Air section added to Kelly’s wave pool for innovative event.

Quiksilver’s inovative Young Guns competition opted for an unsalted final this year as four competitors, Samuel Pupo, Marco Mignot, Jett Schilling and Justin Becret hit Kelly’s surf ranch.

The Surf Ranch, perhaps somewhat eclipsed by the Waco pool’s stellar ramps, added an air section. And, yes, the dreamy perfection of Kelly’s was transformed to a different kind of dreamy perfection – one suited to innovative above-the-lip surfing.

Each year the Quiksilver Young Guns event dreams up a new innovative format. For years the final ran as an exotic tropical journey, an online clip contest, a boat trip or simply a movie. This year hundreds of under 18 surfers posted their best waves to Instagram hoping for a shot at fame and surfing the WSL Surf Ranch.

Japan’s Kanoa Igarashi and Italy’s Leo Fiorivanti took on the daunting task of hand sorting through each entry and picking the final eight surfers. Their top eight rides went to the Quik Instagram account for the public to like, share comment and finally cut down to four surfers. In the end surfers from Brazil, France, Mexico and the USA were in the mix.

At sundown Samuel Pupo walked away with the $10,000 prize.

What will happen at the surf ranch in September?

Kelly’s wave has been THE standard for wave pools. The recent debut of the BSR Surf Ranch in Waco Texas, as well as speculation on Surf Lakes’ new technology, has drawn some of the attention away from Lemoore California’s most famous body of water.

The inaugural WSL Founder’s Cup event drew mixed reviews. While most of the web responses were positive, there were cries of “boring.”

But the real question on everyone’s mind is: “Will the WSL keep this air section when the Surf Ranch Pro rolls around?” We will find out on September 6 when the event kicks off.