Vans US Open of Surfing
Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 23, 2011 US Open Champion and current World No. 2, continued her successful run in Huntington Beach, besting rookies Dimity Stoyle (AUS), 22, and Johanne Defay (FRA), 20, while posting a Round 3 win to advance into the Quarterfinals. “I went out there wanting to start strong because it can be unpredictable here,” Sally Fitzgibbons. “You can’t rush Huntington, you just have to wait and be patient and hope you get some nice sets. This year has been great at the US Open and really special. There’s been big groups of girls around who have been sharing their stories and what they’re passionate about. I think it’s important for us to be out there inspiring the younger generation.” 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.