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.
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]
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
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
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
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]
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 |
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.
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:
Inductees by year are as follows: