US Open of Surfing

Coco Ho during the 2015 U.S. 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

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

West Coast Surfing Champions

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

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

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

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]

2024: Alan Cleland, Sally Fitzgibbons[22]

U.S. Open of Longboarding Champions[23]

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[24]
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

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

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
2024 Felipe Pomar[25] Sally Fitzgibbons[25] Jeff Deffenbaugh[25] Bing Copeland[25] Doug Warbrick, Brian Singer (founders of Rip Curl[25] Mike Hynson[25]
2019 Derek Ho, Joel Tudor[26] Courtney Conlogue[26] Sam Hawk[26] Reynolds "Renny" Yater[26] Jeff Divine, Art Brewer[26] Don MacAllister[26]
2018
2017 Barton Lynch[27] Pam Burridge[27] Timmy Reyes[27] Jeff Hakman[27] Jim Jenks[27] Huntington Beach High School 50th Anniversary Coaches[27]
2016 C. J. Hobgood[28] Mary Lou McGinnis Drummy[28] Timmy Turner[28] Whitey Harrison, Joey Cabell[28] Bob Hurley[28] Women's International Surfing Association (WISA)[29]
2015 Reno Abellira[30] Sofía Mulánovich[30] John Boozer[30] Paul Strauch[30] Dick Graham[30] David Nuuhiwa, Sr.[30]
2014 Larry Bertlemann[31] Phyllis O'Donnell[32] Mike Haley[33] Randy Rarick[34] John Van Hamersveld[35] Vince Moorhouse[36]
2013[37] Taylor Knox[31] Keala Kennelly[32]
Sharron Weber[32] 		Roy Crump, journalist [33] Donald Takayama[34] Jack McCoy, filmmaker[35] Father Christian Mondor[36]
2012 Michael Ho[31] Alisa Schwarzstein-Cairns[32] George Draper[33] Michael Peterson and Dick Brewer[34] Sean Collins[35][38] Stacy Wood, Dwyer Middle School surf coach[36][39]
2011[40] Rob Machado[31] Debbie Beacham[32]
Kathy "Gidget" Kohner[32] 		Bill Fury[33] Skip Frye[34] Dick Dale[35] Hole in the Wall Gang surf team [36]
2010 Sunny Garcia, Ian Cairns[31] Candy Calhoun[32] Rick "Rockin Fig" Fignetti[33] Dewey Weber[34] Dave Rochlen[35] Dick Baker[36]
2009 Mark Martinson[31] Wendy Botha[32] Jackie Baxter[33] Fred Hemmings[34] Duke Boyd[35] 50 Years at the HB Pier (Men's and Women's)[36]
2008 Andy Irons[31] Lynne Boyer[32] Rich Chew[33] Buzzy Trent and Wayne Lynch[34] Drew Kampion[35] The NSSA Founders of 1978[36]
2007 Midget Farrelly[31] Mimi Munro[32] Scott Farnsworth[33] George Greenough[34] Bill and Bob Meistrell[35] The H.B. Boys of 55'[36]
2006 L.J Richards[31] Layne Beachley[32] Bob "The Greek" Bolen[33] Mickey Muñoz[34] Walter & Phillip Hoffman[35] Jan Gaffney[36]
2005 David Nuuhiwa[31] Kim Hamrock[32] Carl Hayward[33] Buffalo Keaulana[34] George Greenough[35] Paul Morrow[36]
2004 Corky Carroll[31] Lisa Andersen[32] Rich Harbour[33] Pat Curren[34] Gordon Clark[35] Meg Bernardo[36]
2003 Martin Potter[31] Marge Calhoun[32] Chuck Linnen[33] Mike Doyle[34] Larry "Flame" Moore and Tom Morey[35] Michelle Turner[36]
2002 Kelly Slater[31] Kim Mearig[32] Brad Gerlach[33] Miki Dora[34] Steve Pezman[35] Andy Verdone[36]
2001 Wayne "Rabbit" Bartholomew[31] Janice Aragon[32] David Nuuhiwa[33] Rabbit Kekai[34] Simon Anderson[35] Max Bowman[36]
2000 Mark Occhilupo[31] Nancy Katin[32] Bud Llamas[33] Eddie Aikau and Gerry Lopez[34] MacGillivray Freeman[35] Mike Abdelmuti and George Farquhar[36]
1999 Tom Carroll[31] Jericho Poppler[32] Jack Haley[33] George Downing[34] Leroy Grannis[35] Chuck Allen[36]
1998 Peter "PT" Townend[31] Frieda Zamba[32] Chuck Dent[33] Dr. John Heath "Doc" Ball[34] Jack O'Neill[35] Ann Beasley and Natalie Kotsch[36]
1997 Shaun Tomson[31] Linda Benson[32] Gordie Duane[33] Dale Velzy[34] Hobie Alter and Rick Griffin[35] Bud and Gordie Higgins[36]
1996 Nat Young[31] Rell Sunn[32] Corky Carroll[33] Greg Noll[34] Bud Browne[35] Tom Pratte and John Rothrock[36]
1995 Tom Curren[31] Margo Oberg[32] Herbie Fletcher[33] Phil Edwards[34] John Severson[35] Jack Hokanson[36]
1994 Mark Richard[31] Joyce Hoffman[32] Robert August[33] Tom Blake and Honorary induction for Duke Kahanamoku, the "Father of Surfing"[34] Bruce Brown[35] None[36]

Surfers' Hall of Fame

Inductees by year are as follows:

References

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  2. ^ a b Connelly, Laylan (July 28, 2011). "Biggest show on surf". Orange County Register.
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  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.
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  8. ^ Serna, Joseph; Foxhall, Emily (July 29, 2013). "Dramatic photos, videos of Huntington Beach rioting". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
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