All hands on to Surf City for U.S. Open

RICK FIGNETTI

It was a big weekend here in Surf City as H.B. hosted the 100th

Fourth of July parade that went up Main Street and ended up at City

Hall with floats, marching bands, Shriners, celebrities, spectators

and more.

It seemed like everyone went to the beach after that, soaked some

rays and played in the small surf. By late afternoon, everyone was

heading back to the beaches again for the fireworks show, which was

spectacular, and it was probably as crowded as it’s ever been down

here in the sands of time.

Coming up soon is the biggie of the surf events, the $175,000

Honda Element U.S. Open of Surfing presented by O’Neill on the south

side of the Huntington Pier July 26 to Aug. 1. Some of the best in

the world will be on hand to tear it up.

Last year’s defending champ, West Coast transplant and top-16

World Championship Tour shredder Corey Lopez has entered. Current

world champ Andy Irons, a winner here after defying the odds a few

years back by winning the World Qualifying Series and World

Championship Tour events back-to-back two weeks in a row on

Southside, is the favorite.

There’s a rumor that six-time world champ Kelly Slater will surf

it. Slates has torn it up here since he was a grom, blowing minds

with his radical surfing. Plus, more big-time world hotties from the

U.S. like Taylor Knox, the “Style-master,” and the Hobgood brothers,

C.J. and Damien -- both in the top 10 of the world standings. And big

guns like Shane Beschen -- a runner-up in the standings a few years

back and a former Open winner; “Rubber Man” Timmy Curren, who is

having a great year; the “Mobster” Rob Machado, who’s dominated for

years on that south peak, connecting some all the way across with

some straight-up gouges; and “Endless Summer” movie star Pat

O’Connell. Plus, all the Huntington rippers like “the Hitman” Timmy

Reyes, “Air buster” Brett Simpson, “Wardo” Shaun Ward, “Mr. Solid”

Mike Hoisington and Ryan Simmons, to name a few.

This event is a proving ground with worldwide attention and is

open to all surfers, from square one of the trials to the top-seeded

guns in the later rounds. It boasts the largest field of competitors,

with about 600-plus entered, whittling it down at the end to a

four-man “showdown” final. Big buckaroos are at stake plus valuable

ratings points for all the World Qualifying Series boys and gals.

In the women’s field, more big names are entered like Sofia

Mulanovich, the World Championship Tour ratings leader from Peru.

Mulanovich won three in a row in Fiji, Tahiti and France and looks

like a shoo-in for the women’s world title this year. She also surfs

Huntington well.

Four-time world champ Lisa Anderson has always been a favorite

here, along with Hawaiian Rochelle Ballard, who hit the pier

head-first one year, went to the hospital, ended up being OK and came

out to win it the next day. Other hotties like West Coasters Julia

Christian, T.V. star Holly Beck and local standout Jodie Nelson, plus

Aussie shredder Pauline Menczer and hot Hawaiians Keala Kennelly,

Megan Abubo and Melanie Bartels are ones to watch for.

There’s more going on, as the Bank of the West Beach Games will

also feature some live concerts, a skating expo, BMX riders and the

tent city, which usually features some the new popular lines with

some free giveaways, too.

Pray for surf and sun that week, and it should be a pretty

happening scene, as it’s been in the past. See ya in the lineup. Fig

over and out.

* RICK FIGNETTI is an nine-time West Coast champion, has

announced the U.S. Open of Surfing the last nine years and has been

the KROQ-FM surfologist for the last 18 years, doing morning surf

reports. He owns a surf shop on Main Street. You can reach him at

(714) 536-1058.