Bud Light Surf Series Hits San Onofre

Local Mike Losness and Aussie Claire Bevilacqua win the event.

The Bud Light Lime Surf Series kicked off the summer this weekend at Church in San Onofre State Beach. San Clemente local Mike Losness and Australian Claire Bevilacqua won the event, which featured 32 of the world's top men surfers and the top eight women surfers.

"I wanted to do an event where there's no losers and I invite all the best surfers that I love to watch have a really fun atmosphere," said contest director Benji Weatherly. "Usually after athletes surf their heats, they leave. With this event, I have nine pros that just want to play cornhole, have a couple of Bud Lights and just chill on the beach."

Although conditions proved less than favorable--a northwest wind blowing at 20 knots gave the surf a residual lump and bump--the atmosphere was fun and lighthearted. 

"As bad as it looked out there, the waves were actually a little bit steeper today," said pro surfer Jimmy Hogan, winner of the all-stars series. "I think yesterday was better, but it wasn't as bad as I thought as it was going to be."

Many surfers featured in Sunday's Expression Session--including Pat O'Connell, Chris Brown and Vince de la Peña--were the Bud Surf Tour's top surfers from the 1980s and 1990s. Kelly Slater also made an appearance in the Expression Session.

The next and final stop of the Bud Light Lime Surf Series is Labor Day weekend, Sept. 3-5, at Ventura Point in Ventura.

Read the full article at: https://patch.com/california/sanclemente/bud-light-surf-series-opens-at-san-onofre