As the air horn blares, signaling the end of the final for the Men’s Open Division, two days of surfing culminates and the fate of five surfers lies in the hands of the judges.

This is the 3rd Annual Naval Base Ventura County Point Mugu Surf Contest presented by Quiksilver. This two day event features a surfing contest with six different divisions: Active Duty Military, Men’s Open, Women’s, Young Gun’s (17 years and under), Bodyboard and the Quiksilver Expression Session.

In addition to the contest there was also live music, food, a beer garden, vendor displays and product giveaways.

This year’s event drew hundreds of local surfers as well as a handful of professionals from throughout California.

Most local surfers are aware that a world class wave sits just beyond a fence and a half-mile hike onto restricted government property.

With that knowledge, it’s as though each un-ridden wave crashes to the shore with unveiled beauty, laughing at your inability to dance with it.

“It’s great that the military opens this place up for this contest, and allows people who can’t normally surf here the opportunity to come check out this spot…it’s a real gem,” said Strider Wasilewski, announcer and Men’s Open Division competitor.

The Naval Base at Point Mugu, or “The Base” as it is called by local surfers, has some of the best waves in California. The deep, submarine caverns just offshore allow swells to travel through deep water and abruptly arrive on various sand bars which, with the right swell, create a world class wave.

The unfortunate thing, or fortunate depending on which side of the fence you stand on, these waves are generally off limits to the public because it is located within the confines of the Naval Base.

“It’s taken literally hundreds of volunteers,” said Dan Alpern, the marketing director for the morale, welfare and recreation department at Naval Base Ventura County.

“We have sixty of our Force Protection and security guys dealing with the public, and another hundred taking care of the staff, the logistics, and getting problems taken care of. It really takes a chain. No one person is doing the work for this event.”

Competition began Saturday morning at 7 a.m. with hundreds of surfers battling their way through heats in an attempt to make it to the finals.

One of Saturday’s main highlights came during the Quiksilver Expression Session, a free surfing event allowing eleven competitors the chance to pull off the best maneuver they can on each wave.

Dane Reynolds, a Ventura native, showed everyone why he is currently ranked sixth on the World Championship Tour by launching numerous aerial maneuvers well over 4 feet above the wave.

Dane tucked inside one wave and completely disappeared, making it seem as though he had been swallowed by the wall of water.

When he shot out into the white wash seconds later still standing on his board, the crowd burst into cheers.

“I actually work here as a lifeguard, so all summer long I’m surfing out here and I love it,” said Ventura College student David Dittmar.

Dittmar is in his second year at Ventura College, and is working on his general education requirements as he is currently undecided on his major.

His local knowledge of the break allowed him to advance through the quarterfinals.

Saturday saw a full day of sun, surfing and entertainment for everyone involved, and paved the way for an exciting day of surfing on Sunday.

With Mother Nature improving surf conditions under cobalt blue skies, Sunday was another great day for spectators and surfers alike.

Quarterfinal heats gave way to semi final heats, and the field of surfers continued to whittle down. With only 15 minutes in each heat to get the scores needed to advance, luck played almost more of a factor than skill.

“I surf out here a bit so I kind of know it, but it’s the ocean–sometimes you get lucky…it comes to you and thats it,” said Jesse Mota, who made his way into Sunday’s Men’s Open Division final.

Not getting the luck in his semi final heat was last year’s Men’s Open Division winner, Noah Erickson.

“I won it last year and I’m trying to repeat it this year,” said Erickson. “It’s kind of hard because there is a big target on my back now, so everyone is kind of gunning for me.”

Despite surfing strongly, Erickson was unable to get the waves needed to move into the final, and his hopes for a back-to-back victory were dashed in the semis when he was defeated by Mota and Keoni Cuccia.

After battling his way through multiple heats over the course of two days, with luck on his side and the skills to back it up,Ventura resident Cuccia walked away with the first place trophy in the Men’s Open Division.

For a list of the final results please visit www.cnic.navy.mil/Ventura/Recreation/2010SurfContest/index.htm.

(Chad Jones)

Jason Flick comes off the crest of a wave at Pt. Mugu. (Chad Jones)

Chad Weber Launches head first after crashing at the 202 Pt. Mugu Surf Competition. (Chad Jones)