On any given summer day, Huntington Beach is one of the busiest beaches in the country – but add the US Open of Surfing, and a day at the beach can turn into a massive maze of festivities to navigate.
Don’t worry, we’re here to help if you want to venture into what’s considered the world’s largest action-sports festival, a nine-day event that is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of people to the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier between Saturday, July 29, and Aug. 6.
The best tip to avoid frustration: Get there early.
Parking will be gobbled up quickly with surf action kicking off early in the morning, so if you want a prime spot on the sand or pier to watch, it’s best to beat the crowds.
Here’s some tips about the schedule, parking, where to eat and happenings off the sand and around town to know before you go to the Wallex U.S. Open of Surfing Presented by Pacifico:
Schedule
The surf action kicks off first thing Saturday morning, with most days starting at 7:30 a.m. and running until about 3:30 p.m., though bogus weather such as foggy conditions that cloud the judges’ view of the surfers or funky winds could cause delays.
The finals will wrap up on Aug. 6 at about 2:15 p.m. The awards ceremony happens from 2:30 to 3 p.m. on the sand just south of the pier.
The US Open retail store and welcome center opens at 8 a.m. each day, and food trucks on the sand will be dishing up as early as 8:30 a.m. and be open until 4 p.m.
Sponsor and partner activations kick off at 9 a.m. each day. With about 40 sponsors signed on this year, there should be plenty of free stuff to nab on the sand or games to play at the various booths. Typically, more brands participate later in the week and the final weekend.
The biggest buzz this year is the addition of Nitro Circus’ “Full Throttle FMX,” with pro freestyle motocross action in a massive 305-foot ramp-to-ramp demo.
The half-hour shows will happen July 29 and 30 and Aug. 5 at three different…
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