Locals are gathering at Morro Rock this week to watch pro surfers face off in the 4th annual SLO Cal Open competition.
About 140 surfers, men and women, are competing in the World Surf League Qualifying Series this week. It’s an event that allows surfers to win points to rise up in national rankings.
Bob Voglin founded the nonprofit, Surfing for Hope, which hosts these events every year. Proceeds go to local cancer organizations.
He said he’s happy to see big waves.
“This happens to be an El Niño year, and a true El Niño year– we haven't had one in probably five or six years– so we get a lot of bigger surf,” Voglin said.
Day 1 of the competition saw 4 to 6 foot waves. According to Surfline, waves could get up to 10 feet on Wednesday and Thursday.
Max Beach, a pro surfer from Southern California, was stretching and getting ready to paddle out. He said Morro Bay is one of his favorite places to compete.
“It's nice to have an event with some solid surf, and this is maybe one of my favorite events on the circuit at Morro Bay– as we're watching a left just peeling down the sandbar right now,” Beach said.
The surf competition will continue until Sunday afternoon.
