SURF’S UP IN HB
World's best and up-and-coming surfers vie for coveted title at WSL event
Griffin Colapinto of San Clemente hits the lip in the shorebreak during his win at the US Open of Surfing last year. He is back to defend his title.
It will be a battle on the beach for who will take home the big US Open of Surfing title in Huntington Beach.
Will one of the world’s top competitive surfers prove why they are among the best in the board sport? Or will they be toppled by hungry surfers hoping to earn valuable points while climbing their way to the win during the nine-day surf contest?
No matter who claims the win Aug. 7, spectators are guaranteed an explosive show in the surf arena on the south side of the famed Huntington
Beach Pier.
“It’s an exciting event where there’s always a few underdogs who kind of break through,” said Ryan Simmons, USA Surfing coach and longtime announcer for the competition. “Everyone is gnarly. Anyone can win the event.”
The US Open of Surfing, which kicks off Saturday draws a mix of competitors: surfers who grew up on the amateur circuit proving themselves at the same world-famous surf break as well as international athletes who travel from afar for a chance at the coveted title.
A strong finish at the US Open of Surfing, recently made a stop on the World Surf League’s eight-event Challenger Series, could also mean
What: The fourth stop of the World Surf League’s Challenger Series with 160 of the world’s best and rising talent
Where: Huntington Beach Pier
When: Saturday through Aug. 7 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily
Tickets: Free
Also: The event will feature skateboarding and BMX competitions throughout the week
More info: www.vansusopenofsurfing.com
Santa Ana’s Courtney Conlogue is always a crowd favorite at the US Open of Surfing. big points for those looking for a chance to join the ranks of the world’s best. It also allows surfers at risk of falling off the world tour a chance to earn valuable points to stay in the hunt.
In the men’s event, there’s a total of 96 surfers who will paddle out, among them are several competitors who already have a US Open of Surfing title under their belt.
Last year’s winner, Griffin Colapinto, of San Clemente, is one of the surfers to watch as he looks to repeat.
Colapinto is having a breakout year on the world tour, currently ranked fifth after two huge wins — first in Portugal in March and in El Salvador in June.
Also looking for another US Open of Surfing title is Kanoa Igarashi, who grew up surfing the Huntington Beach Pier and knows the break better than most of his competition. Igarashi is also an Olympic silver medalist, surfing for host country Japan in the sport’s debut last year.
“Guys who have done well in the past always seem to do well,” Simmons said.
San Clemente’s Kolohe Andino, who grew up competing against Igarashi and in the same town as Colapinto, has come painfully close to clinching a win, but has yet to nab a title, so perhaps this could
be Andino’s year.
But don’t count out the international competitors, including Brazilian world champion and Olympic gold medalist Italo Ferreira, who is signed up for the event. Ferreira has an explosive style that always wows the crowds and judges.
While he’s not in danger of falling off the world tour, Ferreira, currently ranked fourth, will be one of the bigger names in the event.
Then, there’s the long list of younger surfers hoping to earn big points in their quest to become top pro surfers. Among the local up-and-comers to root for are San Clemente surfers Kei Kobayashi, Kade Matson and Jett Schilling.
Another local surfer to watch is Long Beach’s Nolan Rapoza, who grew up surfing the Huntington Beach Pier and had a strong third-place finish at last year’s event.
On the women’s side, Santa Ana’s Courtney Conlogue is always a crowd favorite. The twotime US Open of Surfing winner will be looking to take another win — the last clinched in 2018.
She’ll be up against fellow world tour surfers Lakey Peterson, of Santa Barbara, and Caroline Marks, who lives in San Clemente. And there’s plenty of other standout San Clemente surfers to watch out for, including Sawyer Lindblad and Kirra Pinkerton.
“They are doing well and looking to get a big breakthrough result that
would help them to qualify,” Simmons said of the younger surfers looking to overtake the veterans on tour.
Last year’s winner, Caitlin Simmers, from Oceanside, will be looking to repeat.
One of the women on the list of competitors who has created waves this year is Hawaii’s Moana Jones Wong, who dominated in big surf at Pipeline against the world’s best at the start of this year’s competitive season.
While she’s known for her barrel-riding skills, surf fans will be eager to see how Jones Wong handles Huntington Beach’s smaller beach break conditions. A few strong results on the Challenger Series could mean a spot on the world tour, where she would no doubt be a threat.
Then, from Aug. 3-7, longboarding fans will get to see the best loggers at the Vans Duct Tape Invitational. For the first time ever, this year’s competition will be sanctioned by the World Surf League. This is the second stop of the World Surf Longboard Tour.
Forty of the world’s best male and female longboarders will compete for a shot at the Longboard World Title, which will be decided in Malibu this October.
Three-time World Surf League Longboard champion Honolua Blomfield, of Hawaii, and 2021 runner-up Harrison Roach, of Australia, are leading the rankings going into the event.