Time for the U.S. Open
WET AND WILD WITH ROCKIN FIG
It’s that time of year again, when Surf City plays host to the
biggest surf event in the world. The Phillips Fusion beach games will
have the Honda Element U.S. Open of Surfing presented by O’Neill
right here in beautiful Huntington Beach. The south side of the pier
will be the showcase for some of the world’s best surfers over a
nine-day spread, starting Saturday with the trials of the men’s
shortboard and going until Aug. 3 for the finals. Some of the big
guns scheduled to surf are Florida’s six-time world champ Kelly
Slater, just off the big win at Jeffries Bay in South Africa earlier
this week, former world champ Hawaiian Sunny Garcia, past U.S. Open
winners Rob Machado and Kalani Robb, and top 10 world tour stand-out
Corey Lopez.
In the women’s, top five WCT stand-out and former U.S. Open winner
Rochelle Ballard is entered, as are West Coast shredders Julia
Christian, Holly Beck and Hawaiian Melanie Bartels.
The U.S. Open is a six-star world qualifying series event with
highest point total for the mainland this year. It is a critical stop
on the Foster’s Pro Surfing Tour series. More than 500 surfers will
compete for the crown in the Huntington surf.
There have been some south swells, and it looks like there are
some waves on the way.
The local talent is stacked up with a chance to do well in its own
back yard. Some to watch for are Huntington’s new WQS hot-shot, Timmy
Reyes, and Jeff Deffenbaugh, a former top 30 in the world who got
his start at the open a few years back.
Professional Surfing Tour of America U.S. champ Ryan Simmons knows
the waters and is a competitor in any size surf. Danny Nichols has
been turning heads and has the moves to compete with the big boys.
“Late Nite” Jay Larson has world-class maneuvers that can push him
threw many a heat. And we can’t forget Ryan Turner, who has been
busting some mean airs and ripping hard, while Micah Byrne, Mike
Hoisington and Danny Misken have been dominating the pier area of
late. Brandon Gilmette has been on fire the last couple of swells,
and new-school hotties Shawn Ward and Brett Simpson have been doing
some insane futuristic stuff out there. Also, veterans such as Wyatt
Simmons and Tom Rezvan are looking to roll a few heats. Bud Llamas is
in the wildcard slot -- I don’t know if there’ll be an opening this
year, even though he’s got some of the sickest barrels I’ve ever seen
on south side.
In women’s, Surfside’s Jodie Nelson has the moves to make it to
top.
In longboarding, watch for the style master Josh Mohr to make a
possible final, too.
And toes on the nose world champ from the 1960s David Nuuhiwa will
be adding to the color of the event, with legends hanging out, surf
heroes, surf fans and groms alike coming to check it out. There is
also the Soul Bowl for you skaters and BMXers, not to mention top
bands and a bunch of booths right on the sand to see, too. See ya
there.
* RICK FIGNETTI is an eight-time West Coast champion, has
announced the U.S. Open of Surfing the last nine years and has been
the KROQ-FM surfologist for the last 17 years, doing morning surf
reports. He owns a surf shop on Main Street. You can reach him at
(714) 536-1058.
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