Some of the world’s best surfers will be riding waves at San Francisco’s Ocean Beach in a competition that could kick off Tuesday.
Surf legend Kelly Slater will be among those competing in the Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco. The contest window opens Tuesday and closes Nov. 12.
After looking at weather forecasts, event organizers will choose the best time to hold the competition, which runs for a total of 27.5 hours over four days and includes 36 surfers. The nation’s top 16 junior surfers will also participate in a separate event there.
The Pro Search contest is part of the Association of Surfing Professionals’ World Tour, and is held in a different spot around the world each year. It is coming to San Francisco this year after being held in Puerto Rico, Portugal and Indonesia in recent years.
Slater, 39, the reigning 10-time ASP world champion, has a chance to clinch his 11th title if he places ninth or higher at the San Francisco event.
Slater said he expects a lot of “cold and paddling” in the waters off of Ocean Beach, which are known for their strong currents and where temperatures are expected to be in the 50s.
Neil Ridgway, the ASP’s global advertising and promotions chairman, said San Francisco “will make a welcome change from the more remote destinations, but we will be back out in the jungle somewhere in 2012 for sure.”
The event will be held on the northern end of Ocean Beach near stairways 18-20 and will be streamed online in a free webcast at www.live.ripcurl.com.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
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