Day three of the Oakley Newport Beach Pro and Oakley Pro Junior ran in excellent two-to-four foot conditions at 56th Street in Newport Beach, California. Today’s action saw two-time event champion Nate Yeomans (San Clemente, CA), 27, move one step closer to his third Oakley Newport Beach Pro win,
The Oakley Newport Beach Pro, an ASP WQS 2-Star event, and the Oakley Pro Junior, an ASP Grade-2, represent the second stop on the Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series. The miniseries contains three events for both ASP WQS and ASP North America Pro Junior competitors and offers an additional prize purse to the series winner at year’s end. Last year’s Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series Champion Adam Virs (Ventura, CA), 29, was defeated today by Jesse Merle-Jones (North Shore, HI), 29, eliminating the reigning champ’s chances for a repeat victory.
Yeomans was a form surfer in the event today, taking advantage of the roping lefts breaking off of the 56th Street jetty. The goofy-footer advanced into Round 5 with his heat win today.
“It’s amazing how there’s always waves for this contest,” Yeomans said. “The last few years have been pumping. A couple of years ago it was like perfect 56th Street.”
Yeomans, a two-time Oakley Newport Beach Pro Champion, is one step closer to claiming his third Oakley Newport Beach Pro title. The San Clemente native is fresh off of the European leg of the ASP WQS and is out to claim event title number three.
“That’s definitely the goal,” Yeomans said. “I’m just taking it one heat at a time and I’m just having fun. There’s no pressure or stress and I’m just enjoying it. There are waves and it’s going to be a good contest. It’s nice to be home because I’ve been gone all summer. This is my little break before the end of the year and I always look forward to it.”
“I want to be the three-time Newport Champ,” says Yeomans. “That would fit well going with the Macy’s California Trificta Series. I want my nickname to be ‘Newport Nate’ and I think that can only happen if I win it three times. There is always good competition in Newport, and I’m sure there are plenty of guys who want to take me out. So, game on.”
