The quarter finals wrapped up this morning and the semi-final heats
are set for 11 am this morning. The girls are making the best of the
conditions and the sun is beginning to shine. This morning the
conditions were glassy with waves between 2 – 4 feet.

Bianca Valenti, Summer Romero, Ashley Lloyd, and Chelsea Williams
will be competing in the first heat of the semi-finals. Last year’s
world champion Jen Smith will be competing again Janna Iron, Cori
Schumacher, and Kelly Nicely in the second heat of the semi-finals.

We have a live webcast of the event today!
Catch all the action from home. Watch the quarter finals, semis, and finals live!!!
Watch It

The Teenie Wahine and Menehune finals were this afternoon and those surfers are sure courageous! The Teenie Wahine division are competitors who are 9 years old and under… waves they were riding looked about head high because they are so small!

Jen Smith said a few words before the champions were announced. "I’m really impressed by their cross stepping," said Jen. The future of women’s longboarding is definitely in good hands.

Seven year-old Tiare Thompson from La Jolla, CA was the Teenie Wahine Champion and won a blue Roxy longboard. Second place was Ashley Beeson, followed by Kailey Biggs in thrid and Sidney Johnson in fourth.
 

In the Menehune division, girls between the ages of 10 and 13 years old could compete. 13 year-old Makala Smith from Dana Point, CA was the champion. "My future goal is to be as good as Jen Smith," said Makala after she accepted her trophy she also won a pink Roxy longboard. Lulu Erkeneff was runner up in second, followed by Avalon Johnson in thrid and finally Allyson Heinmeyer in fourth.

Congradulation to all the Teenie Wahine and Menehune competitors!

The pro qualifiers have wrapped up and Roxy team riders Jen Smith, Kassia Meador, Kelia Moniz, Crystal Dzigas, and Rachel Berry have all qualified for the quarter finals.

“The girls are all surfing really great. In the entire round of 32 EVERY heat was a great heat,” said Kassia Meador, “It used to be that you wouldn’t see good heats until the end, but at this event the competition was tough from the start. It is really apparent how important events like these are to the progression of women’s longboarding.”

At the event the there is a great spirit of camaraderie between the competitors. “We’re all having fun, there is a different vibe at this event. We all scream for each other. A great community vibe,” said Kassia. This spirit of camaraderie spills onto the spectators. The beach was packed with tons of children, parents, surfers, and beach goers all watching the ladies compete.

The qualifiers for the quarter finals are underway on day 2 of the Roxy Jam Cardiff. Roxy team riders Kelia Moniz and Crystal Dzigas qualified early on for the quarter finals. They scored first and second in their heat and will be competing against Summer Romero and  Bianca Valenti in the quarter finals. Kelia Moniz did an awesome hang five grab during the heat.

The conditions at Cardiff this morning are beautiful, sunny skies, the waves are 2-4 feet and have really improved with the high tide coming in. Spectators are enjoying the warm weather and the beach fair that is underway.

Music is playing, people are walking around and checking out the art and the different activities in the booths. Booths include painting, free haircuts from Paul Mitchell, charities such as Keep-A-Breast and goodies to snack on.   

Meet Roxy’s newest team rider: Rachel Spear! This 26 years-old and was born Kailua on Oahu. She currently lives on the North Shore in Hawaii. Last year her favorite place to surf was Chun’s Reef on the North Shore but right now she likes the Marine base in Kailua. She has been surfing for 15 years and learned to longboard in Waikiki. This is a really exciting time for Rachel, full of "firsts."

It’s her first time…

Traveling alone.
Rachel traveled by herself for the first time to get to Cardiff.

Surfing in cold water.
In Hawaii the water is a lot warmer, it’s different for Rachel surfing here in California. "My toes are freezing!" said Rachel.

Surfing on the Kassia board.
Rachel got a new board for the competition, the Kassia board. "I love it but it can be difficult to ride a new board. The new little tendencies of the board really keep you on your toes!" said Rachel.

Competing at Cardiff.

This is her first time surfing at Cardiff and her first time surfing in California as a Roxy girl. Rachel really really likes Caridff, the small beach town feel."No more playing it safe, have to go all out now," said Rachel, about the rest of the competition at Cardiff. Good luck Rachel!

Roxy team rider Kelia Moniz kicks off day two of Roxy Jam Cardiff with a great ride and won her first heat.

"I was a little nervous when I first got into the water, but then I warmed up. The water is not that bad and it’s getting more consistent," said Kelia.

Right now the conditions are slightly bumpy and textured but they’re hoping to improve with the high tide around noon.

Cardiff has a special place in Kelia’s heart, this is where she was first scouted by Roxy team manager Torri Alexander two years ago.

"I guess they saw me at the competition but I didn’t know it. They talked to my mom about it but she didn’t tell me until a couple of months later, she didn’t want me to get too excited," said Kelia. Since that time Kelia has become one of Roxy’s star team riders, spending her time surfing in Hawaii when she’s not traveling the world for competitions. She also has a blog. Read about all that she’s up to! 

Image: Kelia with her surf board right after she came out of the water

The qualifying round of the 3rd annual Roxy Jam Cardiff, featuring the Linda Benson Women’s World Longboard Pro, featured sunny skies, warm water, and excellent surfing. The qualifying round had many great heats but three bright stars: Cori Schumacher, Rachel Spear, and Juli Warisaya. 

Local north county surfer Cori Schumacher demolished the competition. She had the highest combined scores of any competitor today. Roxy’s newest team rider Rachel Spear, from Hawaii, had a great debut at her first event in California as a Roxy girl. She made it through both of her heats and will be competing tomorrow. International surfer, Juli Warisaya, from Japan placed first in both of her heats and will also be competing tomorrow. 

The conditions were peaky with waves between two and four feet. Warm water made the competitors wary of sting rays and they were cautioned to shuffle their feet. Tomorrow the defending longboarding champion Jen Smith, Kassia Meador, and Hawaiians Kelia Moniz and Crystal Dzigas will all be competing.

For the complete results of the day click here.

For more event photos click here.

While it is fun to surf, it is also important to stay safe while you’re in the water. Here are a few tips from surfers (right to left) Anneke Barrie, Kaitlin Maguire, Tory Gilkenson, and Rachel Berry on how to stay safe.

To avoid being stung by sting rays you should:
1.    Shuffle your feet
2.    Try not to walk if you can help it
3.    Watch the water for sting rays

If you do end up being stung by a sting ray you should immediately get out of the water and soak your foot in a tub of hot water.

Beware when you’re in the water, even Roxy girls can get hurt! On her way out for her first heat, Roxy rider Anneke Barrie was stung. “I was on my first step out and then it got me,” said Anneke. After soaking her foot Anneke wrapped it up and got ready for her next heat.

It’s a beautiful morning at the Roxy Jam Cardiff, warm 78 degrees with not a cloud in the sky. The conditions are glassy and peaky with 3 – 4 ft. waves and the first two rounds of the contest are off to a great start. The water is super warm. Roxy girls Torri, Jamie, and Roxy’s newest team rider from
Hawaii, Rachel Spear had an early morning interview in the water with Fox 5. You can watch the interviews on Fox 5 all day today. Competitors and spectators kicked off the morning with a delicious pancake breakfast, courtesy of the Encinitas Fire Department. The waves are starting to cooperate and there are a lot of spectators on the beach watching the ladies compete. Surfers have come from all over, including Hawaii, Australia, the Netherlands and Japan, a great international representation!

Listen to LIVE audio from the Roxy Jam.

Live results from the event will be available online all weekend.