Technically speaking, the US Open got started this past Saturday. We’re back. Sublime played down on the sand. I heard it was about $200 for a ticket. Bradley Nowell’s son Jakob is now singing with the band, so that’s rad. The only surfing that has gone down so far has been longboarding.
I do have to say – I feel a bit guilty for not covering any logging. This is the first time I’ve experienced this sensation. The event is in my hometown, and I’ve missed 4 straight days of surfing because of the boards I prefer to ride? I need to grow up. Broaden my horizons. Become cultured. Live life. Jah feel?
So the high performance stuff starts tomorrow. You know I’ll be down there at some point. A lot of points. A lot. I will be down there a lot. I’ll have some stickers on me. If you know who I am and what I look like, feel free to stop me and ask for some. That would be cool.
The event field is absolutely stacked. Everyone is in and around town. It would be really fun to create a US Open scavenger hunt. I slept on the idea this year, but I’m letting you all know it could come in the future. A few challenges would be:
Take a photo with a past event champion
Snake a QS or CS warrior
Witness a public arrest
Drink a beer with a future CT surfer
Things like that. Stab could hire me for a week for that Highway event they do. The US Open is madness every year. Last year was mellow, yet it was still rowdy. This year they’ve got the skating back down there, the music is back, there are no more dirt bikes on the beach, and it feels like we could be in for a classic week. Here are some things you can get into if you are around.
WEDNESDAY 8/7
8am – Challenger Series event starts.
1-2pm – StrateJacket. @ The Hurley Stage.
3-4pm – DJ Santana. @ The Hurley Stage.
5-7pm – Jacks X Kona Big Wave Launch Party @ The Bungalow.
THURSDAY 8/8
8am – Challenger Series event continues.
10am – Walk Of Fame Inductions. @ Main & PCH.
1-2pm – Dark Heavens. @ The Hurley Stage.
2pm – Athlete signings. @ WSL Store.
3-4pm – DJ Santana. @ The Hurley Stage.
5pm – Trilogy: New Wave screening. @ US Open Festival Screen.
Not sure how this screening will go. The sun will still be out. I shall report back, I want to see this flick.
5-8pm – Bloom, Your Favorite Color & Love Fiend. @ Inherent Bummer Factory By The Sea.
8pm – ‘New Moon’, ‘KRTV’ & ‘A Lesson In Three Images’ Surf Films @ Inherent Bummer Factory By The Sea.
FRIDAY 8/9
8am – Challenger Series event continues.
10am-3pm – Athlete Signings. @ HSS.
1-2pm – Sunbender. Chris Cote’s band. @ The Hurley Stage.
2pm – Athlete Signing @ WSL Store.
3-4pm – Nice & Swell. Some local kids band. @ The Hurley Stage.
5-8pm – Bondo & Self Improvement. @ Inherent Bummer Factory By The Sea.
8pm – ‘Word On The Street’, ‘Supplemental’ & ‘Vacuum’ Surf Films @ Inherent Bummer Factory By The Sea.
SATURDAY 8/10
8am – Challenger Series event continues.
10am-3pm – Athlete Signings. @ HSS.
12pm – Legends Heat.
1-2pm – Wes Chiller. @ The Hurley Stage.
2pm – Athlete Signing. WSL Store.
2:30pm – Womens Skate Final. @ Vert Ramp.
3-4pm – The Band Not. @ The Hurley Stage.
4pm – Mens Skate Final. @ Vert Ramp.
SUNDAY 8/11
8am – Challenger Series Finals Day begins.
12pm – Legends Heat.
3pm – Men’s & Women’s Skate Demo. @ Vert Ramp.
3:30pm – Athlete Signing. @ WSL Store.
So yeah, full schedule. If you make even half of these events, we will surely run into each other at some point. Again, holler at me for some stickers. If you find some time to check out the actual surfing, here are some heats to watch early on.
ROUND OF 80
Heat 1 – Jarvis Earle v. Mike Dunphy v. Kai Paula v. Jacko Baker
Heat 3 – Shion Crawford v. Frederico v. Kai Martin v. Jorgann Couzinet
ROUND OF 64
Heat 2 – Miggy v. Josh Burke v. Jaddy v. (?)
Heats 4 – 9
Some heavy heavies in here. I think the winner of the event will surf in one of these heats. I’m not going through every heat, but some names in the mix in here are: Sammy Pupo, Joel Vaughan, Mateus Herdy, M.Rod, Al Cleland, Deivid Silva, Crosby, Ian Gentil, Heazlewood, Houshmand, Kade Matson, etc, etc.
Heats 12 – 14
More potential winners surfing in 3 heats in a row. Going forward after this round is going to be so gnarly.
Heat 16 – Kanoa v. Ciblic v. Charly Quivront v. (?)
My pick for the event is Reef Heazlewood. He lost to NolRap last year on an interference call in the Quarters. Without that, who knows what happens. Nolan is a solid pick too. He’s surfed on Finals Day the last 2 years. Mateus Herdy is incredibly overdue. And those are the 3 names I will leave you with.
Should be a rad week. I’m stoked. Fired up. Send me a DM or something of the like if you are in the area. I’ll give you a big thanks for your support in person. It’s gonna be a big Open for myself and hvoide! You should be excited too. Up we go.
Cheers,
hwilsin
Drew Stanfield