ZIPPERS, Los Cabos/Mexico (Friday, June 14, 2013) – The inaugural ASP 6-Star Los Cabos Open of Surf is just days away from commencement, with the event scheduled to run at Zippers from June 17 through 23, 2013.
The Los Cabos Open of Surf represents the second of four stops in Latin America on this year’s ASP North America Series, with the budding surf nations contributing an eclectic cultures and world class waves to the regional schedule.
Tanner Gudauskas (San Clemente, CA), 24, past ASP World Championship Tour (WCT) surfer and International standout, has been taking road trips to Los Cabos since his childhood and has many fond family memories surfing and exploring the Baja coastline.
“Growing up, I would take road trips down to Cabo with my whole family,” Gudauskas said. “ I have great memories from those trips and Cabo has so much to offer. There is tons of stuff to do there, it’s a touristy oasis and it’s always a fun time.”
The Los Cabos Open of Surf also offers a perfect opportunity for new American professionals to get comfortable with travel while competing close to home, additionally collecting big points towards their ASP World Ranking.
“This Latin leg we have is pretty rad because it’s light travel,” Guduaskas said. “I’ve been spending time down there and the surf culture is booming. Also, this is perfect for young kids getting to travel and get points, but not having to go too far from home. It’s a good introduction for them. I hope we get swell for the event and I’m super stoked.”
Gudauskas, a seasoned competitor on the ASP Qualifying Series, is clawing his way back to the top of the ranks and the Los Cabos Open of Surf marks the start of the summer leg of crucial ASP Qualifying Events. While in previous years, Gudauskas has spent the majority of his time competing, this year, the Californian has been doing strings of events followed by breaks. This new routine has created an unimaginably higher level of psych to compete and the goofy-footer is looking to start with a strong result in Los Cabos.
“It’s been a tricky year because some of the events that have dropped off of the schedule are ones I love,” Gudauskas said. “At the same time I’ve been having so much fun this year because I can get focused on a series of contests and then have a little break to go on a free surf trip and get to travel with people I don’t usually take trips with. I’m so psyched right now.”
While Gudauskas will be one of the top seeds in the Los Cabos Open of Surf, the Mexican event also offers the opportunity for up-and-coming talent to climb the ASP World Ranking.
Cristobal De Col (PER), 19, is one Latino who has been chasing the global tour to establish himself among the world’s best surfers and hopes to earn a result at the Los Cabos Open of Surf. De Col will be traveling to Los Cabos for the first time and is excited at the opportunity to gather points towards his ASP World Ranking at another Latin American event.
“The points here are really valuable for everyone and I’m excited for the event,” De Col said. “I’ve heard about Los Cabos for a long time and this will be my first time going there. To go to a new place for a 6-Star is exciting and it’s new for lots of the competitors. It’s going to be a good time.”
The Los Cabos Open of Surf holds a waiting period from June 17-23, 2013 and will be webcast LIVE via www.loscabosopenofsurf.com