The inaugural World Surf League (WSL) Pacifico Surf Open Cerritos, a men's Qualifying Series (QS) 1000, Finals Day draw is set after more blistering performances. A slight drop in swell to provided two-to-four-foot, clean conditions at Cerritos Beach's pristine lineup. The Round of 32 and Round of 16 witnessed more excellent showcases from proven QS elite and emerging event threats with head-to-head bouts awaiting
Jett Schilling Strikes with Phenomenal Showing to Conclude Round of 16
After posting an excellent 8.50 (out of a possible 10) to kickstart his Round of 32 battle, Jett Schilling (USA) raised the bar once more to post a near-perfect 9.93 in the Round of 16 courtesy of a massive straight air and combination of major maneuvers after. Schilling's 17.43 (out of a possible 20) topped the list as the day's best performance to close out the Round of 16 and sends himself flaring into Finals Day - his second-consecutive Quarterfinal showing - alongside Luke Wyler's (USA) 9.00 of his own.
"The waves are firing. This beach is amazing, the people are amazing, the food's good so I'm just super stoked," said Schilling. "I came down here as a grom and now coming back you see these kids and get a little nervous because you don't want to lose to them. But I remember being in the position and wanting to beat that older guy (laughs). I'm just grateful to be here and competing and posting those kind of scores is great for the confidence."
Three 9-point rides and counting for Taro Watanabe (USA) as he continues to flourish. - WSL / Andrew Nichols
Taro Watanabe's Insatiable Form Continues with Multiple 9-Point Rides
One of Malibu, California's cemented QS threats, Taro Watanabe, continues to show his decimating power and precision after commanding wins in both the Round of 32 and Round of 16. Watanabe's timing on the dreamy righthander of Cerritos offered multiple sections for the 22-year-old to showcase his variety for a 9.17 before flaring out one more in the Round of 16 with another 9.00 and 17.17 heat total. Now, Watanabe returns to Finals Day after his recent runner-up finish in Puerto Rico.
"I feel really good and that's rare [to get two nines today] so I'm just going to enjoy it. The waves are so fun and just kept coming to me and I feel like I don't have to do much just time it right," said Watanabe. "I'm stoked to be here in Cerritos and just thank you to everyone watching, I'm super happy. The power of the wave here is very similar to back home and has enough wall on it to feel like my home break. I've just been feeling good and confident in my surfing and just want to keep it going."
Cerritos is in good hands courtesy of Lucas Cassity's (MEX) multitude of excellence showings. - WSL / Andrew Nichols
Lucas Cassity takes Cerritos to the Quarterfinals
The talent pool in Cerritos is only growing, and Lucas Cassity (MEX) is a byproduct of that emergence. The 16-year-old, Cassity, displayed his ability to utilize both his backhand and forehand aerial approach, posting an excellent 8.17 in his Round of 16 battle with event standouts Cannon Carr (USA), Kepa Mendia (USA), and Luke Guinaldo (USA).
"It feels great to have all this support and at the beginning of the event I was a little nervous just to have everyone cheering for me. But then I used it to my advantage and just became much more comfortable," said Cassity. "It's crazy. This is the best result I've had in a QS and I feel like I just haven't been able to show my surfing. I'm just happy to make it through a couple heats and now be into Finals Day at home."
Sebastian Williams (MEX) keeps pushing himself, posting an excellent 8.83 with his aerial antics. - WSL / Andrew Nichols
Sebastian Williams' Electric Showcase Surges into Finals Day
Sebastian Williams took flight all all his own for another impressive showing and is into a sought after Finals Day. Williams took down his Round of 32 heat before soaring toward an excellent 8.83 and a Round of 16 win. Known for his aerial antics, Williams continued to show his variety of power and air potential and now prepares for a massive Finals Day in his home country.
"To make Finals Day in the QS has always been a challenge for me. I'll excel the entire contest and just never to seem to make it into Finals Day," said Williams. "I just love surfing. I love surfing in competitions and having the crowd there. I know some guys don't really like it but I just love everything about competing. It was hard putting my heart into smaller waves for events and now anything above ankle-high is game for me so I'm stoked."
Event organizers will reconvene at 7:30 a.m. MST for a likely 8:00 a.m. MST start.
Day 2: Perfection Posted in Pumping Conditions
A high-performance spectacle unraveled at the World Surf League (WSL) Pacifico Surf Open Cerritos, a men's Qualifying Series (QS) 1000, in pristine three-to-five-foot, building conditions with top seeds putting on dominant performances. A multitude of excellent performances, scoring an 8.00 (out of a possible 10) and above, led to the culmination of two perfect 10-point rides to finish off the men's Round of 64. Now, stacked Round of 32 bouts await today's standouts for their chance moving into Finals Day.
A Pair of Perfect 10-point Rides from Kepa Mendia and Cannon Carr
After a full day of excellent showcases, Kepa Mendia and Cannon Carr capped off the Round of 64 with a pair of perfect 10-point rides in their Heat 16 clash. Heading into the five-minute mark, both surfers were in the first and second place positions with Mendia holding a slim lead over Carr. But, Mendia found a late afternoon gem that allowed him to soar toward his 10-point ride and ride out to the crowd's disbelief. Then, moments later, Carr opened up a running righthander with a sweeping carve before taking flight on a massive closeout section and had the crowd in an uproar to end Day 2.
"I'm baffled and that was just a really fun heat I got to share that heat with my best friend and he dropped a 10 too," said Mendia. "That was one of the sickest heats ever. I feel great and just happy to make it through that first round and hopefully keep going. This wave is epic and I saw it this morning after watching Dimitri Poulos who I'm staying with and everyone just kept saying as the tide changes it's only going to get better."
An incredible performance from Taro Watanabe (USA) set a high standard early with an 18.24 heat total. - WSL / Andrew Nichols
Taro Watanabe Unleashes Forehand Power with an 18.24 Heat Total
An absolute showcase from Taro Watanabe posted the event's highest single-wave score, a 9.57 and an 18.24 (out of a possible 20) heat total. Watanabe's electric forehand accrued the day's first excellent score of an 8.67 before finding a Cerritos Beach gem to unleash his backhand power reset the scale for his opponents. Plus, Sasha Donnanno last-minute heroics helped keep his surge thriving behind Watanabe's show-stopping performance.
"The waves were firing and I was just surfing, getting waves, it was so fun. This is my first time here in Cerritos after going to Los Cabos as my first surf trip when I was a kid," said Watanabe. "Everyone here is so kind from right when I first got here and the water is as beautiful as it gets. In that heat I had two good scores already and then that left came with a perfect line to it. I've been working on my backhand and the wave did all the work, I just had to time it right. I'm so stoked, I haven't gotten a nine in awhile (laughs)."
Cerritos' own Lucas Cassity (MEX) put on a dismantling performance. - WSL / Andrew Nichols
Local Hero Lucas Cassity Taps into Excellent Showing
One of Cerritos' own, and a Association de Surf Baja California Sur standout, Lucas Cassity was right at home with his full array of abilities on display. Cassity's power matched that of his aerial antics to post an excellent 16.80 heat total and overtake the lead from Wheeler Hasburgh, who also advanced with an 8.17 of his own. Now, the 16-year-old looks to keep progressing through a stacked field with the roars from his home crowd behind him.
"I was a little stressed at the beginning. I was out of position for the whole set and went on a really bad wave so I had to regroup and made my way up the scale," said Cassity. "It's great to have this event here. I surf here almost every afternoon after school. It's pretty easy with no flights, no hotels and just staying at my house is really cool."
A fast-rising threat in Lucas Owston (USA) continues to push excellent performances. - WSL / Andrew Nichols
Lucas Owston Rounds Out SoCal Takeover
A multi-finalist in the 2024/2025 season already, Lucas Owston entered this event looking for more success and thrived in his debut. The Oceanside, California competitor put his forehand power on rail to push his way toward an excellent 8.67 as the afternoon conditions continued to deliver. But, the task at hand is just getting started and Owston knows what it takes to succeed at this level.
"I'm feeling great after that first heat. I've been to Cabos a few times with my family, being from Oceanside it's pretty close but I'm loving it here," said Owston. "The waves are firing and the conditions are super good so I was just stoked to have a heat in it. I want to say thank you to O'Neil and my sponsors and my family, my silbings, and my girlfriend. Thank you for everything and all the support."
Jett Schiling (USA) continues to show his tenacity in the jersey with an 8.50 in his debut. - WSL / Andrew Nichols
Also earning Round of 64 breakthrough wins, Jett Schilling added an 8.50 to the day's highlights alongside early success from Sebastian Williams, Hayden Rodgers, John Mel, Tyler Gunter, Parker Cohn, Taj Lindblad, Cole McCaffray, Dimitri Poulos, Luke Guinaldo, Shane McNulty, and Titus Kaimana Santucci.
Event organizers will reconvene at 7:30 a.m. MST to determine a possible 8:00 a.m. MST start.
Day 1: Mexico's Regional Talents Clash on Opening Day
The inaugural World Surf League (WSL) Pacifico Surf Open Cerritos, a men's Qualifying Series (QS) 1000, kicked off with Round of 80 action in clean, two-to-three-foot conditions. Mexico's proven and emerging talents battled for spots into the top-seeded Round of 64 with Round of 80, Heats 1 - 8, finished in their entirety. Now, these opening day standouts await the test of North America's regional standouts alongside fellow countrymen looking to make statements all their own.
Kin Mateo Cadena's (MEX) got things started but his backhand laid down the day's best heat total. - WSL / Andrew Nichols
Kin Mateo Cadena Elevates the Scale in his Debut
A decimating showing from Kin Mateo Cadena pushed the scale to near-excellence, posting 7.67 (out of a possible 10) on his backhand attack. Cademas wasn't finished on the running rights pulsing into the lineup and posted a day's best 14.84 (out of a possible 20) heat total to earn an impressive Round of 80 heat win. The rising talent now looks to keep pushing the standard among North America's heavy hitters.
"That was so fun. The waves were really good in that heat and I wasn't surfing that great on my forehand but my backhand is my strong suit," said Cadena. "I wasn't expecting much just with competition surfing being way different and I don't really do that well in the first heat so that was really nice to the nerves out. I'm so grateful to be able to do a QS event here in Mexico and hopefully I can make it to both."
Sasha Donnanno (MEX) set the scale early for opening day action. - WSL / Andrew Nichols
Sasha Donnanno Returns to the QS in Surging Form
Puerto Escondido, Mexico's Sasha Donnanno made easy work of his QS return in the consistent conditions on offer. Donnanno's sharp forehand took over his Round of 80, Heat 3 affair against three of his fellow countrymen and shined with a 13.10 heat total. The QS veteran knows the task at hand and has his mindset determined against the formidable field on hand.
"I just wanted to let it go. Lately when I compete, I lose because there's no waves and not because of my surfing," said Donnanno. "Now I just want to keep the ball rolling after this round had all our Mexican competitors, now it's time for the bigger guys so I'm stoked. It's been five years since we had a QS so this amazing and I love competing at this level. The next one is in my hometown of Puerto Escondido and I want to win that one as well but the goal is to make Finals Day here first so I'm stoked."
Proven QS competitor Sasha Donnanno (MEX) put on a showcase in his WSL return. - WSL / Andrew Nichols
Colima's Jay Granados Ibarra Displays his Power on Opening Day
Also showing his ability to attack both the left and right of Cerritos Beach's lineup, Jay Granados Ibarra posted an impressive 12.16 heat total to kickstart his campaign. Ibarra eagerly awaits his next showing in the WSL jersey when competition resumes.
"I was really excited to compete and then to get some good scores with that was great," said Ibarra. "It's going to be cool to surf against the next level of surfers who are coming from California. I felt really lucky to get those scores and now I just want to show my surfing more. Just to be here is amazing. This place and the people are great and the waves are really fun."
Fresh off an injury and back in the jersey, Mike Velasquez (MEX) found a big heat win. - WSL / Andrew Nichols
Making a big return to competition all his own, Mike Velascocapitalized on his priority to unleash a precise backhand attack. But, unfortunately for Baja California Sur, Mexico's own Martin Olea, Velasquez held that priority as Olea looked to finish off the righthander leading into Velasquez and accrued a priority interference. Velasquez held firm for a debut heat win and now prepares for big Round of 64 appearance.
Also earning debut heat wins, Cooper Roberts, Gael Jimenez, Romeo Kenai Olea Ostin, and Vali Quetzal Olea Ostinall move into the Round of 64 with plenty of momentum.
Event organizers will reconvene at 7:30 a.m. MST to determine a possible 8:00 a.m. MST.
Watch Live
The Pacifico Surf Open Cerritos holds a competition beginning November 20 through 23 at Cerritos Beach, Baja Surf California, Mexico. Once called ON, the event will be broadcast on www.WorldSurfLeague.com, the free WSL App and WSL Youtube channel.