Locals and surfing fans took the opportunity to visit the Naval Base Ventura County for the NBVC Point Mugu Surf Contest Aug. 20. Civilians are rarely allowed on the base, and contest surfers got to ride the seldom-accessible south swell with men and women from the U.S. military in attendance.
At the surf contest, Matt Merel of the U.S. Coast Guard took first place, Jeffrey Easson of the U.S. Navy placed second, Simon Blanco of the Coast Guard came in third and Craig Owings of the U.S. Air Force placed fourth in the military division. Tyler Newton won the men’s open division and big wave surfer Peter Mel announced the event.