Making a splash

Brace yourself, Huntington Beach!

Some of the

world’s best athletes are invading the famed pier.

The world’s largest surfing competition, the Honda Element U.S.

Open of Surfing presented by O’Neill, highlights the 2003 Philips

Fusion, an action sports, technology and music festival that gets

into full swing today and continues through the weekend.

More than 600 world-class athletes from around the globe and right

here in Southern California will take part in surfing, skateboard and

BMX competitions.

More than 200,000 spectators are expected at the competitions

taking place in the water and in a futuristic, technologically

advanced Soul Bowl, as well as take in live concerts and an

interactive electronics festival that will allow hands-on experience

in the latest audio, video and television technology in the Philips

Digital Beach House.

Vendor booths will open today in a beach village set up on the

south side of the pier.

At 10 a.m. today, the Huntington Beach Walk of Fame will celebrate

its 10th anniversary with its induction ceremony in front of Jack’s

Surfboards.

Friday at 10 a.m., the 2003 class will be inducted into the

Surfers’ Hall of Fame in front of Huntington Surf and Sport.

Huntington Beach hosted the U.S. Open of Surfing, North America’s

first ongoing action sports competition, when it debuted at the pier

in 1959 as the U.S. Championships.

Jack Haley won the inaugural U.S./West Coast Surfing Championships

that year. Fans lined the pier and the surrounding area, creating the

first “action sports event,” organizers said.