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The biggest
annual
surfing competition is held each summer in
California. The US Open of Surfing contest has
traditionally been held in Huntington Beach
(HB). This event is part of the World Qualifying
Series (WQS)
that is coordinated by the Association of Surfing
Professionals.
The stars aligned to make The 2009 US Open a
spectacular and historic event.
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More
about Huntington Beach |
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Along a developed
section
of Pacific Coast Highway you find Huntington
Beach.
Huntington Beach has long been home to one of the world's
biggest
surfing competitions: The US Open of Surfing.
Huntington
Beach is located in Orange County, California.
Huntington Beach is
also known as HB and Surf City. The typical summer
water
temperatures range from 67-72 degrees. Huntington
Beach has
distinct surf
subculture and surf industry. Huntington
Beach is not only home to many professional surfers but is
a magnet for professional skateboarders and
snowboarders.
As in years past, the US Open featured skateboarding and
BMX
exhibitions. This world class event is held on the
South Side of the Huntington Beach
Pier.
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2009 US Open Crowds - Saturday July 25th
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ASP North
America
is a branch of ASP International and is hosting the US
Open.
The ASP claims a 32-year history of surfing tours.
There is a rating system
to classify the level of each World Qualifying Series (WQS)
event. Each event has a rating
system ranging
from 1 star to 6 stars. 6 star events, like the US
Open of
Surfing at Huntington
Beach, are the largest and have bigger
prizes. The US Open has attracted major sponsors
and exhibitors such as Hurley, Honda, O'Neill,
Verizon, and Paul
Mitchell over the years. 2009 broke records for event
sponsorships
and competitor prizes. Hurley, a manufacturer of surf
trunks and
surf gear, had announced that they would be increasing the
prize money
for the event winner. The winner would be paid a
historic
$100,000.00. This
event and the entire WQS can
provide a doorway into the prestigious World Tour.
The top 15 WQS
competitors gain a spot on
the World Tour. The World Tour is reserved for
the world's best surfers. |
ASP US Open 2009 - BMX
Exhibition
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Surfers come from around the globe to prove
themselves at The US Open.
Hurley's announcement added a unique dynamic to the
event. Having
the biggest payday in surfing history, the US Open caught
attention
beyond the average ripper and low-ranking world tour
competitors. The roll call
included Kelly Slater, Adriano De Souza, Brett
Simpson, CJ Hobgood, Nathaniel Curran, and Tanner Gudauskas
(2008 HB Pro
Junior event winner). The contest ran from July 20,
2009 through July 26, 2009. |
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More
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The waves ranged from Two to Eight feet high
(6-12 foot
faces) with overcast to sunny skies for the duration of the
contest. The
water temperature for the contest ranged from 69-71
degrees. The
waves started out small in the 2-3 foot range but started
"cranking"
once a sizeable south swell filled in.
There was a
dangerously strong south current
that came with the increased wave height. Consistent
"Walled Up"
waves began to shadow the occasional quality wave.
The current
rushed north toward the "Cheese Grater", also
known as, the HB Pier. Conditions that HB locals are
accustomed to. Even with Wave craft assistance,
surfers had to watch their "wave
selection" to get waves that would
payoff. |
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More
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Talent, Danger, Money, Drama, Sunny Weather, and
Warm Water
produced the largest crowds in surfing history and brought
the major
network media circus, adding more pressure. |
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Now the goal? Impress the ASP Judges. ASP judges
are known
for rewarding radical controlled maneuvers in the critical section
of a wave.
Points could be given for Speed, Power and Flow. Innovation and
Progressive
surfing tend to get good reactions as well. Repertoire (
maneuvers ), is
also taken into consideration when rewarding points for waves
ridden. Aerial
maneuvers really impressed the crowd on the beach this year.
As the week
progressed, the process of elimination reduced the number of
surfers remaining
in the competition. Experience seemed to be paying off for
many of the
seasoned world tour competitors.
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In the
Women's WQS
division, Stephanie Gilmore and Coco Ho made it to the
quarter-finals. Malia Manuel,
the 2008 winner, was the youngest girl ever to win the US
Open. This
year Malia made it to the finals. In the finals,
Malia faced
orange county favorite
Courtney Conlogue.
Courtney, a pleasant free surfer, sure had her game face
on.
Focused, Courtney Conlogue won the 2009 Finals. |
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Stephanie Gilmore US
Open 2009
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CJ Hobgood - Sunday
July 26th, 2009 |
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By Sunday
morning July 26, 2009, on the last day
of the competition, the
Men's WQS contest action was peaking. The day
began with 16 surfers remaining in the men's
competition. As each
Heat ended the number of competitors dwindled. The
crowd grew to
approximately 125,000 visitors in attendance for the
finals. Amongst the losses
were Kelly Slater, Adriano De Souza, CJ Hobgood, and Nate
Curran (2008
winner).
These warriors did not leave the battle scene without
devastating the
crowd with an aerial assault. The barrage included
aerial 360's,
rodeo-style flips, and BMX-style table
tops. |
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Gony Zubizarreta HB
2009 |
Adriano just defeated
Kelly Slater- 2009 Quarter Finals
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When the
dust settled
from the elimination process Brett Simpson and
Mick Fanning were still
standing. This match up put a Local Boy
against a World
Tour Giant. In 2008, local boy Brett Simpson's
fate was
revealed in the last 10 seconds of his Semi-Final Heat,
when Tim Boal
caught his heat winning wave. The wave conditions
were calming to
a 4-7 foot range and started to open up some workable
sections for the
2009 finals. World Tour Competitor Mick Fanning, was
impressing
the crowd with his big moves and quick surfing style.
Brett came
out in the Finals in rhythm and looking like he was at
home. Brett
continued to pick up steam throughout the heat and the
volume of the
crowd intensified. Although Fanning had a great heat,
Brett
unleashed a barrage of critical moves and exhibited strong
wave-negotiation skills. The $100,000.00 prize and
spotlight ended up
going to Brett Simpson. Brett also increased
his 2009 WQS ranking
from 8th to 5th by winning the US Open. |
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Michel Bourez - 2009
US Open Quarter-Finals |
Brett Simpson Big
Spray and
direction change - 2009 Finals |
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Nate Curran 2008
Winner
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Sources |
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Trade Federation Info Team on-site
Trade Federation Video:
Us Open Finals 2009 / Brett Simpson - 7/26/2009
Trade Federation Video:
Us Open Women 2009 / Coco Ho - 7/25/2009
www.aspworldtour.com and
media feed.
ASP North America Media Broadcast - Dave Prodan -
7/23/2009, 7/25/2009, 7/26/2009 |
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Domaille.tv Blogs:
Extreme
Surfing
Event Announcer Commentary - Fig
Trade Federation Article: The US Open Of Surfing, published July
2007
Trade Federation Article:
Surfing at The US Open published July 2008
MKM for event program and contest heat schedule
RPM Photography - 2008 Nate Curran Photo
Images and Photos by Trade Federation Inc. |
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This article is sponsored by: |
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