Thursday marked the opening day of the World Surf League’s Pismo Beach Open presented by Dignity Health.
The four-day event consists of 96 men and 32 women from all over the world for 1,000 championship tour points. This is the women’s inaugural Pismo Beach open. On the men’s side, there will be four Central Coast representatives, including 21-year-old Arroyo Grande native, Joel Bishop.
This event provides as a huge stepping stone for up and coming surfers who want a professional career.
“I’m still learning a lot from the competition. I like free surf, but I wanted to push it forward in the competition still. I came here just a little bit early to get used to the waves, and I’ve been loving it here,” said Kevin Cortez, a surfer from Nicaragua. “The waves have been fun, and this past week, it’s been super good.”
The World Surf League’s Pismo Beach Open continues through Sunday, October 14.
