HB’s Simpson advances to championship

HUNTINGTON BEACH – When Brett Simpson woke up this morning he kept thinking how cool it would be to go up against Kelly Slater in the final of the Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing.

Later in the day, things are definitely cool for Simpson, a Huntington Beach native.

The 24-year-old has advanced to the men’s championship of the Open, but he’s not going to face Slater. That’s OK with Simpson, who is thrilled to reach the final in front of his family and friends.

Simpson will go for a $100,000 check and the title against Australian Mick Fanning at 12:40 p.m. near the HB Pier.

Simpson defeated defending champ Nathaniel Curran in the quarterfinals to start the day’s action. He then beat C.J. Hobgood in the semifinals.

Brazilian Adriana de Souza upset Slater in the quarterfinals, making good on some low sets. But the waves picked up, reaching up to eight feet and staying around six feet.

The crowds have also increased throughout the day. There are about 100,000 people here, lining the shores of the beach and packing the HB Pier.

“This is an exciting day for me,” said Simpson, who graduated from HB High. “It’s huge … It’s a confidence booster. It’s somewhere I love to do good every year. It’s where I surf on a daily basis.

“It’s nice to really be in tune with the break.”

Simpson has used his home break and some momentum to ride into the championship. Now he’s hoping to win front of his family and friends.

“I’m stoked and hopefully the waves hang around,” he said. “I feel more comfortable every heat I go out.”

“… I’m just trying to clear the brain and relax. That’s when I feel like I’m at my best.”

Simpson used a 13.50 combined score to take out Curran. Then against Hobgood, he scored two straight 6.5s. Hobgood had a 6.3 for his first score and tried to finish ahead of Simpson, but was dumped before finishing with a 2.7.