National Surf League | The Game

Brad Gerlach is stoked. The former pro surfer and founder of the NSL Game was instrumental in getting surfing into the X Games in the first place, and after two years of sub-mediocre waves at the Huntington Pier he’s psyching to see it move down to the throaty barrels of Puerto Escondido.

"It was ESPN’s idea, actually," Gerlach says. "They didn’t need any convincing to move it. And after talking with Sean Collins, Puerto was the most logical place for the two-day timeframe in early August."

"The surfers came to us," ESPN’s, Tim Reed explains of the move. "It makes sense, too: you’ve got skateboarders jumping 70 feet and motocrossers going 90 feet and surfers ripping two foot waves — world-class surfers need world-class surf."

Indeed. And if Puerto’s Playa Zicatela delivers what it’s capable of — that is to say, dredging, eight- to 12-foot spitting barrels — it could make heli-rollerblading seem almost boring.

Gerlach has been down there all week, attending town meetings, setting up dugouts, talking with local surfers, and getting some much needed tubetime himself. "There’s a ton of stuff to organize," he’s saying. "But I want to make sure everything’s just right so The Game is showcased as best as can be."

And it’s not just the USA anymore, either. In addition to the main attraction X Game: East vs. West, which’ll feature America’s best surfers, including Slater, Knox, Wardo, Machado and more, Gerlach is planning a Mexican Game for local surfers.

"Mexico is an up and coming surf nation," Gerlach explains. "This’ll give ‘em a chance to show what they can do to the best in the world. Plus, it’s a way of keeping ‘em involved in the whole thing — it’s their beach."

They picked two of Puerto’s best surfers — Roberto Salinas and Raul Noyola — and they’ll put all the other local’s names in a hat to decide the teams. "Parsons and Kechele (West and East coaches) are going to help coach each team," Ger says. "These guys are going to learn a lot on both sides."

And while coverage won’t be quite as large on the beach as the last couple years — Huntington Beach saw hundreds of ESPN media crew, TV trucks, Jumbotron, etc during the events — TV coverage is going to be giant. The event runs August 1st and/or 2nd and ABC is picking it up and will run the contest nationally on Saturday, August 6th along with other X Games events that are happening live in LA.

Stay tuned to Surfline for the full story from Puerto.

2005 X GAMES TEAMS

EAST COAST
Coach: Matt Kechele
Team members:
C.J. Hobgood
Damien Hobgood
Baron Knowlton
Cory Lopez
Shea Lopez
Peter Mendia
Todd Morcom
Kelly Slater

WEST COAST
Coach: Mike Parsons
Team members:
Shane Beschen
Tim Curran
Keiran Horn
Taylor Knox
Rob Machado
Pat O’Connell
Dane Reynolds
Chris Ward

SURFLINE.COM