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> News > John Mel Claims Maiden QS Victory at 2019 Oaxaca Pro pres. by Corona

surfing News

John Mel Claims Maiden QS Victory at 2019 Oaxaca Pro pres. by Corona

John Mel (USA) wins his first-ever QS Final at the 2019 Oaxaca Pro pres. by Corona, at Playa Zicatela, Puerto Escondido, Mexico, October 20. Image credit: / WSL/Andrew Nichols

20 October 2019

The World Surf League (WSL) Men’s Qualifying Series (QS) Oaxaca Pro QS 1,500 presented by Corona crowned John Mel (USA) its victor over Jackson Butler (USA) in pumping six-to-eight foot swell at Playa Zicatela, Puerto Escondido. This marked both Butler and Mel’s first-ever QS Final and in the end it was Mel who came away with a maiden QS victory.

Butler and Mel took to the far end of the competition zone to find steamrolling righthanders that put Mel on his backhand against the forehand of Butler. Mel earned the better of the first exchange with an early 4.33 (out of a possible 10) as the onshore winds began to jumble to the pristine morning conditions and made finding hollow caverns much more rare. Butler couldn’t find a score of meaning, accruing just a 5.07 (out of a possible 10) heat total, after taking off on massive sets and being beaten down on the inside. When the final horn sounded, it was pure elation for Mel as his comrades were on hand to give him his maiden QS chair-up.

Mel came into this event needing a big result and delivered under pressure with multiple buzzer-beaters throughout the event, including one in the Semifinals to overtake the Quarterfinal’s standout Nick Marshall (USA). The Santa Cruz, California, native also had to surpass one of the event’s top barrel hunters Skip McCullough (USA) who narrowly missed an exit on one of the day’s biggest sets. Now, Mel heads into the Thomo QS 1,000 In Memory of Bill Thomson with a chance at claiming his maiden North America Regional QS Title with this result pushing him within 340 points of Noah Schweizer (USA).

"This is a special win for me just coming here for so many years with my family and I have a lot of good memories so I'm super happy to win here," Mel said. "I came here with the goal of having fun and getting barreled and apparently it worked out for me really well (laughs). I'm stoked for Barbados now to try and take out the North America rankings. That'd just be the cherry on top from this event and such a fun season so far."

Butler’s impressive run to the Final included a stout heat with fellow Californian Colt Ward (USA) in the Quarterfinals with limited opportunities before having to deal with Mexico’s last hope of an event win from Tehuen Petroni. The 17-year-old had Mother Nature on his side throughout finals day and heads into the final event of the year with 1,250 points to his name.

“This feels pretty good after thinking I fully lost my first heat today so it’s insane to be in the Final,” Butler said. “My last QS event was my best result so far and then I doubled those points with this Final so it’s incredible. It was almost an Encinitas boys finish with Nick (Marshall) nearly getting there but next time (laughs). I’ve never even made it to the finals series of a QS so I’ll take a lot of confidence from here and head to the next ready to go.”

Butler now prepares for the esteemed Vans Pro Sunset Beach, Oahu QS 3,000 in just eight days ahead of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.

Noteworthy Finishes for Marshall and Mexico’s Own Petroni

Despite a Semifinal exit, Petroni and Marshall put on a brilliant run throughout the event that culminated into a big finals day appearance. For Marshall, this marks two finals day finishes in a row after earning a Final at the RVCA Pro Junior and showcased his fearless approach when the waves turned on – earning an immaculate 7.67 in his Quarterfinal battle with Petroni’s older brother Cesar.

Tehuen came up just shy of representing his countrymen in the Final with a brilliant display from Butler in the Semifinals. The younger Petroni showed his ability to find barrels in the Quarterfinals against yesterday's standout Manuel Selman (CHL) - who maintained the only 10-point ride of the event.

The North America QS season will conclude at the Thomo QS 1,000 In Memory of Bill Thomson at Soup Bowl, Bathsheba, Barbados beginning November 7 - 10.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com

Oaxaca Pro pres. by Corona Final Results:

1 – John Mel (USA) 8.70 1,500 points

2 – Jackson Bulter (USA) 5.07 1,250 points

Oaxaca Pro pres. by Corona Semifinal Results:

SF 1: Jackson Butler (USA) 8.00 DEF. Tehuen Petroni (MEX) 4.23

SF 2: John Mel (USA) 10.66 DEF. Nick Marshall (USA) 10.06

Oaxaca Pro pres. by Corona Quarterfinal Results:

QF 1: Tehuen Petroni (MEX) 11.40 DEF. Manuel Selman (CHL) 5.50

QF 2: Jackson Butler (USA) 3.97 DEF. Colt Ward (USA) 2.13

QF 3: Nick Marshall (USA) 10.34 DEF. Cesar Petroni (MEX) 8.27

QF 4: John Mel (USA) 7.67 DEF. Skip McCullough (USA) 6.03

About the WSL

The World Surf League (WSL) is dedicated to celebrating the world's best surfing on the world's best waves through a variety of best-in-class audience platforms. The organization, headquartered in Santa Monica, is a global sport with regional offices in Australasia, Africa, North America, South America, Hawaii, Japan and Europe.

The WSL has been championing the world's best surfing since 1976, annually running more than 230 global events across the Men's and Women's Championship Tours, the Big Wave Tour, Redbull Airborne, Qualifying Series, Junior and Longboard Championships, as well as the WSL Big Wave Awards. The League possesses a deep appreciation for the sport's rich heritage while promoting progression, innovation and performance at the highest levels, and in doing so crowns the undisputed Men's and Women's World Champions across all tours.

Showcasing the world's best surfing on its digital platform at WorldSurfLeague.com, the WSL has a passionate global fan base with millions tuning in to see world-class athletes like Kelly Slater, Stephanie Gilmore, Tyler Wright, John Florence, Lakey Peterson, Grant Baker, Keala Kennelly, Paige Alms, Kai Lenny, Steven Sawyer, Soleil Errico, Mateus Herdy, Kirra Pinkerton, Carissa Moore, Gabriel Medina, Courtney Conlogue and more battle on the most dynamic field of play of any global sport.

For further information about WSL, please follow this link.