What’s the closest thing to watching the world’s best surfers compete in a full-on stadium atmosphere? Look no further than Huntington Beach in July, when up to 500,000 people will find their way to the real Surf City, post up in the sand and cheer on their heroes at the Pier. It’s been that way for 50 years now, starting with the US Championships in 1959 and evolving to today: the Hurley US Open of Surfing.

As the new title sponsor of this storied event, Hurley and its partners intend to make it a life-changing experience from dawn to dusk: Late-afternoon concerts. Hurley’s Walk the Walk fashion competition. Elite-level BMX courtesy of Nike 6.0. The best skateboarders courtesy of Converse and Red Bull. And a swarm of activity, demonstrations and booths surrounding our “50 Years at the Pier” celebration.

Of course, center stage will be reserved for the ocean, where both men and women will be competing for points, prize money and HB glory in the title event, the Hurley US Open of Surfing. As a six-star ASP qualifier at the mid-way point in the season, the winner here often goes on to the coveted Dream Tour. Case in point: last year’s US Open Men’s Champ Nathaniel Curran, who ended up winning the 2008 World Qualifying Series and is now a rookie in the elite Top 45. Along with the six-star, Nike 6.0 will be holding an ASP Pro Junior event — another important challenge on the path to become the 20-and-under world junior champion. Rounding out the center stage will be a celebration of the world’s top longboarders in a soon-to-be announced format that will certainly have the crowd cheering for more.

In addition to all of this, the Hurley US Open, in conjunction with the World Professional Surfers athlete union, will be introducing the first-ever WPS All Stars event. This will include participation from 10 of the world’s best surfers voted on by you – the fans. They will surf in the event, sign autographs and blow us away in a special-format expression session that must be seen to be believed.

read more at surfer today

An increase in swell overnight saw the final day of competition at the Arnette Queensland Junior Surfing Titles conclude in style as competitors in the Under/16 and Under/18 boys and girls divisions revelled in the offshore 1.5m to 2m conditions at North Stradbroke Island’s Main Beach.

‘Coolangatta Kid’ Jack Freestone continued his impressive form with an emphatic display of technical surfing to secure the title in the blue-ribbon U/18’s boys division. Freestone now holds a commanding lead in the series ratings points after claiming victory in last month’s opening event on the Gold Coast. Freestone’s selection in the state team to represent Queensland at the Arnette Australian Surfing Titles in November now appears imminent.

“Before the last Arnette [Queensland Junior Surfing Titles] event, I hadn’t won an event for a while so it’s good to get another win and get back into some rhythm,” Freestone said.

“I’m really looking forward to hopefully making the Queensland team for the Australian Titles,” he said.

read more at surfingqueensland

IMBITUBA, Santa Catarina (Tuesday, June 30, 2009) – Another lay day has been called for the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro, Stop No. 4 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, with only small two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves on offer at Praia Vila this morning.

Swell models are projecting some solid pulses to tomorrow and Thursday, and with only two days of competition remaining in the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro, event organizers will look to finish in the best conditions possible.

“The winds have calmed since yesterday but the surf has ped as well,” Perry Hatchett, ASP Head Judge, said. “We’ve called competition off for today, but are tracking some swell models that look to be coming from a better direction over the next couple of days so we’ll be back tomorrow morning for a possible Round 3 start.”

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 7:30am to assess conditions for a possible Round 3 8am start.

When Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro competition recommences, first up will be defending event champ Bede Durbidge (AUS), 26, up against ASP Dream Tour rookie Michel Bourez (PYF), 23.

Highlights from past days’ Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro will be available via www.aspworldtour.com

HANG LOOSE SANTA CATARINA PRO ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 2: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Heitor Alves (BRA)
Heat 3: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Tim Boal (FRA)
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 6: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Dustin Barca (HAW)
Heat 7: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) vs. Dean Morrison (AUS)
Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Neco Padaratz (BRA)
Heat 9: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Nathaniel Curran (USA)
Heat 10: Dayyan Neve (AUS) vs. Tim Reyes (USA)
Heat 11: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Ben Dunn (AUS)
Heat 12: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Chris Davidson (AUS)
Heat 13: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Michael Picon (FRA)
Heat 14: Mick Campbell (AUS) vs. Josh Kerr (AUS)
Heat 15: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 16: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Chris Ward (USA)

story from asp