US Open of Surfing


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 World Surf League and is a WSL QS 10,000 event. It is the largest surfing competition in the world. It has been owned by IMG since 2000.
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 Pacific. The event was renamed the U.S. Open of Surfing in 1994.
The contest was traditionally held during Labor Day weekend. The event was changed to an earlier date following the 1986 event when riots occurred at the OP Pro.
Rioting again marred the 2013 U.S. Open. On the final day of the event, as the crowds left the contest area and filled Main Street, a civil disturbance erupted, resulting in property damage and several arrests and some injuries. As a result, the event owner IMG stated that in 2014 it will discontinue events such as free concerts and focus more on the sport.
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.

Champions

West Coast Surfing Champions

1959: Jack Haley, Linda Benson
1960: 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 Benson
1965: Mark Martinson, Joyce Hoffman
1966: Corky Carroll, Joyce Hoffman
1967: Corky Carroll, Joyce Hoffman
1968: David Nuuhiwa, Linda Benson
1969: Corky Carroll, Sharron Weber
1970: David Nuuhiwa, Joyce Hoffman
1971: Brad McCaul, Jericho Poppler
1972: Dale Dobson, Mary Setterholm

Op Pro Champions

1982: Cheyne Horan, Becky Benson
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
1993: Sunny Garcia, Kim Mearig

U.S. Open Champions

1994: Shane Beschen, Lisa Andersen
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
2012: Julian Wilson, Lakey Peterson
2013: Alejo Muniz, Carissa Moore
2014: Filipe Toledo, Tyler Wright
2015: Hiroto Ohhara, Johanne Defay
2016: Filipe Toledo, Tatiana Weston-Webb
2017: Kanoa Igarashi, Sage Erickson
2018:
2019: Yago Dora, Sage Erickson

U.S. Open of Longboarding Championshttp://articles.hbindependent.com/2010-07-29/sports/tn-hbi-0729-pastwinners-20100729_1_san-clemente-hawaii-cardiff Huntington Beach Independent

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 Highway 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 culture, woman of the year, and honor roll. Eligibility for each award are as follows:
YearSurfing ChampionWoman of the YearLocal HeroSurf PioneerSurf CultureHonor Roll
2019Derek Ho, Joel TudorCourtney ConlogueSam HawkReynolds "Renny" YaterJeff Divine, Art BrewerDon MacAllister
2018
2017Barton LynchPam BurridgeTimmy ReyesJeff HakmanJim JenksHuntington Beach High School 50th Anniversary Coaches
2016C. J. HobgoodMary Lou McGinnis DrummyTimmy TurnerWhitey Harrison, Joey CabellBob HurleyWomen's International Surfing Association
2015Reno AbelliraSofía MulánovichJohn BoozerPaul StrauchDick GrahamDavid Nuuhiwa, Sr.
2014Larry BertlemannPhyllis O'DonnellMike HaleyRandy RarickJohn Van HamersveldVince Moorhouse
2013Taylor KnoxKeala Kennelly
Sharron Weber		Roy Crump, journalistDonald TakayamaJack McCoy, filmmakerFather Christian Mondor
2012Michael HoAlisa Schwarzstein-CairnsGeorge DraperMichael Peterson and Dick BrewerSean CollinsStacy Wood, Dwyer Middle School surf coach
2011Rob MachadoDebbie Beacham
Kathy "Gidget" Kohner		Bill FurySkip FryeDick DaleHole in the Wall Gang surf team
2010Sunny Garcia, Ian CairnsCandy CalhounRick "Rockin Fig" FignettiDewey WeberDave RochlenDick Baker
2009Mark MartinsonWendy BothaJackie BaxterFred HemmingsDuke Boyd50 Years at the HB Pier
2008Andy IronsLynne BoyerRich ChewBuzzy Trent and Wayne LynchDrew KampionThe NSSA Founders of 1978
2007Midget FarrellyMimi MunroScott FarnsworthGeorge GreenoughBill and Bob MeistrellThe H.B. Boys of 55'
2006L.J RichardsLayne BeachleyBob "The Greek" BolenMickey MuñozWalter & Phillip HoffmanJan Gaffney
2005David NuuhiwaKim HamrockCarl HaywardBuffalo KeaulanaGeorge GreenoughPaul Morrow
2004Corky CarrollLisa AndersenRich HarbourPat CurrenGordon ClarkMeg Bernardo
2003Martin PotterMarge CalhounChuck LinnenMike DoyleLarry "Flame" Moore and Tom MoreyMichelle Turner
2002Kelly SlaterKim MearigBrad GerlachMiki DoraSteve PezmanAndy Verdone
2001Wayne "Rabbit" BartholomewJanice AragonDavid NuuhiwaRabbit KekaiSimon AndersonMax Bowman
2000Mark OcchilupoNancy KatinBud LlamasEddie Aikau and Gerry LopezMacGillivray FreemanMike Abdelmuti and George Farquhar
1999Tom CarrollJericho PopplerJack HaleyGeorge DowningLeroy GrannisChuck Allen
1998Peter "PT" TownendFrieda ZambaChuck DentDr. John Heath "Doc" BallJack O'NeillAnn Beasley and Natalie Kotsch
1997Shaun TomsonLinda BensonGordie DuaneDale VelzyHobie Alter and Rick GriffinBud and Gordie Higgins
1996Nat YoungRell SunnCorky CarrollGreg NollBud BrowneTom Pratte and John Rothrock
1995Tom CurrenMargo ObergHerbie FletcherPhil EdwardsJohn SeversonJack Hokanson
1994Mark RichardJoyce HoffmanRobert AugustTom Blake and Honorary induction for Duke Kahanamoku, the "Father of Surfing"Bruce Brown-

Surfers' Hall of Fame

Inductees by year are as follows: