meek. “On behalf of our entire team, I want to thank all of our clubs up and down the coast for everything they do, and to our partners for the support that makes it all possible.”
2019-2020 WCBR PARTNERS
Sun Bum
A_Shoc Energy
Clif Bar
Banzai Bowls
Caliente Southwest Grill
Huntington Surf & Sport
Jack’s Surfboards
Laguna Surf & Sport
O’Neill
Quiksilver
Billabong
Reef
Vissla
805 Brewing
L8Night w/ Choccy
Highlights from the WHEAT CUP can be found on Instagram @west_coast_board_riders and an hour-long special will air on FUEL TV globally in August.
For more visit www.westcoastboardriders.com
AND WHAMMY, VENTURA FOR THE WIN!
It all begins with an idea.
C-Street in Ventura was the site of WCBR North Division Event #3. Photo: Abe Alarcon
In a West Coast Board Riders’ heat, there are a total of 50 points that a team can earn. This would require each surfer scoring a perfect 10, including the Double Whammy surfer.
On their way to the win at yesterday’s WCBR North Division Event #3, which also secured their spot in the WCBR Championships at Lower Trestles on Saturday 9 May 2020, the Ventura Board Riders Club almost achieved it!
In the very first heat of the day, Ventura’s Whammy Surfer Jabe Swierkocki (don’t even try to pronounce it) dropped a perfect 10 to give Ventura an early lead over the field with a total heat score of 33.97.
In the Women’s heat a few hours later, Ventura’s Makena Burke also Whammied a 10 to take the heat win.
And it was in the last heat of the day when the Ventura 20’s dropped the hammer, turning in wave scores of 7.5, 18.26, 8.5 and 6.43 for a total heat score of 40.69.
Ventura claimed the cup on their home turf with a total event score of 213.69.
For the Division the Santa Cruz Board Riders Club won the north, with Ventura claiming 2nd, South Bay taking 3rd and first-year club SLO County coming in 4th.
SEASON TOTALS
Santa Cruz—372.89
Ventura—315.35
South Bay—272.57
SLO County—260.69
It was a beautiful day in Ventura.
As we look ahead to our final events in the 2019/20 Season we want to thank all of our clubs and partners for the stoke and energy everyone puts into our events, in particular the following:
Santa Cruz
Shane Skelton
Anthony Ruffo
Christina LoFranco
Matt Myers
Peter Mel
SLO County
Dave “Mouse” Friesen
Scott Vanderripe
Steve Denham
Ventura
Brett Jordan
Sean O’Toole
Sean “Purpele” Hayes
Adam Virs
South Bay
Dickie O’Reilly
Tom Horton
Matt Walls
Dane Zaun
Ventura Board Riders Club for the Win!
And to all of our Partners!
O’Neill
Clif Bar
Sun Bum
Olloclip
805 Beer
Surfing Heritage and Culture Center
The Surf Network
FUEL TV
Surfline
Freesurf Magazine
Brillo Productions
Ron Lyon Photo
Action Sports Canopies
Hot Shoppe
Live Heats
Santa Cruz Board Riders Claim Victory in the North for the 2019/20 Season!
We look forward to seeing everyone at the WCBR All Stars presented by Jack’s Surfboards on Wednesday 25 March at the Huntington Beach Pier!
The Future is Local!