The US Open of Surfing is a pivotal event for several local surfers hoping to ride into the big leagues – and if they do well at the Huntington Beach event, it will bring them one step closer to their lifelong pro surfing dreams.
For nine days, more than 150 surfers from around the globe will battle on the south side of the famed pier. It’s not only a chance to perform in front of a big crowd of fans, but also a way to earn valuable points with hopes of joining the ranks of the World Surf League’s elite World Tour.
First, they’ll have to make it past a handful of seasoned, big-name World Tour surfers who have entered the mega event this year.
But it could be an underdog story for any of the rising-star surfers. They know the waves well in Huntington, a place they grew up competing often on the amateur circuits. They’ll have friends and family rooting them on and have the luxury of sleeping in their own beds, recharging for the marathon nine days of competition.
Huntington Beach is the fourth of six stops on the Challenger Series, the minor leagues and the pathway for 10 male and five female surfers to make next year’s World Tour.
Several San Clemente surfers are within reach of making the elite tour, depending on results at the US Open and two upcoming events. If just a few of them succeed, it could mean a huge presence of Orange County surfers on next year’s World Tour.
Here’s a look at standout surfers to watch at the event:
Cole Houshmand:
The San Clemente surfer is on a winning streak.
Houshmand, 22, won a Challenger Series event in Australia last May, followed by another big win at the Ballito Pro in South Africa in July.
Those victories have put him at the top spot for the Challenger Series rankings. While it hasn’t been made official just yet, he’ll likely secure a spot on next year’s World Tour. He would join fellow San Clemente surfer Griffin Colapinto, who is poised to make the WSL Final 5 world championships at Lower…
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