Vans US Open of Surfing
Carissa Moore (HAW) (Pictured), 21, reigning two-time ASP Women’s World Champion and defending Vans US Open of Surfing Champion, continued her successful run at Huntington Beach. Moore claimed a Round 1 win with a pair of modest scores, securing a Round 3 berth in the process. "You have half an hour and I was watching the waves and knew there would be some lulls," Moore said. "It was hard to be patient when Leila (Hurst) only needed a five. All of the girls are surfing really well and you have to look at what they're doing for inspiration. Sally (Fitzgibbons) is surfing really well and I'm going to have to do my best if I want a good result here." Photo: ASP/ Rowland
The Vans US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach is a carnival. It’s not really about surfing – it’s more about the scene, which is pretty awesome, even though it sometimes involves a riot or two. The surfing just acts as a catalyst, of sorts. People show up. People party. People surf. But most of all, people party. And while Huntington doesn’t normally get amazing waves (it’s a surf contest in California in mid-summer), it does get amazing surfers, and they do pretty amazing things on not-so-amazing waves. See proof above. One-to-three foot slop doesn’t usually equal gouging turns and big-ass boosts, but somehow, amid the Huntington cacophony, those were both accomplished.