U.S. Open of Surfing
Encyclopedia
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 ASP World Tour and is an ASP Prime event.
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 event was named the U.S. Open of Surfing in 1994.
The contest was traditionally held during Labor Day weekend. The event was changed to a different time period during the summer after riots occurred at the U.S. Open in 1986.
Spending at the nine-day event adds $21.5 million to the Orange County
economy and $16.4 million in Huntington Beach. It is attended by nearly 500,000 people.
1960: Mike Haley, Linda Benson
1961: Ron Sizemore, Linda Benson
1962: Ilima Kalama, Gudie Wilkie
1963: LJ Richards, Candy Calhoun
1965: Mark Martinson, Joyce Hoffman
1966: Corky Carroll, Joyce Hoffman
1967: Corky Carroll, Joyce Hoffman
1968: David Nuuhiwa, Linda Benson
1969: Corky Carroll, Sharon Weber
1970: David Nuuhiwa, Joyce Hoffman
1971: Brad McCaul, Jericho Poppler
1972: Dale Dobson, Mary Setterholm
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
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
2009: Brett Simpson
, Courtney Conlogue
2010: Brett Simpson, Carissa Moore
2011: Kelly Slater
, Sally Fitzgibbons
1995-2000: Joel Tudor
wins 6 in a row
2001: Josh Baxter
2002: Joel Tudor [7]
2003: Taylor Jensen
2004: Brendan White
2005: Joel Tudor [8]
2006: Dodger Kremel
2007: Colin McPhillips [2]
2008: Taylor Jensen
[2]
2009: No competition
2010: Stephen Mangiacapre
from the Huntington Beach Pier.
, woman of the year, and honor roll. Eligibility for each award are as follows:
Huntington Beach, California
Huntington Beach is a seaside city in Orange County in Southern California. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 189,992; making it the largest beach city in Orange County in terms of population...
. Generally held on the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier
Huntington Beach Pier
The Huntington Beach Pier is a municipal pier located in Huntington Beach, California. At in length, it is one of the longest public piers on the West Coast....
, the U.S. Open is part of the qualification process for the ASP World Tour and is an ASP Prime event.
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 PacificOcean Pacific
Ocean Pacific Apparel Corp is a private company based in Irvine, California, USA. It produces primarily surf related apparel, swimwear, footwear and accessories. OP is available exclusively at Wal-Mart.-History:...
. The event was named the U.S. Open of Surfing in 1994.
The contest was traditionally held during Labor Day weekend. The event was changed to a different time period during the summer after riots occurred at the U.S. Open in 1986.
Spending at the nine-day event adds $21.5 million to the Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
economy and $16.4 million in Huntington Beach. It is attended by nearly 500,000 people.
West Coast Surfing Champions
1959: Jack Haley, Linda Benson1960: 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 Benson1965: Mark Martinson, Joyce Hoffman
1966: Corky Carroll, Joyce Hoffman
1967: Corky Carroll, Joyce Hoffman
1968: David Nuuhiwa, Linda Benson
1969: Corky Carroll, Sharon Weber
1970: David Nuuhiwa, Joyce Hoffman
1971: Brad McCaul, Jericho Poppler
1972: Dale Dobson, Mary Setterholm
Op Pro Champions
1982: Cheyne Horan, Becky Benson1983: 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
Kelly Slater
Robert Kelly Slater is an American professional surfer known for his competitive prowess and style. He has been crowned ASP World Champion a record 11 times, including 5 consecutive titles from 1994–98. He is the youngest and the oldest to win the title...
, Richie Collins, Todd Holland, Mike Parsons, Alisa Schwarzstein)
1993: Sunny Garcia, Kim Mearig
U.S. Open Champions
1994: Shane Beschen, Lisa Andersen1995: Rob Machado
Rob Machado
Robert Edward Machado is an American professional surfer from Cardiff-by-the-Sea, a community in Encinitas , California....
, Neridah Falconer
1996: Kelly Slater
Kelly Slater
Robert Kelly Slater is an American professional surfer known for his competitive prowess and style. He has been crowned ASP World Champion a record 11 times, including 5 consecutive titles from 1994–98. He is the youngest and the oldest to win the title...
, Layne Beachley
Layne Beachley
Layne Beachley is a former professional surfer from Manly, Australia. She won the World Championship seven times.-Surfing career:At the age of 16 Beachley became a professional surfer. By the age of 20 she was ranked sixth in the world. Beachley became the Women's ASP World Champion in 1998, and...
1997: Beau Emerton, Rochelle Ballard
1998: Andy Irons
Andy Irons
Philip Andrew "Andy" Irons was a professional surfer. Irons learned to surf on the dangerous and shallow reefs of the North Shore in Kauai, Hawaii...
, 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
Chelsea Georgeson
Chelsea Georgeson is an Australian surfer who won the world title in 2005. She won the title after beating Brazil's Jacqueline Silva in the final at the season-ending event at Honolulu Bay, Hawaii. She started surfing at the age of 13. -References:* , ABC News Online. 17 December 2005...
2004: Taj Burrow
Taj Burrow
Taj Burrow is an Australian professional surfer who is currently competing in this 14th year on the ASP World Tour.-Career:...
, Chelsea Georgeson
2005: Andy Irons
Andy Irons
Philip Andrew "Andy" Irons was a professional surfer. Irons learned to surf on the dangerous and shallow reefs of the North Shore in Kauai, Hawaii...
, Julia Christian
2006: Rob Machado, Sofia Mulanovich
2007: C.J. Hobgood, Stephanie Gilmore
2008: Nathaniel Curran, Malia Manuel
2009: Brett Simpson
Brett Simpson
Brett Simpson is a surfer from Huntington Beach, California. He won the 2009 U.S. Open of Surfing contest, and repeated again in 2010 by successfully defending his title against South African surfer Jordy Smith. He is a graduate of Huntington Beach High School. Simpson was named the Orange...
, Courtney Conlogue
2010: Brett Simpson, Carissa Moore
Carissa Moore
Carissa Kainani Moore is an Hawaiian surfer and the 2011 ASP Women's World Tour Champion.As of July 2011, Moore has won 6 ASP Women's World Tour events, 2 ASP WQS 6-Star events and an unprecedented 11 NSSA Titles....
2011: Kelly Slater
Kelly Slater
Robert Kelly Slater is an American professional surfer known for his competitive prowess and style. He has been crowned ASP World Champion a record 11 times, including 5 consecutive titles from 1994–98. He is the youngest and the oldest to win the title...
, Sally Fitzgibbons
U.S. Open of Longboarding Champions
1994: Colin McPhillipsColin McPhillips
Colin Patrick "Col" McPhillips is an American professional longboard surfrider and three times ASP Longboard World Champion.-Early Years:...
1995-2000: Joel Tudor
Joel Tudor
Joel Tudor is a surfer, primarily known for longboarding, and competitive grappler from San Diego, California.-Early life:His father, Joe, who ignored the shortboard revolution himself and never abandoned his longboard, first put his Joel on a surfboard during a family trip to Puerto Vallarta...
wins 6 in a row
2001: Josh Baxter
2002: Joel Tudor [7]
2003: Taylor Jensen
2004: Brendan White
2005: Joel Tudor [8]
2006: Dodger Kremel
2007: Colin McPhillips [2]
2008: Taylor Jensen
Taylor Jensen
Taylor Jensen is an American professional longboard surfrider, the 2011 World Longboard Champion & 6 times U.S. National longboard Champion....
[2]
2009: No competition
2010: Stephen Mangiacapre
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 HighwayCalifornia State Route 1
State Route 1 , more often called Highway 1, is a state highway that runs along much of the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California. It is famous for running along some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, leading to its designation as an All-American Road.Highway 1 does not run...
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 cultureSurf culture
Surf culture includes the people, language, fashion and life surrounding the art of surfing.The culture began early in the 20th century, spread quickly during the 1950s and 1960s, and continues to evolve. It affected fashion, music, literature, films, jargon, and more...
, 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 DistrictHuntington Beach Union High School DistrictThe Huntington Beach Union High School District is a public school district serving portions of the Orange County cities of Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, and Westminster. It oversees eleven sites, offering courses for students in grades 9-12. The union high school district also offers courses...
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Rob Machado Rob Machado Robert Edward Machado is an American professional surfer from Cardiff-by-the-Sea, a community in Encinitas , California.... |
Debbie Beacham Kathy "Gidget" Kohner Kathy Kohner-Zuckerman Kathy Kohner Zuckerman was the real life inspiration for the fictional character of Franzie from the 1957 novel, Gidget: The Little Girl with Big Ideas, written by her father Frederick Kohner.- Early life :... |
Bill Fury | Skip Frye Skip Frye Skip Frye is a surfer, surfboard designer and shaper, and environmental activist.-Background:... |
Dick Dale Dick Dale Dick Dale is an American surf rock guitarist, known as The King of the Surf Guitar. He experimented with reverberation and made use of custom made Fender amplifiers, including the first-ever 100-watt guitar amplifier.-Early life:Dale was born in South Boston, Massachusetts and lived in nearby... |
Hole in the Wall Gang surf team |
| 2010 | Sunny Garcia, Ian Cairns Ian Cairns Ian Cairns is a former champion surfer who was also influential in establishing the world professional surfing circuit and particularly the World Championship Tour.... |
Candy Calhoun | Rick "Rockin Fig" Fignetti | Dewey Weber | Dave Rochlen | Dick Baker |
| 2009 | Mark Martinson | Wendy Botha | Jackie Baxter | Fred Hemmings | Duke Boyd | 50 Years at the HB Pier (Men's and Women's) |
| 2008 | Andy Irons Andy Irons Philip Andrew "Andy" Irons was a professional surfer. Irons learned to surf on the dangerous and shallow reefs of the North Shore in Kauai, Hawaii... |
Lynne Boyer Lynne Boyer Lynne Boyer is a two-time world surfing champion from the United States. She won her two titles in 1978 and 1979. It was the first time any woman had won the championship twice. She was inducted into the Surfing Walk of Fame in Huntington Beach, California in 2008.After her surfing career, she... |
Rich Chew | |||
| 2007 | Midget Farrelly Midget Farrelly Bernard "Midget" Farrelly is a former Australian world surfing champion.He was the first Australian to win a major surfing title, the 1963 championships in Makaha, Hawaii... |
Mimi Munro | Scott Farnsworth | |||
| 2006 | L.J. Richards | Layne Beachley Layne Beachley Layne Beachley is a former professional surfer from Manly, Australia. She won the World Championship seven times.-Surfing career:At the age of 16 Beachley became a professional surfer. By the age of 20 she was ranked sixth in the world. Beachley became the Women's ASP World Champion in 1998, and... |
Bob "The Greek" Bolen | |||
| 2005 | David Nuuhiwa | Kim Hamrock | Carl Hayward | |||
| 2004 | Corky Carroll Corky Carroll Corky Carroll was a professional American surfer and is considered a pioneer in the sport by becoming the first real professional surfer as well as being the first to receive endorsements.-Life and career:... |
Lisa Anderson | Rick Harbour | |||
| 2003 | Martin Potter Martin Potter (surfer) Martin "Pottz" Potter , is a former professional surfer-Early Years:His parents emigrated to Durban, South Africa when he was 2 years old. He began surfing off the beaches of his hometown Durban at age 10... |
Marge Calhoun | Chuck Linnen | |||
| 2002 | Kelly Slater Kelly Slater Robert Kelly Slater is an American professional surfer known for his competitive prowess and style. He has been crowned ASP World Champion a record 11 times, including 5 consecutive titles from 1994–98. He is the youngest and the oldest to win the title... |
Kim Mearig | Brad Gerlach | |||
| 2001 | Wayne "Rabbit" Bartholomew Wayne Bartholomew Wayne 'Rabbit' Bartholomew AM is an Australian surfer and order of Australia recipient who won the World Surfing Championship in 1978, 1999 and 2003... |
Janice Aragon | David Nuuhiwa | |||
| 2000 | Mark Occhilupo | Nancy Katin Kanvas by Katin Kanvas By Katin, founded in 1959, is located in Surfside, California and is one of the oldest surf shops in California.- Katin history :In the late 1950s, Nancy and Walter Katin were in the business of making canvas boat covers... |
Bud Llamas | |||
| 1999 | Tom Carroll | Jericho Poppler | Jack Haley | |||
| 1998 | Peter "PT" Townend | Frieda Zamba | Chuck Dent | |||
| 1997 | Shaun Tomson Shaun Tomson Shaun Tomson is a South African professional surfer and former world champion, environmentalist, actor, author and businessman.-Life and career:... |
Linda Benson | Gordie Duane | |||
| 1996 | Nat Young Nat Young Nat Young may refer to:* Nat Young , British painter* Nat Young , Australian surfing champion... |
Rell Sunn | Corky Carroll | |||
| 1995 | Tom Curren Tom Curren Tom Curren Tom Curren Tom Curren (born July 3, 1964, in Santa Barbara, California is an American surfer. He was born to father Pat (big-wave legend and shaper) and mother Jeanine. His brother Joe is also a professional surfer and popular photographer and he also has a sister, Anna.... |
Margo Oberg Margo Oberg Margo Oberg is a three-time world surfing champion from the United States. She won her first world title in 1977, then won back-to-back titles in 1980 and 1981... |
Herbie Fletcher | |||
| 1994 | Mark Richard | Joyce Hoffman Joyce Hoffman Joyce Hoffman is an American surfer, considered a woman's pioneer in her sport. She is often regarded as the first female international surfing star and was one the first inductees of the International Surfing Hall of Fame.-Biography:... |
Robert August Robert August Robert August is an American surfer and surfboard shaper. Raised in Huntington Beach, California, he attended Huntington Beach High School where he was ASB President his senior year. He is most famous as one of the subjects of Bruce Brown's 1966 surf documentary The Endless Summer, along with his... |
Surfers' Hall of Fame
Inductees by year are as follows:- 2011: George Downing, Chuck Linnen, Simon AndersonSimon AndersonSimon Anderson is an Australian surfer and surfboard shaper, noted for creating the Thruster design of three equal-sized fins on a surfboard, a design now used on most shortboards.-Early life:...
, Taylor KnoxTaylor KnoxTaylor Knox is an American professional surfer. He is currently competing on the ASP World Tour.Knox was born in Thousand Oaks, California and began surfing at 8 years old. He moved with his family to Carlsbad at 13 and continued to pursue his dream of becoming a pro surfer... - 2010: Stephanie GilmoreStephanie GilmoreStephanie Louise Gilmore is an Australian professional surfer and four-time world champion on the Women's ASP World Tour . She was born in Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Australia on 29 January 1988 and currently resides in Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia.Gilmore's life as a surfer began at...
, Ian CairnsIan CairnsIan Cairns is a former champion surfer who was also influential in establishing the world professional surfing circuit and particularly the World Championship Tour....
, Randy Lewis - 2009: Dick Baker, Chris HawkChris HawkChristopher Lee Hawk was an American surfer and board shaper.Hawk was born in Maywood, California in 1951. During the 1980s, he became a surfboard shaper, and his boards were popular among locals in Orange County....
, Joey Buran, Pat O'Connell, Bruce BrownBruce BrownBruce Brown is an American documentary film director, known as an early pioneer of the surf film...
, Jeff Hakman