A fusion of sports, sea and music

Mike Sciacca

In a community where surfing is synonymous with its beach

lifestyle the 2002 Philips Fusion, featuring the world famous U.S.

Open of Surfing contest, will cater to the “surf vibe” that is

predominate in Huntington Beach.

Philips Fusion in Surf City kicks off Monday and runs through Aug.

4.

Officials at International Management Group, who took over the

event last year, say that the elements of surfing, extreme sports and

music are the right combination to make America’s largest bi-coastal

action sports series a continued success.

The company has staged lifestyle and extreme sports events for the

past 20 years.

“With what we offer, our goal is to truly embrace the surf

community of Huntington Beach, and all its visitors,” said James

Leitz, vice president of the company.

Last year, just when many feared the event would die off as so

many others have, the International Management Group picked up

ownership in mid-June and had just six weeks to package the event.

“We kept the U.S. Open alive and well in Huntington Beach,” Leitz

said.

Not only that, but they upped the ante this year, as well.

One of the biggest changes in the $150,000 U.S. Open comes in the

$30,000 Women’s World Qualifying Series, which has jumped from a

previous one-star rating, to a six-star rating.

Leitz said that it was accomplished by offering more prize money

and sanctioning fees to bring the world’s best female surfers to the

event.

With surfing being the main attraction, Philips Fusion also is

offering a variety of events in its weeklong celebration at the

world-famous pier.

The $40,000 Philips eXpanium Soul Bowl will run Aug. 2-4 at the

pier. The one-of-a-kind Soul Bowl will feature the world’s best

skateboarders and BMX riders vying for a combined purse of $40,000,

which will be awarded following an East Coast event in Virginia

Beach, Va. Aug. 22-25.

Made in Germany of steel and Finnish Birch, the 68-foot long,

46-foot wide and 13-feet deep bowl reaches back to the roots and

“soul” of skateboarding while delivering a 3-D, futuristic look.

The $50,000 World Industries WW II Best Trick Park competition

also will run Aug. 2-4 at the pier. Nearly 100 of the world’s top

skateboarders will be showcased as they compete in the WW II $50,000

“best trick” competition, staged on a 120- by 150-foot platform with

obstacles set up along the course.

The Philips Digital Wide screen Concert Stage and Festival is an

interactive festival that offers CD and DVD burning areas, live

regional and national music acts, athlete autograph signing, dance

contests, karaoke sing-off competitions, DJs, guest emcees and prize

giveaways.

The festival will run Aug. 1-4 and is free of charge.

Officials say that five live bands have confirmed to perform at

the festival.

The Aug. 2 stage will feature Trapt at 4 p.m. and Dry Cell at 5

p.m. On Aug. 3, Red West, a band produced by Tim Curran, the ninth

ranked men’s surfer on the World Qualifying Series, will perform at

3:30 p.m. The band, Long Beach Shortbus will follow at 5 p.m. and

Slightly Stoopid will complete the festival with a 6 p.m.

performance.

In addition to the competition in the water, surfing will also be

center stage on dry land as the Huntington Beach Surfing Walk of Fame

and Hall of Fame induction ceremony will honor 10 surfers during a

two-day period.

On Aug. 1 at 10 a.m., the Walk of Fame inductees will include Miki

Dora, Kelly Slater, Brad Geralch, Steve Pezman, Kim Mearig and

Huntington Beach High School surf coach, Andy Verdone.

At 11 a.m. on Aug. 2, the list of Hall of Fame inductees are Kelly

Slater, Lisa Anderson, Laird Hamiliton and Joel Tudor.

Both induction ceremonies will take place in front of Jack’s Surf

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