The Wallex US Open of Surfing Presented by Pacifico got off to a roaring start in Huntington Beach on Saturday, July 29, bringing big beach crowds to soak in the scene.
In the water, surfers battled it out on opening day in front of fans who laid out towels and beach chairs to watch the show. Others meandered through the festival area, checking out the sponsor booths and lining up to win free gear.
Competitors kicked off the action early in the morning for the first heats of the nine-day event. Long Beach surfer Nolan Rapoza, who grew up surfing Huntington Beach, took first place in his heat with a score of 12.10 (out of 20) to move to the next round.
“Every competitor in that heat was really good. Any of us could have won that heat,” he said. “Competing at home is definitely nerve-wracking, the family showed up to watch me so I didn’t want to disappoint. But I’m extremely excited to make that heat.”
The US Open of Surfing is the premiere event in California for up-and-coming surfers like Rapoza, a contest he grew up watching every time it came to town.
Waves showed up for the first day, the best swell in months, he said.
“There’s definitely waves out there, hopefully it stays that way for the rest of the contest,” he said.
Another big draw this year was the high-flying daredevil action of freestyle motocross riders launching into the air as part of a Nitro Circus exhibition, Full Throttle FMX. Crowds let out cheers, with phones out recording the action, as the riders did flips and tricks high in the sky with the ocean as the backdrop.
Nitro Circus, headquartered in Costa Mesa, is kicking off a 20th anniversary tour Oct. 28 in Anaheim and the US Open appearance is just a taste of what fans can expect later in the year, said Ricky Melnik, general manager of Nitro Circus.
“This is our backyard,” he said.
Eight riders will be showcasing their skills during the next two exhibitions, Sunday, July 30, and Aug. 5, including Jeremy…
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