Even before the last wave was caught at the 44th Annual Rincon Classic, participants, organizers and spectators alike were considering it a year to remember. Originally called for the weekend of Jan. 31-Feb. 1, Classic Director Chris Keet along with Britt Merrick, owner of headline sponsor Channel Islands Surfboards, switched gears due to a slowing storm system that made the conditions far below ideal. The Classic ended up taking place the following weekend, Feb. 7-8, and it was an impressively good call.
“The perfect interval, size, and extreme westerly direction delivered flawless overhead to double-overhead surf,” organizers stated on the Rincon Classic website. “Many believe it was the single best day of waves ever seen in the cove, and unquestionably the best in Rincon Classic history.”
Beth O’Rourke of Ventura took part, and while she placed a formidable sixth in the Lady Legends category for surfers 55 and older, she was less than enthused with her own performance…