The Florida Pro/Am was a great contest as always. We scored fun waves on Friday and Saturday that were breaking in normal Vilano fashion in the waist high range. On Sunday, a nor easter rolled in and the conditions worsened. There was a bit of a weather delay and the contest didn’t finish till later on. This surely didn’t damper the mood at the contest though as everyone came back after the weather delay and put on the show in the finals.
A few standouts from the weekend were John Akerman who took first place in the Men’s Professional division. He has entered two contest this year and won both so he is on a terror this summer. Mason Broussard who is the newest member of the Zap team was throwing some crazy tech and finished in fifth place. He won the crossover tour and we are super stoked for him! Ellen Wood finished second in the Women’s Professional and she used her monkey drop to take full advantage this weekend making it to waves others didn’t. Casey Kiernan was also throwing down with her powerful style that sticks out and she finished in the top four. Last but not least, Nick Turdo was turning heads all weekend. He got one of the best waves of the contest on Saturday connecting with a solid section and getting a big barrel. The Pro’s are definitely going to have to look out for him!
We also want to give props to Naji Taha who won best wave of the event. He was showing some serious style and is definitely an up and coming in the Pro ranks.
Finally, everyone should thank RDS owner Steve Pullara who works his butt off to make this event what it is every year. We are super stoked to support this event!
