By:  Aaron Peluso

Last year when I wrote the 2003 Cabo write up I challenged everyone to ask themselves why they weren't there in person.  From the looks of things, it seems that many of you took those words to heart.  2004 marks the first year that a large number of amateur riders traveled for the event.  Some came to compete in the new amateur division while others just came to witness the skimming and of course snag some for themselves.

This combined with the contribution of Shut Up Frank's and Corona resulted in by far the largest Cabo contest yet.  The contest was practically the talk of the town in Todos and large numbers of local residents came out to witness the event.  Corona and Shut Up Franks set up a food and beverage stand right on the beach.  On Saturday contestants were even treated to free food and drink courtesy of of Frank's local restaurant.  Another benefit given to competitors was free rooms at local hotels.  Another first in the skimboarding world that worked out great!

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The waves at the contest this year were sub-par by Cabo standards, but still great compared to every other contest.  Shifting conditions challenged competitors to work hard to find the best waves, and make the most of them.  The result was a final heat made up established names that would surprise no one.  Bill Bryan, George Bryan, Brandon Sears and Paulo Prietto all fought there way through 35 competitors to wind up in the top four, and they earned it.  Bill was skimming in true beak dog fashion throughout the event landing tricks many hadn't even seen before, in his heat.  George skimmed consistently throughout the event somehow managing to always pick out the best wraps and liners.  Brandon Sears was almost unstoppable with his frontside  liners until a pulled hamstring forced him to be almost unstoppable with huge boosts out the back and backside wraps.  Paulo skimmed incredibly throughout the event but was unable to pull it all together for the final.

The final results broke down as follows:

1. Bill Bryan
2. George Bryan
3. Brandon Sears
4. Paulo Prietto
5. Miles Grobman
6. Jaime Lovett
7. Jesse Westgaard
8. Jake Stinnett
9. Keith Peery
10. Grady Archbold
11. Joey Vavala
12. Paul Wade
13. Hunter Poller
14. Aaron Peluso
15. Brandon Rothe
16. Ben K.

And that was just the contest.  As always there is much more going on in Cabo than just the event itself.  In fact, the best part is usually the free skimming back in Cabo.  Skimboarders descend on the town like lemmings all searching for the same thing, the perfect barrel.  While hotel security may hate us, the bars and water taxi's love us.  So I would say it works out in the end.  This year was a little more fragmented than others with different groups splitting up all over the place.  But my group was able to score some really great waves and I suspect the same goes for everyone else that was in town.  If they weren't too drained from the nightlife that is.

So this was just one more for the books.  At this pace we should see the $50,000 Cabo Classic in no time.

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