KOASTAL KAOS: Series Shines On at Crystal Pier

Round two of the No Fear Koastal Kaos Series took place at the very end of 4500 Ocean Boulevard, more commonly known as Crystal Pier. With 2-to-4 foot surf on Saturday, and powerful, pulsating 4-to-6 foot surf on Sunday, all 112 surfers enjoyed great playing conditions off of a pier first built in 1927.

In the always rough and tumble Grom classification (for young men age 12 and under), Encinitas local Taylor Clark showed everyone just why he is a nationally recognized surfer (even at the tender age of 11); smoking the field, and backing up his opening round win of the Kaos series at Ocean Beach with another commanding victory. If Clark keeps on truckin’ like he has, the pride of North County San Diego is going to be a tough little man to beat.

Dale Timm, the third place finisher at Ocean Beach, found another gear at Crystal Pier, taking the measure of Austin Ganz to win the 13-14 Boy’s division. Hotly contested, Timm, who gets his mail in Solana Beach, and Ocean Beach winner Ganz, will head into round three Oceanside Harbor on New Year’s Eve to continue their high seas adventure.

The Junior contest (ages 15-17) was a full-on free for all as a large number of competitive surfers hoped to find a step on the podium. When the smoke on the water cleared, Hunter Lysaught of La Jolla took on and defeated all comers to claim the win by a mere .5 over runner-up Dave Suhadolnik.

San Diego’s Rick Takahashi was the main man in the Men’s class, a winner in every one of his heats, Rick defeated Brett Jones while also taking revenge on Colin Wagschal, the surfer who defeated him at round one. Mark Schneider placed a hard-fought fourth overall.

In closing, Erin Rietow won the Women’s division by the narrowest of margins, out surfing Gabriela Rangel by a mere .5 of a point. The Masters division was an enjoyable spectacle for the fans on the sand, the drama unfolding before shoulder-to-head high waves. Yu Fu was the class of the division all weekend long, his smooth and powerful approach to the high surf unbeatable. Keith Bybbe, no slouch in any sense of the word, was second while Paul Pugliesi was third.