Challenger Series Hits Huntington Beach For Vans US Open of Surfing

• Championship Tour Hopefuls and Veterans Await Opening Day
• Caitlin Simmers Returns to Defend Event Title, Formidable Fields Await
• WSL Rising Tides Presented by Pura Vida Brings Inspiration to Next Generation of Young Women

This marks the halfway point in a race to CT qualification with 10,000 points on the line and the competitors’ names going down in the long-standing history of the Vans US Open of Surfing.

This event’s illustrious history has seen champions of the sport including 11-time WSL Champion Kelly Slater (USA), the late, three-time WSL Champion Andy Irons (HAW), four-time WSL Champion Lisa Andersen (USA) all earn wins in Huntington Beach, and is now led by a new generation of competitors such as reigning event victor Caitlin Simmers (USA) and two-time Vans US Open of Surfing winner Kanoa Igarashi (JPN).

Simmers Look For Repeat, Men's Title Up For Grabs

Simmers' impressive rise to the top of the Challenger Series rankings this season began with a victory at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast Pro, dismantling a field of proven former CT veterans. She now returns to Huntington Beach where she’s found success as both a Pro Junior and Challenger Series competitor.

The 16-year-old will square off against the likes of California’s own CT elite, 2021 US Open of Surfing runner-up and 2018 winner Courtney Conlogue (USA), Lakey Peterson (USA), and Caroline Marks (USA), alongside emerging stars Alyssa Spencer (USA) and Ella McCaffray (USA). They will all be fending off an international field of competitors such as current Challenger Series No. 2 Molly Picklum (AUS), No. 4 Teresa Bonvalot (PRT), and many more.

With the absence of reigning men's victor Griffin Colapinto (USA), the event title is on the line for one of the 96 surfers in attendance to walk away with their piece of history. However, a hefty field of former event winners such as two-time victor and Huntington Beach's own Kanoa Igarashi (JPN), 2015 winner Hiroto Ohhara (JPN), 2021 runner-up Jake Marshall (USA), and 2021 Semifinalist Nolan Rapoza (USA) are all in the hunt for a major result.

Also, a formidable field featuring back-to-back Challenger Series event winner Rio Waida (IDN), current No. 2 and former CT competitor Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA), former event runner-up Liam O’Brien (AUS), and a plethora of more international talents look to make their mark in Huntington Beach.

Both men’s and women’s fields will also feature wildcard threats such as Oahu, Hawaii’s Puamakamae DeSoto (HAW), San Clemente’s Bella Kenworthy, Australia's Rasmus King (AUS), and South Africa’s Shane Sykes (ZAF).

WSL Rising Tides Presented by Pura Vida Lands at Huntington Beach

WSL Rising Tides Presented by Pura Vida brings inspiration to young women across the globe at each stop for the Championship Tour and Challenger Series. Earlier today, some of the top women surfers, local and international, joined forces with WSL to share their stories and professional surfing journies with the young women of the Huntington Beach community.

The likes of Conlogue, Simmers, 2018 WSL World Junior Champion Kirra Pinkerton (USA), 2022 CT rookie Molly Picklum (AUS), Challenger Series contenders Sophie McCullough (AUS) and Zoe McDougall (HAW) all represented as mentors for the women in attendance. Surfers took to the lineup for a full session surfing with some of their heroes and emerging stars of the sport with nothing but smiles to go around.

"This is so great watching how fast women's surfing is growing, when I was their age I don't remember there being so many of us," said Pinkerton. "It's fun too because I still feel like that little girl inside who's still shy and I see how shy they are, and now it's my turn to be the one who engages and coaches them. I'm really excited to see where these girls go with their surfing in the next few years."

The opening ceremony welcomed tribal members of the Juaneno Band of Mission Indians/Acjachemen Nation to bless proceedings. Spiritual Overseer Adelia Sandoval was joined by Mariah Doyle Sandoval, member of the Tushmaluum Helekatuum Tribal Singing group, April O'Brien and her two daughters, Sydney and Nova, along with Frank Banda. 

The first call will be made tomorrow, July 30 at 7:05 a.m. PDT for a possible 7:35 a.m. PDT start for men’s Round of 96 or women’s Round of 64.

The Vans US Open of Surfing begins July 30 - August 7 at Huntington Beach, California. The broadcast will begin on Monday, August 1 at 7:30 a.m. PDT, and fans can watch LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com, WSL’s YouTube channel, and the free WSL app. Check local listings for coverage from the WSL's broadcast partners. 

The Vans US Open of Surfing is proudly sponsored by Vans, Visit Huntington Beach, Red Bull, Flying Embers, Hydro Flask, Shiseido, 805, Pacifico, Sambazon, StillHouse, Youtheory, BF Goodrich, Fu Wax, Boxed Water, Just Egg.