Thursday, August 30, 2018 - 2:44pm By Ed Martin, Editor
Bethany Hamilton, a survivor of a 2013 shark attack, checks out the Surf Ranch on Tuesday Aug. 28, in anticipation of next week's World Surf League Pro event, scheduled for Sept. 7-9.
Bethany Hamilton, a survivor of a 2013 shark attack, checks out the Surf Ranch on Tuesday Aug. 28, in anticipation of next week's World Surf League Pro event, scheduled for Sept. 7-9.
Gary Feinstein/Feinsteinfotos

Lemoore plays host to the inaugural Surf Ranch Pro next week, Friday, Sept. 7 through Sunday, Sept. 9. Next week’s event is the eighth stop on the World Surf League Championship Tour where the world’s best surfers – and a legendary band – will entertain what are expected to be thousands of surfing enthusiasts.

The action begins Friday at 8:30 a.m. and will conclude Sunday at about 4 p.m. Surf Ranch is located just outside Lemoore’s city limits at 18556 Jackson Avenue.

There will be surfing on Thursday, Sept. 6 but Surf Ranch will be closed to the public. However, surfing will be broadcast live via World Surf League Facebook Live and the WSL website. Tickets for the three-day event are still available.

Discount Code for tickets

Tickets still available

Surf Ranch is expecting large crowds beginning Friday morning at 8 a.m. Women’s Championship Surfing begins at 9 a.m. The men hop their boards at 12:30 p.m. and following a break, will continue at 4 p.m.

The gates open at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday with Men’s Championship Tour Surfing. The women get started again at 3 p.m.

One of Saturday’s highlights is the appearance at 7:30 p.m. Blink-182, a legendary pop-punk band that will play at the ranch’s north end.

The final day of competition begins at 9 a.m. with the quarterfinals and semifinals slated from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The semifinals and finals will begin at 1:30 p.m. Closing ceremonies are scheduled for 4 p.m.

Concessions will be open all day until 5 p.m.

Shuttles will run from area parking lots to Surf Ranch throughout the day and begin operating at 8 a.m. on Friday and Sunday. Shuttles begin running at 7 a.m. on Saturday.