Perfect weather and a solid 5-8 foot-plus swell held up throughout the weekend in Santa Cruz for the WSA Prime event, presented by “Got Milk” at the legendary Steamer Lane.  WSA Prime is an invitation-only contest series, comprised of top amateurs, including many members of the USA Surf Team.

Bubble Gum Surf Wax team rider, Dominic DiPietro from Carlsbad, put together four strong heats in pumping surf en route to a big win in the Under 18 division.  The result boosted the 16-year old from 10th to third in the Under 18 division’s overall WSA Prime season ratings (behind Dane Zaun and Christian Arballo) with just two events to go.

“The Lane is a shifty and tricky spot,” DiPietro said. “I’m glad I got here in time to do a free surf the day before the contest. This is huge win for me and I’m super stoked.”

Bubble Gum Rider, Christian Saenz Finishes Third
Fellow Bubble Gum rider, Christian Saenz (Huntington Beach) also made the final, finishing in third place. Saenz now holds down the 4th spot in the Under 18 ratings. During the see-saw final, DiPietro held off a red hot Kolohe Andino, who had just posted an 18.26 heat total in the Under 16 division to take the win over fellow super-groms Luke Davis and Bubble Gum rider Ian Crane.

Saenz opened up the final with a huge 9+ score, linking multiple hooks and snaps from the outside “middle peak” all the way to the inside. Despite the strong start, Saenz wasn’t able to secure a strong back-up score.  Meanwhile, staying cool under pressure, DiPietro waited patiently at “the slot,” the peak closer to the bluff, where he tracked down two reeling righthanders that allowed committed top to bottom turns out the back. DiPietro took the win with a solid 15.10 heat total, over Andino (13.77), Saenz (12.83), and Malibu’s Conrad Carr (8.07).