Photo by Kenny Backer
The waves at Point Mugu are considered to be some of the best in Southern California, and top-level surfers take advantage of the only time of the year when they’re open to the public — the annual Naval Base Ventura County Point Mugu Surf Contest — to ride them.
Photo by Kenny Backer
A welcoming sight for Point Mugu surfers.
Photo by Kenny Backer
Competitors in the Women's Division prepare for their upcoming heat.
Photo by Kenny Backer
Catching one of the waves that has Point Mugu being thought of as one of the best surfing beaches in Southern California.
Photo by Kenny Backer
Flying high at the Naval Base Ventura County Point Mugu Surf Contest.
Top-name, award-winning surfers are among the 140 contestants registered for the 2012 NBVC Point Mugu Surf Contest.
The two-day event starts Saturday, Aug. 18, at Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu. Opening ceremonies are at 7 a.m., and competition is expected to run through 5 p.m. Sunday’s events begin at 7:30 a.m., with 30-minute finals scheduled to start around 2 p.m. and an awards ceremony at 4:30 p.m.
Among the surfers registered in the Open Division is Dane Reynolds, who was just inducted into the Surfers’ Hall of Fame in Huntington Beach Friday, Aug. 3.
Also registered are local professional surfer Cory Arrambide, aerial innovator Christian Fletcher, surf ambassador Mary Osborne, and Surfing magazine’s 2011 Shaper of the Year Robert Weiner, who owns a surfboard shop in Ventura.
Competing in the Military Division is three-time champion Matt Merel. Stationed at Bodega Bay in Northern California, the Coast Guard machinery repair technician 2nd class will be trying for his fourth Point Mugu trophy.
The contest, now in its fifth year, draws top surfers because Mugu has some of the best waves in Southern California and is open to the general public only once a year. The surfing beach faces south, and that, combined with a submarine canyon and sandbars, gives it a unique, big wave.
“This is an exciting opportunity for the surfing community,” said Dan Alpern, marketing director for Morale, Welfare and Recreation, which puts on the contest. “It also allows Naval Base Ventura County to showcase our award-winning stewardship of the environmentally sensitive beach and wetlands area inside our gates.
Presenting sponsor of the event is the Navy Region Southwest Sustainable Solid Waste Management Program, and recycling will be a big theme throughout the two days.
The Point Mugu Surf Contest is open to the public. Admission and parking are free. Entrance is through the Las Posas Gate, which will be open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. for inbound traffic. Guests must bring a valid photo ID, and the vehicle must have current registration and proof of insurance.
There will be live entertainment both Saturday and Sunday.
Schedule of events
Saturday, Aug. 18
7 a.m.: Opening ceremony
7:30 a.m.: Juniors Round 1
8:34 a.m.: Women’s Round 1
9:06 a.m.: Military Round 1
11:30 a.m.: Open Round 1
Sunday, Aug. 19
7:30 a.m.: Open Round 2
10:10 a.m.: Military Quarterfinals
11:14 a.m.: Open Quarterfinals
12:34 p.m.: Juniors Semifinals
1:06 p.m.: Military Semifinals
1:38 p.m.: Open Semifinals
2:10 p.m.: Women Finals
2:41 p.m.: Juniors Finals
3:12 p.m.: Military Finals
3:43 p.m.: Open Finals
4:30 p.m.: Awards Presentation
Entertainment schedule
Saturday, Aug. 18
7 a.m.: National Anthem by Malen Hounshell
8 to 9:30 a.m.: Bret Jensen’s Death Valley Jubilee
10 a.m. to noon: Banned from the Beach
12:30 to 2 p.m.: Groove Persona
2:30 to 4:30 p.m.: Big Junior Little
Sunday, Aug. 19
8 to 9:30 a.m.: Jah Mon Soul
10 to 11:30 a.m.: Rising Son
Noon to 1:30 p.m.: The Divine Crime
2 to 4:30 p.m.: Pato Banton
Sponsors
The 2012 Naval Base Ventura County Point Mugu Surf Contest is presented by Navy Region Southwest Sustainable Solid Waste Management Program.
Other sponsors are:
Domino’s Pizza
Revolution Surf Shop
PODS
Lincoln Military Housing
Matunas
Channel Islands Logistics
Scosche
Ventura County Star
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
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