US Open of Surfing

The U.S. Open of Surfing is a week-long surfing competition held annually during the summer in Huntington Beach, California. Generally held on the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier, the U.S. Open is part of the qualification process for the World Surf League and is a WSL QS 10,000 event.[1][2] It is the largest surfing competition in the world.[3] It has been owned by IMG since 2000.[4][5]

As part of the event, notable people in the world of surfing are added to the Surfing Walk of Fame and to the Surfers' Hall of Fame, both directly across from the pier.

History[edit]

The U.S. Open, then called the West Coast Surfing Championship, was first held in 1959. In 1964 it became known as the United States Surfing Championships. In 1982 it became known as the OP Pro for its sponsor, Ocean Pacific. The event was renamed the U.S. Open of Surfing in 1994.[6]

The contest was traditionally held during Labor Day weekend. The event was changed to an earlier date following the 1986 event when riots occurred at the OP Pro.[7]

Rioting again marred the 2013 U.S. Open. On the final day of the event, as the crowds left the contest area and filled Main Street, a civil disturbance erupted, resulting in property damage and several arrests and some injuries.[8] As a result, the event owner IMG stated that in 2014 it will discontinue events such as free concerts and focus more on the sport.[9]

Spending at the nine-day event adds $21.5 million to the Orange County economy and $16.4 million in Huntington Beach.[2] It is attended by nearly 500,000 people.[10]

Champions[edit]

West Coast Surfing Champions[edit]

1959: Jack Haley, Linda Benson

1960: Mike Haley, Linda Benson

1961: Ron Sizemore, Linda Benson

1962: Ilima Kalama, Gudie Wilkie

1963: LJ Richards, Candy Calhoun

United States Surfing Champions[edit]

1964: Jim Craig, Linda Benson

1965: Mark Martinson, Joyce Hoffman

1966: Corky Carroll, Joyce Hoffman

1967: Corky Carroll, Joyce Hoffman

1968: David Nuuhiwa, Linda Benson

1969: Corky Carroll, Sharron Weber

1970: David Nuuhiwa, Joyce Hoffman

1971: Brad McCaul, Jericho Poppler

1972: Dale Dobson, Mary Setterholm

Op Pro Champions[edit]

1982: Cheyne Horan, Becky Benson

1983: Tom Curren, Kim Mearig

1984: Tom Curren, Frieda Zamba

1985: Mark Occhilupo, Jodie Cooper

1986: Mark Occhilupo, Frieda Zamba

1987: Barton Lynch, Wendy Botha

1988: Tom Curren, Jorja Smith

1989: Richie Collins, Frieda Zamba

1990: Todd Holland, Frieda Zamba

1991: Barton Lynch, Frieda Zamba

1992: Team USA (Kelly Slater, Richie Collins, Todd Holland, Mike Parsons, Alisa Schwarzstein)

1993: Sunny Garcia, Kim Mearig

U.S. Open Champions[edit]

1994: Shane Beschen, Lisa Andersen

1995: Rob Machado, Neridah Falconer

1996: Kelly Slater, Layne Beachley

1997: Beau Emerton, Rochelle Ballard

1998: Andy Irons, Layne Beachley

1999: Shea Lopez, Keala Kennelly

2000: Sunny Garcia, Tita Tavares

2001: Rob Machado, Pauline Menczer

2002: Kalani Robb, Pauline Menczer

2003: Cory Lopez, Chelsea Georgeson

2004: Taj Burrow, Chelsea Georgeson

2005: Andy Irons, Julia Christian

2006: Rob Machado, Sofia Mulanovich

2007: C.J. Hobgood, Stephanie Gilmore

2008: Nathaniel Curran, Malia Manuel[11]

2009: Brett Simpson, Courtney Conlogue[12]

2010: Brett Simpson, Carissa Moore[13]

2011: Kelly Slater, Sally Fitzgibbons

2012: Julian Wilson, Lakey Peterson[14]

2013: Alejo Muniz, Carissa Moore[15]

2014: Filipe Toledo, Tyler Wright[16]

2015: Hiroto Ohhara, Johanne Defay[17]

2016: Filipe Toledo, Tatiana Weston-Webb[18]

2017: Kanoa Igarashi, Sage Erickson[19]

2018: Kanoa Igarashi, Courtney Conlogue

2019: Yago Dora, Sage Erickson[20]

2020: Cancelled

2021: Griffin Colapinto, Caitlin Simmers

2022: Ezekiel Lau, Bettylou-Sakura Johnson

2023: Eli Hanneman, Sawyer Lindblad[21]

U.S. Open of Longboarding Champions[22][edit]

Year Pro Longboard Open
2013-2016
Duct Tape Invitational
Justin Quintal
(wins 4 in a row)
2012
Pacifico Noserider Invitational
Justin Quintal
2010-2011
Pacifico Noserider Invitational
Joel Tudor
(wins 2 in a row)
2010
Trestles
Steven Mangiacapre[23]
2009
Corona Noserider Invitational
Kevin Connolly
2008 Taylor Jensen [2]
2007 Colin McPhillips [2]
2006 Dodger Kremel
2005 Joel Tudor [8]
2004 Brendan White
2003 Taylor Jensen
2002 Joel Tudor [7]
2001 Josh Baxter
1995–2000 Joel Tudor
(wins 6 in a row)
1994 Colin McPhillips

Awards[edit]

Notable people are inducted into Surfing Walk of Fame and Surfers' Hall of Fame each year during the U.S. Open. The Walk of Fame has plaques imbedded in the sidewalk, while the Hall of Fame has handprints. Each are located across the street from one another and across Pacific Coast Highway from the Huntington Beach Pier.

Surfing Walk of Fame[edit]

Every year the Surfing Walk of Fame at Huntington Beach inducts members in the categories of surf pioneers, surfing champions, local heroes, surf culture, woman of the year, and honor roll. Eligibility for each award are as follows:

  • The surf champion must have held the world championship and/or world class event titles specific to the city of Huntington Beach.
  • Woman of the Year winners are chosen based on who garners the most collective votes from the surfing champions, surfing culture, surf pioneers, and local heroes categories.
  • Local Hero award winners have either resided in Huntington Beach for ten years or graduated from the Huntington Beach Union High School District and were finalists in the surfing champions category, contributed to Huntington Beach surfing culture, were surf pioneers in the city, or were champions of the annual Huntington Beach City Championships.
Year Surfing Champion Woman of the Year Local Hero Surf Pioneer Surf Culture Honor Roll
2019 Derek Ho, Joel Tudor[24] Courtney Conlogue[24] Sam Hawk[24] Reynolds "Renny" Yater[24] Jeff Divine, Art Brewer[24] Don MacAllister[24]
2018
2017 Barton Lynch[25] Pam Burridge[25] Timmy Reyes[25] Jeff Hakman[25] Jim Jenks[25] Huntington Beach High School 50th Anniversary Coaches[25]
2016 C. J. Hobgood[26] Mary Lou McGinnis Drummy[26] Timmy Turner[26] Whitey Harrison, Joey Cabell[26] Bob Hurley[26] Women's International Surfing Association (WISA)[27]
2015 Reno Abellira[28] Sofía Mulánovich[28] John Boozer[28] Paul Strauch[28] Dick Graham[28] David Nuuhiwa, Sr.[28]
2014 Larry Bertlemann[29] Phyllis O'Donnell[30] Mike Haley[31] Randy Rarick[32] John Van Hamersveld[33] Vince Moorhouse[34]
2013[35] Taylor Knox[29] Keala Kennelly[30]
Sharron Weber[30]
Roy Crump, journalist [31] Donald Takayama[32] Jack McCoy, filmmaker[33] Father Christian Mondor[34]
2012 Michael Ho[29] Alisa Schwarzstein-Cairns[30] George Draper[31] Michael Peterson and Dick Brewer[32] Sean Collins[33][36] Stacy Wood, Dwyer Middle School surf coach[34][37]
2011[38] Rob Machado[29] Debbie Beacham[30]
Kathy "Gidget" Kohner[30]
Bill Fury[31] Skip Frye[32] Dick Dale[33] Hole in the Wall Gang surf team [34]
2010 Sunny Garcia, Ian Cairns[29] Candy Calhoun[30] Rick "Rockin Fig" Fignetti[31] Dewey Weber[32] Dave Rochlen[33] Dick Baker[34]
2009 Mark Martinson[29] Wendy Botha[30] Jackie Baxter[31] Fred Hemmings[32] Duke Boyd[33] 50 Years at the HB Pier (Men's and Women's)[34]
2008 Andy Irons[29] Lynne Boyer[30] Rich Chew[31] Buzzy Trent and Wayne Lynch[32] Drew Kampion[33] The NSSA Founders of 1978[34]
2007 Midget Farrelly[29] Mimi Munro[30] Scott Farnsworth[31] George Greenough[32] Bill and Bob Meistrell[33] The H.B. Boys of 55'[34]
2006 L.J Richards[29] Layne Beachley[30] Bob "The Greek" Bolen[31] Mickey Muñoz[32] Walter & Phillip Hoffman[33] Jan Gaffney[34]
2005 David Nuuhiwa[29] Kim Hamrock[30] Carl Hayward[31] Buffalo Keaulana[32] George Greenough[33] Paul Morrow[34]
2004 Corky Carroll[29] Lisa Andersen[30] Rich Harbour[31] Pat Curren[32] Gordon Clark[33] Meg Bernardo[34]
2003 Martin Potter[29] Marge Calhoun[30] Chuck Linnen[31] Mike Doyle[32] Larry "Flame" Moore and Tom Morey[33] Michelle Turner[34]
2002 Kelly Slater[29] Kim Mearig[30] Brad Gerlach[31] Miki Dora[32] Steve Pezman[33] Andy Verdone[34]
2001 Wayne "Rabbit" Bartholomew[29] Janice Aragon[30] David Nuuhiwa[31] Rabbit Kekai[32] Simon Anderson[33] Max Bowman[34]
2000 Mark Occhilupo[29] Nancy Katin[30] Bud Llamas[31] Eddie Aikau and Gerry Lopez[32] MacGillivray Freeman[33] Mike Abdelmuti and George Farquhar[34]
1999 Tom Carroll[29] Jericho Poppler[30] Jack Haley[31] George Downing[32] Leroy Grannis[33] Chuck Allen[34]
1998 Peter "PT" Townend[29] Frieda Zamba[30] Chuck Dent[31] Dr. John Heath "Doc" Ball[32] Jack O'Neill[33] Ann Beasley and Natalie Kotsch[34]
1997 Shaun Tomson[29] Linda Benson[30] Gordie Duane[31] Dale Velzy[32] Hobie Alter and Rick Griffin[33] Bud and Gordie Higgins[34]
1996 Nat Young[29] Rell Sunn[30] Corky Carroll[31] Greg Noll[32] Bud Browne[33] Tom Pratte and John Rothrock[34]
1995 Tom Curren[29] Margo Oberg[30] Herbie Fletcher[31] Phil Edwards[32] John Severson[33] Jack Hokanson[34]
1994 Mark Richard[29] Joyce Hoffman[30] Robert August[31] Tom Blake and Honorary induction for Duke Kahanamoku, the "Father of Surfing"[32] Bruce Brown[33] None[34]

Surfers' Hall of Fame[edit]

Inductees by year are as follows:

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Men's Vans US Open of Surfing". World Surf League. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  2. ^ a b Connelly, Laylan (July 28, 2011). "Biggest show on surf". Orange County Register.
  3. ^ Sciacca, Mike (August 2, 2012). "Simpson wins his heats". Huntington Beach Independent. p. A1. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
  4. ^ "IMG Buys U.S. Open Of Surfing From Bluetorch". Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  5. ^ "Vans US Open of Surfing confirmed on WSL schedule". shop-eat-surf.com. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  6. ^ "History Of The Us Open Of Surfing". City of Huntington Beach web site. Surfing News Daily. Archived from the original on July 29, 2014. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  7. ^ Fletcher, Jaimee Lynn; Connelly, Laylan (September 8, 2011). "25 years later, lessons from surf riot still apply". Huntington Beach Wave. p. 3.
  8. ^ Serna, Joseph; Foxhall, Emily (July 29, 2013). "Dramatic photos, videos of Huntington Beach rioting". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  9. ^ Fletcher, Jaimee Lynn; Connelly, Laylan (October 12, 2013). "Activities to be cut back for U.S. Open". Orange County Register. p. Local 4.
  10. ^ Connelly, Laylan (July 31, 2011). "U.S. Open Rides In". Orange County Register.
  11. ^ "U.S. Open Champions". Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  12. ^ Connelly, Laylan; Roy, Bryan (July 25, 2009). "O.C.'s Courtney Conlogue wins U.S. women's surf title". Orange County Register. Retrieved July 25, 2009.
  13. ^ Connelly, Laylan (August 8, 2010). "O.C.'s Simpson claims U.S. Open title, again!". Orange County Register. Archived from the original on August 18, 2010. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  14. ^ Connelly, Laylan (August 5, 2012). "U.S. Open of Surfing champs crowned in Huntington Beach". Orange County Register. Archived from the original on August 6, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  15. ^ Connelly, Laylan (August 1, 2013). "O.C. surfers both come up short at U.S. Open". Huntington Beach Wave. p. 5.
  16. ^ Connelly, Laylan (August 3, 2014). "Brazilian wins U.S. Open of Surfing". Orange County Register. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  17. ^ Connelly, Laylan; Richcreek, Katie (August 3, 2015). "U.S. Open recap: Mellow vibe, lots of people watching and unexpected winners". Orange County Register. p. Sports 1. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  18. ^ Connelly, Laylan (August 1, 2016). "U.S. Open of Surfing: Filipe Toledo tramples the competition to take top prize". Orange County Register. p. Sports 1. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  19. ^ Connelly, Laylan (August 7, 2017). "Bringing It Home". Orange County Register. p. C1. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  20. ^ Connelly, Laylan (August 5, 2019). "Riding Waves to Victory". Orange County Register. p. B1.
  21. ^ Connelly, Laylan (August 6, 2023). "San Clemente's Sawyer Lindblad, 17, wins US Open of Surfing". Orange County Register. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  22. ^ [1] Huntington Beach Independent
  23. ^ [2] cb surf shop
  24. ^ a b c d e f g Connelly, Laylan (July 11, 2019). "Top pro Conlogue among this year's inductees into Surfing Walk of Fame". Huntington Beach Wave. The Orange County Register. p. A6.
  25. ^ a b c d e f "Huntington's Surfing Walk of Fame welcomes new inductees". Daily Pilot. Los Angeles Times. August 3, 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  26. ^ a b c d e Connelly, Laylan (June 30, 2016). "Bob Hurley, Mary Lou McGinnis Drummy among Orange County surf icons to be honored at Walk of Fame". Orange County Register. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  27. ^ "Honor Roll". Surfing Walk of Fame. Archived from the original on August 14, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  28. ^ a b c d e f Carpio, Anthony Clark (July 30, 2015). "9 stars of surf join Huntington Beach shrines". Huntington Beach Independent. Retrieved July 30, 2015.[permanent dead link]
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Surf Champion". Archived from the original on November 2, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "Woman of the Year". Archived from the original on November 2, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  31. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Local Hero". Archived from the original on November 2, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  32. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Surf Pioneer". Archived from the original on November 2, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  33. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Surf Culture". Archived from the original on November 2, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  34. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Honor Roll". Archived from the original on November 2, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  35. ^ "2013 Surfing Walk of Fame Inductees Announced" (Press release). Surfline. June 12, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  36. ^ Mike Cianciulli,Surfline.com, August 2, 2012, "Sean Collins Inducted into Surfing Walk of Fame". Retrieved August 30, 2012.
  37. ^ Connelly, Laylan (August 9, 2012). "H.B.'s Igarashi takes second". Huntington Beach Wave. p. 15.
  38. ^ Carroll, Corky (June 9, 2011). "Walk of Fame inductee list one of the best ever". Orange County Register.
  39. ^ Szabo, Matt (May 4, 2022). "Huntington Beach to celebrate 25th anniversary of Surfers' Hall of Fame with three inductees". Daily Pilot. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  40. ^ Kingsbury, Mike (July 9, 2018). "Surfer's Hall of Fame to induct Ben Aipa, Herbie Fletcher, and Brett Simpson". Vans US Open of Surfing Website. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  41. ^ Connelly, Laylan (August 4, 2017). "'Soul Surfer' Bethany Hamilton and champ Mick Fanning inducted into Surfers' Hall of Fame in Huntington Beach". Orange County Register. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  42. ^ Connelly, Laylan (June 19, 2016). "Surfers' Hall of Fame announces 2016 class". Orange County Register. p. Local 4.
  43. ^ Carroll, Corky (July 23, 2015). "Hall of Fame induction ceremony to feature stars and legends". Huntington Beach Wave. Orange County Register. p. 6.
  44. ^ "Surfers' Hall of Fame". Huntington Surf & Sport website. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  45. ^ "The Surfers' Hall of Fame Announces its 2014 Inductees". Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  46. ^ "The Surfers' Hall of Fame Announces its 2013 Inductees". Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  47. ^ "Surfers' Hall of Fame – 15th Anniversary". Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  48. ^ "Category Archives: 2011". Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  49. ^ "Category Archives: 2010". Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  50. ^ "Category Archives: 2009". Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  51. ^ "Category Archives: 2008". Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  52. ^ "Category Archives: 2007". Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  53. ^ "Category Archives: 2006". Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  54. ^ "Category Archives: 2005". Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  55. ^ "Category Archives: 2004". Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  56. ^ "Category Archives: 2003". Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  57. ^ "Category Archives: 2002". Retrieved November 4, 2014.

External links[edit]