U.S. Open of Surfing gets pumping Saturday

LIHU‘E — Building upon last year’s historic event that showcased epic waves, 500,000 fans, record prize money and a superior field of world-class surfers, the U.S. Open of Surfing presented by Hurley, Nike 6.0 and Converse sets the bar even higher with an Association of Surfing Professionals’ “Prime” rating in 2010.

The world’s largest professional surfing competition begins its nine-day run on Saturday at the Huntington Beach pier and continues through August 8, according to a press release from the event.

With a rich history dating back to 1959, the massive event boasts North America’s only combined ASP Men’s Prime and Women’s Six-Star-rated events and is a pivotal point on the ASP World Tour.

The $315,000 U.S. Open boasts an unmatched field of international entrants that includes the vast majority of top men and women surfers on the planet. The $225,000 Men’s Prime division has the highest purse among similar events, offers 6,500 points to the winner and features a $100,000 first place prize. Simpson, the Huntington Beach native, must defend his title against household names like Australia’s Mick Fanning and Taj Burrow, Kaua‘i’s Andy Irons, Americans C.J. Hobgood and Rob Machado, along with current world number one, South Africa’s Jordy Smith. Nine-time world champ Kelly Slater, who has entered but not confirmed attendance, may also be on hand.

The $50,500 Women’s Six-Star division is equally as impressive, boasting two world champions — Australia’s Stephanie Gilmore and Peru’s Sofia Mulanovich — 12 of the top 16 girls on the ASP World Tour, and most of the top women in the current World Rankings. Wailua’s Maila Manuel and Hanalei’s Alana Blanchard will be two of the competitors going up against other first-rate talents like ratings leader Sally Fitzgibbons, O‘ahu’s Coco Ho and California’s Courtney Conlogue for the unprecedented $20,000 first place prize.

Since its inception in 1994, the U.S. Open has carried the sports’ competitive torch on the U.S. mainland, rating six stars or higher and offering a consistent pathway for American competitors to reach the ASP’s grand prix circuit.

Twenty nine out of 32 men’s and women’s ASP World Titles have been captured by former U.S. Open champions—the list reads like a who’s who of professional surfers with Slater, Lisa Andersen, Irons, Layne Beachley, Sunny Garcia, Mulanovich and Gilmore all standing atop the winner’s podium.  Several U.S. Open champions have finished runner-up in the title race including Machado, Shane Beschen and Taj Burrow.

“I think last year was a good example of what the U.S. Open can actually be,” said three-time champ Rob Machado. “Combining waves, the world’s best surfers and that crazy crowd puts competitive surfing on a whole different level. When you’re competing at Huntington, you feel like you’re surfing in the Super Bowl.”

Long considered America’s consumer showcase for the sport of surfing, the U.S. Open also features the U.S. Open Men’s Junior Pro (a $10,000 ASP Grade-Two event) and Women’s Junior Pro (a $10,000 ASP Grade-Four event) presented by PacSun, Life Rolls on Expression Session and $20,000 Pacifico Nose Riding Invitational.

The second annual WPS All-Stars event let the public choose 10 top pro surfers from around the world to compete in the U.S. Open and features athlete “meet and greets”, in-water expression sessions and more during the festival.

The 10 who got the most votes were Dane Reynolds, Slater, Smith, Clay Marzo, Machado, Julian Wilson, Burrow, Fanning, Irons and Dusty Payne.

For more information, visit usopensurfing.com.

The U.S. Open also showcases hundreds of world-class athletes in the sports of surfing, skateboarding and BMX along with music, fashion and youth culture.

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