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The Vans US Open of Surfing: Yes, There’s Surfing!

The US Open at Huntington Beach is a carnival. It’s not really about surfing – it’s more about the scene. The surfing just acts as a catalyst, of sorts. People show up. People party. People surf. But most of all, people party.

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Johanne Defay of Reunion Island (pictured) won her Round 4 heat at the Vans US Open of Surfing advancing into the Quarterfinals on Thursday July 31, 2014. Defay will take on Australian Sally Fitzgibbons in the Quarterfinals. Photo: ASP/ Morris

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.