The marquee event of the upcoming Los Cabos Open of Surf awaits Saturday, June 22, at Monuments Beach in the foreground of The Cape hotel's majestic view with the Soft Top Soiree featuring some very familiar faces to the surfing world. Former Championship Tour (CT) favorite Josh Kerr, the current WSL Airborne Director and one of surfing's aerial innovators, joins the fun alongside the likes of icon Rob Machado, one of the world's best women Sage Erickson and a list of fellow surfing notables.
A preview of Monuments Beach with incoming swell ahead of the Los Cabos Open of Surf Soft Top Soiree at The Cape on Saturday, June 22.
Los Cabos isn't a new destination for Kerr after his experience competing at the men's Los Cabos Open of Surf QS 6,000 that began in 2012, but now he returns in a new format with one-on-one heats until a winner is crowned at Monuments. The Australian has already endeavored into specialty events such as the Four Seasons Maldives Champions and brings that same light-hearted spirit to the first-ever Soft Top Soiree at The Cape.
WSL caught up with Kerr in between flights from Waco, Texas, and heading to Cabo San Lucas.
WSL: Thanks for your time, Josh. What are you looking forward to about this upcoming event?
Kerr: This should be a really fun event. With these things you never really know what you're getting yourself into but the vibe should be great. Nothing too serious and just a little carrot dangling with some money involved to push yourself a bit to perform (laughs).
Kerr and his daughter Sierra, who is already following her father's footsteps with an impressive air game at a young age. - WSL / Cait Miers
But surfing with peers and heroes like Machado is going to be such a fun time. Obviously looking forward to sharing a beer at the hotel with all the boys as much as I am to surf the event. I think that vibe will just go into the contest itself. I'm all about these kind of competitions.
And this isn't you first time at an event like this. Do you think back to that Maldives event in preparation for this one?
I think it'll be similar to the Maldives event we've done in the past just with soft tops and a different style wave. Some of us like to ride the longboard soft tops and some will ride the tiny little fish style as well so it'll be cool to see what everyone chooses to ride.
Kerr now looks for a second WSL specialty title while enjoying a first visit to Monuments and The Cape hotel.
This also isn't your first time to Los Cabos, correct? How good is it to be heading back, this time with your family?
I've done the QS down there at Zippers before and been plenty of times so I'm familiar with it. I haven't surfed Monuments before or stayed at The Cape but Los Cabos in general is a destination I've been stoked on heading to with the family for quite some time. It's a place I could see myself spending more time at and being one of our favorites as a family.
What's your ideal soft top choice?
I like going finless on soft tops and love going frontside so surfing Monuments is going to be a little tricky. The regular footers are at a bit of a disadvantage on the soft tops going backside but we'll still have fun with it.
Look for Kerr and the other seven competitors this weekend at the Los Cabos Open of Surf Soft Top Soiree at The Cape June 22.
Soft Top Soiree at The Cape: Kerrzy is Ready for the Fun
Andrew Nichols
The marquee event of the upcoming Los Cabos Open of Surf awaits Saturday, June 22, at Monuments Beach in the foreground of The Cape hotel's majestic view with the Soft Top Soiree featuring some very familiar faces to the surfing world. Former Championship Tour (CT) favorite Josh Kerr, the current WSL Airborne Director and one of surfing's aerial innovators, joins the fun alongside the likes of icon Rob Machado, one of the world's best women Sage Erickson and a list of fellow surfing notables.
Los Cabos isn't a new destination for Kerr after his experience competing at the men's Los Cabos Open of Surf QS 6,000 that began in 2012, but now he returns in a new format with one-on-one heats until a winner is crowned at Monuments. The Australian has already endeavored into specialty events such as the Four Seasons Maldives Champions and brings that same light-hearted spirit to the first-ever Soft Top Soiree at The Cape.
WSL caught up with Kerr in between flights from Waco, Texas, and heading to Cabo San Lucas.
WSL: Thanks for your time, Josh. What are you looking forward to about this upcoming event?
Kerr: This should be a really fun event. With these things you never really know what you're getting yourself into but the vibe should be great. Nothing too serious and just a little carrot dangling with some money involved to push yourself a bit to perform (laughs).
But surfing with peers and heroes like Machado is going to be such a fun time. Obviously looking forward to sharing a beer at the hotel with all the boys as much as I am to surf the event. I think that vibe will just go into the contest itself. I'm all about these kind of competitions.
And this isn't you first time at an event like this. Do you think back to that Maldives event in preparation for this one?
I think it'll be similar to the Maldives event we've done in the past just with soft tops and a different style wave. Some of us like to ride the longboard soft tops and some will ride the tiny little fish style as well so it'll be cool to see what everyone chooses to ride.
This also isn't your first time to Los Cabos, correct? How good is it to be heading back, this time with your family?
I've done the QS down there at Zippers before and been plenty of times so I'm familiar with it. I haven't surfed Monuments before or stayed at The Cape but Los Cabos in general is a destination I've been stoked on heading to with the family for quite some time. It's a place I could see myself spending more time at and being one of our favorites as a family.
What's your ideal soft top choice?
I like going finless on soft tops and love going frontside so surfing Monuments is going to be a little tricky. The regular footers are at a bit of a disadvantage on the soft tops going backside but we'll still have fun with it.
Look for Kerr and the other seven competitors this weekend at the Los Cabos Open of Surf Soft Top Soiree at The Cape June 22.
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Los Cabos Open of Surf Soft Top Soiree at The Cape
Check out what's happening at the Los Cabos Open of Surf as it goes down.