Rincon Classic

[billie_morini]

http://rinconclassic.com/

The 20112 Rincon Classic surf meet began this morning at the Queen of the Coast in Santa Barbara County. This two-day annual meet is a wonderful event at a beautiful break. Today includes preliminary heats and tomorrow includes the finals. There are a variety of demonstrations and fearure events, including wetsuit and surf board loaners.

[tony g]

Looks like a lot of fun. Is there room around the break to actually demo some boards or is closed because of the contest?

[billie_morini]

@ tony,
yes, there is space to try the demo surf boards and wetsuits. When the Queen is pumping, there are long and wide waves immediately south of the main break used for the contest. If you have never been to Rincon, you should put it on your list of places to go. If you have never been to California, then make a list of places to surf that includes Santa Cruz, Rincon, and San Onofre. If you are a short boarder, then go specifically to Trestles, which is at the northern portion of the San O state beach

[tony g]

Thanks Billie_morini,
I just got back from southern California last week, but we stayed in Oceanside and surfed by the Jetty. I have also surfed Rincon, but it has been about 10 years.

[billie_morini]

tonyg,
hope you enjoyed your California surfing safari.

In the end, Rincon sorta fizzled. An unexpected heavy wind came up just before the competition and pretty much wrecked the surf for the entire weekend. That's not to say Bobby Martinez, Tom Curren, and others didn't display fine surfmanship and contests didn't score closely. But, the waves weren't that great and the sun wasn't as warm as it has been sometimes. It's still a great surfing classic, but 2012 wasn't quite as great.
bill