This year was the record breaking 25Th year of the Santa Cruz Festival. It is the 4Th time that i have made it across the Atlantic for the event. (2003,2007,2010 and this year) I only booked the flight in the early hours of Tuesday and was on the plane early on Wednesday morning heading to Heathrow before the San Francisco flight. I got into Santa Cruz on Wednesday evening and went to the Annual party hosted by the best hosts in the States, The Crandals.

This is a great way to meet up and see friends that you may not have seen for at least a year. Thursday morning early, everyone that was around headed for Steamer Lane to see this big surf that they were all talking about the previous night. Big clean and offshore waves breaking under a cloudless sky. This is what we had all come to surf. I had brought across a Bullit xs and the first session of the day was getting the boat set up with the right fins and seat position all in the right places.

The guys were ripping it up Dave J. Dan C, Galen L all taking the wave from the outside 3rd reef right through and past indicators. I was surprised by how chilled the local surfers were. The vibe in the water was good with every good wave ridden getting whoops from the boardies. I only managed to get entered into the event at the last minute. I had to wait and see if everyone had shown up. I managed to get a spot in both Mens open and Mens IC. I only realised the next morning why some people had withdrawn.

Howling onshore wind to blow for the next few days was the report. There was still good wave for the event to commence. Last years Champ Galen set the bar high as early as the first heat of the Day boosting an aerial and re-entry on the same wave.

It was a tough day for the event and by lunchtime the wind was at its most ferocious. By the time the event was into mid afternoon the wind had backed off to a moderate force 4. Some slick IC heats followed by a full waveski division finished off the day. The waveski class has two very distinct styles in this contest and with the conditions being the way they were it suited the longer flatter US style ski expertly paddled by Kenny King.

Dessie and Stefano watching the seal / SCPS 2011 / Photo by Stormick