The World Surf League (WSL) Powerade Surf Open recently took place in Acapulco, Mexico. Surfers came from all over the world to compete this event was held in Playa Revolcadero, a beach with a stunning backdrop of massive cliffs descending into the beautiful blue Pacific Ocean.
Throughout the year, surfing competitors travel all over the globe competing on this Qualifying Series (QS). We traveled to the event with our son, Chris Kervin, who competed in Event number 37 in the Qualifying Series of the World Surf league.
The Qualifying Series is a series of surf events where surfers earn points and prize money in attempt to advance into higher point awarding series events. Your point total from the previous year determines what events you can enter the following season. Surfers from all around the globe compete on the Qualifying Series with the ultimate goal to gain entry onto the Championship Tour. Only the top 34 surfers in the world qualify for the Championship Tour and a chance of being crowned World Champ.
The ultimate winner of this year’s event was Costa Rican Carlos Munoz who has been on the Qualifying series since 2009. Carlos’s victory at this year’s Powerade Surf Open Acapulco was his first win on the WSL Qualifying Series.
Surfers refer to the Qualifying Tour as the “Grind” due to the amount of time required in training, traveling and competing. Surfers can spend years on the Qualifying Tour before making the Championship Tour, unfortunately for the vast majority, they fall short of the goal.
A handful of the top young LA and Orange county surfers ventured to Acapulco to compete in this year’s event. Cole Housmand (event runner-up), Kei Kobayashi, Dylan Hoard, Nolan Rapoza, John Mel, Tyler Gunter and newcomer Christopher Kervin are a few of the southern California surfers who competed in this year’s event.
Christopher Kervin who resides in Newport Beach is a 19 year old Floridian transplant who is competing on the Qualifying Series for the first time this year. Chris began surfing at the age of fourteen near Sebastian Inlet, Florida. Chris moved to Newport Beach in 2013 and competed for Corona del Mar High School Surf team. Chris competed in many local amateur events before surfing in a handful of World Surf League junior events last year.
Christopher’s career best finish is a semifinal appearance in last year’s US Open Junior Pro. Chris is currently sponsored by Superbrand Surfboards and Apparel, Nixon Watches, and Surfside Surfshop in Costa Mesa, California.