US Open of Surfing kicks off with longboarding, festival fun in the sun

Beach crowds filled into the sand Saturday to check out the first day of the Lexus US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, soaking in the scene set in the massive festival area and finding spots on the sand to scope out the surf action.

The nine-day event, set on 13 acres of beach just south of the Huntington Beach Pier, had a plethora of offerings for beachgoers – everything from the longboarding surf competition in the water to high-flying skateboarding action at an X Games vert ramp.

Attendees sampled offerings from booths in the festival area and grabbed bites from food trucks, some heading to the Beach Bar for a drink, the same area where Sublime was set to take the stage for a concert later in the evening.

Beachgoers mid-day stood up and turned their attention to a stage set on the sand where San Clemente surfer Waylon Kenworthy, 13, played the national anthem on an electric guitar for the beach crowd, US Air Force jets doing a flyover above the ocean to thrill the crowds.

The surf action kicked off in 2- to 3-foot surf early in the morning with the Huntington Beach Longboard Classic, the second stop for the World Surf League Longboard Tour.

Santa Barbara surfer Cole Robbins was up against current world champion Kai Sallas, of Hawaii, the California surfer coming out on top with a score of 15.17.

“It’s really exciting to have a chance to compete here,” Robbins said. “There’s so much rich history, there’s so much energy the crowd brings while we are in the water, it’s always a blast to be here.”

Longboard surfing has its own style of wave riding, with athletes using bigger boards and performing more traditional moves such as “hanging 10” with their toes on the nose of the surfboard for points.

“It’s a lot of grace, style and flow longboarding brings,” Robbins said. “You’re dancing and walking up and down the board, we’re trying to be as relaxed as possible. It’s really aesthetically pleasing to watch.”

Robbins still remembers the first time he competed in Huntington Beach back in 2006, when he made the finals with Sallas and Taylor Jensen, of San Diego, a three-time world champion who also took top spot in his heat Saturday.

“It was a sea of people on the beach, all the way to the street. It was unbelievable. I was really taking it all in and it’s a moment I’ll never forget,” Robbins said. “And I think that’s why we all love the US Open – it’s just what the crowd brings, the enthusiasm.”

The sand started filling in early with surf fans who brought beach chairs and umbrellas to watch the action.

Carlsbad dad Kirk Van Wagoner showed up to support his son Jack, a 19-year-old doing his first year on the longboard tour.

“This is his dream, he’s really excited to surf the World Tour and surf against all the people he looks up to as legends,” he said.

Van Wagoner called the event a “huge party.”

“You have the professional athletes, longboarders, world-class shortboarders, all the X Games, the concerts – it’s a party and it’s nice with the longboarding to kind of ease into it. It can build with excitement all week,” he said. “We just love the vibe and everything going on, it’s just a great event to come check out.”

Laguna Hills surfer Carl Domingez was one of several Filipino fans who showed up to support Rogelio Jr. Esquievel, known as JR, the first pro longboarder from the Philipines to compete at the US Open of Surfing.

Domingez brought drums to the sand to beat with the cheers of the crowd who went wild when their countryman won his heat.

“It’s inspiring, he’s elevating the culture,” Domingez said. “It’s cool to see the community come out, the excitement, and to meet other Filipino surfers in the community, too, it strengthens our community further. There’s always a spark to the fire and he was the spark for the tribe getting together.”

The surf schedule is different this year, with the longboard action running the first few days of the event, wrapping up on Aug. 6.

The main event, the Challenger Series, will likely get underway Aug. 6 or Aug. 7, depending on conditions. Some of the world’s best surfers – possibly even a few Olympians coming straight from Tahiti – will compete.

Forecasts are calling for some big waves as a swell, and possibly a tropical storm, is expected to show for the final days of the event.

On the sand Saturday, beachgoers strolled around checking out the various booths set up, lining up at the brands giving out swag.

Huntington Beach resident Lisa Cooper knows to bring her two kids early each year. Son Kieren, 7, scored a NHL Ducks towel after taking a shot in the hockey goal set up on the sand.

“We come every year before it gets too crowded. They look forward to it every year, it’s kind of our annual tradition now, we love it,” Cooper said.

Marni Shea came from the South Bay to check out the event for the first time, stopping at the new Lexus House, a lounge set up with couches and areas to chill and watch the surf action.

Then, Shea and friends stopped to watch the skateboarding action as the women competitors showed their skills on the 14-foot X Games vert ramp.

“I think it’s amazing, the gumption these girls have is intense,” Shea said. “It’s gorgeous too, I’ve never actually seen skating live before, the ramp is cool.”

Last year’s US Open of Surfing winner Sawyer Lindblad, of San Clemente, was signing autographs on the first day of the event at the Sambazon booth. Even though Lindblad joined the ranks of the World Tour this year, she’ll be back to defend her title.

“I’m just really looking forward to competing close to home, I’ve been traveling the world all year, so it will just be fun to surf in front of my family and friends,” she said. “The US Open is a different energy than any other event. It’s so much fun and I feel like we always get fun waves. It’s super cool and I’m excited for this year.”