Santa Cruz Board Riders Club Takes the North
Santa Barbara Takes Second and Earns Spot in Wheat Cup Qualifier
Ventura, California (March 5, 2022)— The second and final qualifying event for the WCBR North Region wrapped up with the Santa Cruz Board Riders Club making the drive, showing up, and BLOWING UP, channeling love and good vibes in a narrow victory over Santa Barbara, in red flag gale force winds (Brillo Productions and his crew aren’t to be messed with when it comes to weather) and Pipes providing a scene straight out of “Victory at Sea.”
With this win, the 2022 Northern Champions, Santa Cruz Board Riders secured their spot at the WHEAT CUP Finals being held at Lower Trestles on Friday April 22nd. - with hopes and dreams of keeping their momentum into qualifying for the first-ever US Board Riders National Championship on Saturday April 23rd, A very impressive first year club, Santa Barbara Board Riders, took second place and also secured their spot in the WHEAT CUP Qualifier set for Thursday April 21st
Thank you Ventura Board Riders and 805 Beer for hosting such a fun event. All of the clubs should be proud of themselves for rallying together and pulling some of Californias best surfers off the rack. From Sage Erickson, to Dane Reynolds and the legend Tom Curren who was a crowd favorite to watch. Thank you all for making the West Coast Board Riders the most exciting surfing event out there.
Sincerely
WCBR
1st Pl. Santa Cruz 173.82pts
2nd Pl. Santa Barbara 167.26pts
3rd Pl. Ventura 159.67pts
4th Pl. SLO County 132.7pts
Huge thanks to our amazing sponsors for the support of our cause.
@sunbum
@ashocenergy
@iseasunglasses
@805beer
@castateparks
@fuel.tv
@anewearthproject
@banzaibowls
@bearfootsurfco
All images 📷: @ronlyonphoto
#thefutureislocal
Rip Curl Signs on as Presenting Sponsor of the San Clemente Board Riders Club
San Clemente Board Riders at T-Street
San Clemente, California (Thursday, November 4th, 2021)—With Rip Curl North America based in San Clemente, CA, the brand is proud to sign on as the presenting sponsor of the San Clemente Board Riders Club. Rip Curl is committed to supporting the local surf community and the key organizations within it. According to the organization’s Vice President, Frankie D’Andrea, “The club’s mission is to provide a pathway for competitive careers and the benefits of support and mentorship within the club environment,” a natural reflection of Rip Curl’s own brand principles and values as it relates community and fostering the next generation of surfers.
Rip Curl North America’s Director of Marketing, PJ Connell says “We’re fired up to be the presenting sponsor of the local San Clemente Board Riders club. Aside from the financial support we provide for all their growth endeavors, we are also psyched to provide our Headquarters as a place for the team to activate fundraisers events, supply product from our local retail flagships and aide in the production of the technical equipment the club needs to perform at the competitive level.
The sponsorship is effective immediately and the support comes at the perfect time as the club prepares for event #1 of the West Coast Board Riders Club season, “Rip Curl @ The Church” which takes place Saturday, November 6th @ Church Beach in San Clemente, CA. The San Clemente Board Riders squad will face off against Southern California rivals of Dana Point, Laguna & Newport clubs.
Team San Clemente stands a good chance to win the season with elite, professional surfing talent anchoring the team such as Rip Curl’s own Crosby Colapinto, and other stand out locals including Matt Archbold, Chris Ward, Gudauskas brothers, Sawyer Lindblad, Kirra Pinkerton and so many more.
At the end of the day, it’s not just about competition, but more about community and positive mentorship. Club President, Benji Severson had this to say, “From what I’ve witnessed and experienced personally, the Board Riders is more than a club, it is community, and family. A place where kids compete alongside their heroes and heroes alongside surfing’s icons, and families compete together. All supported by the broader community of San Clemente that loves its surf history and celebrates surfing’s future. Big thanks to Rip Curl for all the support!”
To Learn more about the West Coast Board Riders head to: https://www.westcoastboardriders.com
To Learn more about Rip Curl head to: https://www.ripcurl.com
Rip Curl – The Ultimate Surfing Company
Founded in 1969 by Brian Singer and Doug “Claw” Warbrick, Rip Curl is one of the world’s most recognized and respected brands. It has been at the forefront of the surf and snow scenes since its creation.
Rip Curl is a company for, and about, the crew on The Search. The products we make, the events we run, the riders we support and the people we reach globally, are all part of the Search that Rip Curl is on. Built by surfers for surfers, Rip Curl has been the market leader in surfing for over 50 years.
Rip Curl… the Ultimate Surfing Company.
Steamer Lane, Saturday October 30th 2021
Santa Cruz Board Riders Take the Win at North #1 ‘O’Neill @ The Lane’
Heated Battle for 2nd Place Comes Down to the End
Santa Cruz, CA (October 30, 2021)—The 2021-2022 West Coast Board Riders season got off to a great start at the North Region Event #1 ‘O’Neill @ The Lane’ in 3-4’ surf at the famed Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz.
Host club Santa Cruz Board Riders took an early lead in the 15-19’s and never looked back, posting an overall event score of 231.76 for the win.
Santa Cruz Board Riders Club
The real battle was for second place with Ventura Board Riders, SLO County Board Riders and first-year club Santa Barbara Board Riders slugging it out through all 7 heats.
In the end it was SLO County taking second with an overall event score of 139.13, Santa Barbara in third with 133.55 and Ventura bringing up the rear in fourth with a score of 128.04 despite being down several surfers.
SLO County 15-19s
WCBR Commissioner Darren ‘Brillo’ Brillhart confirmed that the 2022 WHEAT CUP CHAMPIONSHIP will be held at Lower Trestles next April, with the top 2 clubs from each region qualifying for the event, which makes the battle for second place all the more meaningful.
Commissioner Brillo
The North Region will gather again on Saturday, March 5, 2022, for their second event "‘805 @ C-Street” to determine which two clubs will advance.
Next up for WCBR is South Central #1 ‘Rip Curl @ Church’ on Saturday November 6 at Church in San Onofre.
The Future is Local!
And just like that, the 2021-2022 WEST COAST BOARD RIDERS season is upon us!
This year we’ll see two events in each of our 4 regions, with the top 2 clubs from each region advancing to the WHEAT CUP CHAMPIONSHIP in April 2022 at Lowers.
First up is ‘O’Neill@The Lane’ on Saturday October 30th and the famed Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz, hosted by the Santa Cruz Board Riders Club.
The Future is Local!
Huntington Beach Board Riders capture the WHEAT CUP on Saturday 5 June 2021 at the Huntington Beach Pier
HUNTINGTON BEACH BOARD RIDERS CLUB WINS FIRST-EVER WCBR WHEAT CUP CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY SPORTOFKINGS
Great Surf, Great Weather, Great Crowd, and a Nailbiter Finish
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.
HB’s Jake Saenz cements the win for the home team. in the last heat of the day.
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
WCBR Family and Friends—
We’re stoked to FINALLY share some good news with all of you!
We’ve gotten the green light from the City of Huntington Beach to hold our 2019-2020 WCBR WHEAT CUP CHAMPIONSHIP on Saturday June 5th 2021 on the Southside of the Pier.
This event will bring together the top two clubs from each division to compete for the Wheat Cup dedicated to our brother and friend Casey Wheat 🙏🏽
NORTH
CENTRAL
SOUTH
In addition, on Friday, June 4th Casey Wheat will be inducted posthumously into the ‘Surfers Hall of Fame’ in a ceremony that will be held at Huntington Surf & Sport. More details to come! #foreverwheaty
FINAL 2019-2020 STANDINGS
The WHEAT CUP will close out our 2019/20 season and the new 2021/22 season will kick-off in October!
Huge thanks to all of our partners who make it possible!
The Future is Local
Your WCBR Team,
Ziggy, Chris, Brillo, Don
WHEAT
Casey Wheat was a world-class surfer and amazing human. The world will never be the same without him. RIP Brother
“We are Brothers and Sisters across generations, united through city surf clubs and friendly competition, with a deep passion for surfing and positive movement, always paying it forward to those following behind us.”
- WCBR VISION
OUR PROGRAM
Inspired by the culture and success of the more than 200 board riders clubs in Australia, what started in 2017 as a way to bring friends and rivals in Huntington Beach and Seal Beach together to surf in a local competition has turned into a movement.
In just four years we have gone from 2 clubs to 15, from 1 event per year to 12, and we’re just getting started.
As Surfing Australia puts it “…club competitions teach the skills required to pursue a competitive career and introduce surfers to the benefits of the support and friendship offered by club membership.”
In addition to participating in the WCBR event series and annual championships, all of our clubs are having a major impact on their own local communities. From beach clean-ups, movie nights, and scholarship fundraisers, our clubs provide real connection year-round and are inclusive of anyone who wants to be part of the board riders’ movement.
Beyond California, there is an enormous opportunity to extend our reach. As surfers our home beaches are sacred. These are the places where we learn how to surf, hone our skills and build lifelong friendships.
And as building real-life community becomes ever more important in this digital age, we are confident that we will continue to go from strength to strength, and serve as the unifying foundation for real surfers for generations to come.
