I was just listening to a surf podcast when I heard something I found interesting – the WSL stopped Griffin Colapinto from participating in a local community surf contest. On a recent L8 Night With Choccy episode, Travis Ferre of Inherent Bummer revealed that Griff was not allowed to compete in the 2% Classic which took place a couple weeks back on Sunday, July 23rd. You can watch the event in its entirety here.
Even with Erik Logan gone, the farcical moves keep on coming. We are now facing the fact that the entire organization is a circus show. This event was for the local groms. Clearly the Woz will say they were worried about some kind of injury happening, taking Griff out of CT competition. Anyone with half a brain will argue that an injury is just as likely to take place during any free surf that happens on any given day. Feeling the need to hold him out of a local community exhibition event is ridiculous. Good luck to Stab getting Filipe on Stab High.
Moving on. The (Nitro) circus is in town for the week. I’ve been down there a few days already. The waves have been fun, surfings been good, and the event site is a complete joke. I grew up in Huntington Beach, so the US Open has been a bit of a tradition for myself. Some of my fondest memories as a teenager were spending the entire day down there in and out of the water, trying to catch glimpses and interactions with some of my heroes. Free swag everywhere. Enough RedBull to give Italo the shakes. It was a great time. Of course the 2013 riot put an end to the classic beach bash, but last year started to show some signs of the days of old. Vans had the place rocking. Skating and BMX contests along with the regular surf stuff. Tons of sponsors and partners with a lot of stuff to do to keep people entertained. A music center for people to try out instruments. Shaping and glassing demonstrations. Steve Van Doren down there grilling hot dogs himself. It was cool. In comparison, this year is a laughable affair. It’s got a food truck compound like some kind of disgusting rave music festival all the zombie kids attend. There are maybe 10 sponsor tents that don’t have anything interesting. You might be able to score a bag/tote, an acai bowl, a pin, some boxed water, and a flavored drink. Listen, I’m not complaining about anything free at all, I didn’t even take half the shit. The place just looks miserable compared to last year. Even my (4 year old) kid mentioned that it was no match for last year. Oh yeah, don’t forget the dirtbikes endlessly jumping over a parked mini school bus. You can’t script this.
Back to the positive though – Friday before the event officially started, I attended Quiksilver’s premier of REPEATER. If you haven’t seen it, what are you doing? Here. One thing about this film that really struck me was just how fucking good everyone is nowadays. Griffin is number 2 in the World right now, and he was just smoothly blended into this video with the rest of the Quik “freesurf” boys. Really impressive stuff from this team. The contest kicked off Day 1 on Saturday, but I surfed almost all day so I skipped the event. Sunday was Women’s contest & Longboarding, so I shot a bit of the freesurf off to the side. Monday was a full day of Men’s competition, and I’m still sunburnt from it. Tuesday and Wednesday were both longboarding days, so I passed yet again. Yesterday (Wednesday) had the worst looking waves of the period so far. I didn’t paddle out, though I should have. Saw some clips of people getting their share locally, definitely still rippable. Now that we’re halfway through the Open, the extracurriculars have just started firing up. I missed Coco Ho’s premier at The Bungalow yesterday afternoon, but I did happen to make a brief appearance at Nolan Rapoza & Tyler Gunter’s new film ‘Ember’ premiering at Salty Bear Brewing in Costa Mesa last night. Here is a photo gallery from the first half of the US Open, Days 0-5, including the event last night.
Below you will find a list of some events to keep you busy in the later hours of the next few days, after the contest. There have been a lot of people down there. Surely you don’t need to attend one of these to have some fun, but at least now you know where you can find me.
THURSDAY, August 3rd
What: Inherent Bummer Factory By The Sea
–Music: Mel Gibson
–Movies: Captain Fin Co ‘Any Vessel Will Do’ + NOAH movie
Where: Pacific City, Huntington Beach
When: 11am – 9(ish)pm Daily – Happy Hour starts at 5, Aug 3-5
–
What: 17th Street Boardshop US Open party with Joe Wood (TSOL)
Where: Hurricanes, Huntington Beach (Main Street)
When: 8:30pm
FRIDAY, August 4th
What: Surfers Hall Of Fame Introduction
Where: Corner of Main Street & PCH, Huntington Beach
When: 9am
–
What: Inherent Bummer Factory By The Sea
–Music: Fortunate Stooge
–Movies: 805 ‘Convergence’ + 2% Film
Where: Pacific City, Huntington Beach
When: 11am – 9(ish)pm Daily – Happy Hour starts at 5, Aug 3-5.
SATURDAY Aug. 5th
What: Inherent Bummer Factory By The Sea
–Music: Vaguess
–Movies: Inherent Bummer ‘Surf Film 2’ + …Lost Surfboards ‘Out Of The Attic’
Where: Pacific City, Huntington Beach
When: 11am – 9(ish)pm Daily – Happy Hour starts at 5, Aug 3-5.
I will keep this list updated if more events come in. Until then, we’ll see you tonight. The men’s contest is about to start at 12:05. Dropping from 32 surfers to 16. Big round. You can find me on the beach for a bit, and I’ll be around tonight. (Featured image on this post created by Twitter user @ 691Green).
Cheers,
hwilsin