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Rincon's a GREAT wave	Rincon, Queen of the Coast by Chad Nelsen MAKING WAVES, April/May 1999

"Know the logo!" This is a commonly stated phrase from one of the founders of the Surfrider Foundation, Glenn Hening, and a good reminder to us all about what inspires our interest in saving the beaches and fighting for clean water. Whether you ride the waves or sit on the sand and gaze at their mesmerizing and chaotic beauty, it is a rare beachgoer that is not inspired by the relentless and ever changing nature of waves. For this reason, we have decided to start a new column in Making Waves dedicated to the surf spots that inspire our members; each issue we will highlight a different spot. To kick it off, we decided to focus on Ventura County's famous wave at Rincon and asked Glenn Hening about his feelings about this famous wave.

Name: Rincon
Location: Ventura County, California

Chad: Why is Rincon special?
Glenn: It is the best wave in Southern California. George Greenough once said that when the inside sandbar is right on a quality north swell, for him it was the best wave in the world.

Chad: What are some of the historical highlights of Rincon?
Glenn: How far back do you want to go? Rennie Yater riding to the turn around in 1967? Twenty feet and perfect on January 10, 1953? Lance Carson on the tip on a two-foot wave that became the signature image of casual noseriding? The list is endless! For me, the December 1969 swells were memorable because it was huge and clean for 10 days straight. Rincon has never hosted many surfing events, and the Queen of the Coast contest run by Don Balch for many years was a contest for the locals. The Clean Water Classic is probably the most notable event, for its motives and breadth of participation that Rincon has ever seen.

Chad: Describe your best day at Rincon?
Glenn: My birthday, 1991. Monday morning new swell, nobody there, sunny, glassy, 4-7' walls.

Chad: Who are the renown surfers that surf(ed) Rincon?
Glenn: You could name drop endlessly, from Mickey Dora to Lance Carson, Rennie Yater, Billy Ming, and on and on. Stand-outs for me include Paul Kemintzer (Winter swells of1969), Ronnie Wolf, J. Riddle: down the line speed and power without all the wasted motion.

Chad: What are the biggest threats to Rincon?
Glenn: Environmentally, it's pretty obvious that the creek and the local homeowners (septic systems) comprise the core contributors to pollution problems there. As to where the major blame lies, that has yet to be determined.

Chad: What do you think are the solutions?
Glenn: Hooking up the homeowners to a sewer line, thus eliminating the septic tanks and their leach fields. As for the creek, DNA testing by Heal the Ocean should open up the areas of intense scrutiny and remediation.

Chad: Could you tell me a little bit about the 3rd annual surfing contest you are involved with at Rincon called the Clean Water Classic?
Glenn: It's not so much a contest as it is a community event. There are no individual winners: we use a team surfing format that I developed especially to fit the Rincon surfing community. Each 10 person team gets the break to themselves for 40 minutes on Saturday, and all the rides are judged, and the top 10 count. Best nine teams (three in each division: non-profit organizations, surf clubs, and surf companies) surf again on Sunday for 50 minute sessions. No water marshals are necessary: everyone cooperates. No commercial banners, prizes, loudspeakers, etc. Money raised from entrance fees is used to support Surfrider chapters and environmental studies on the area.

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