HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., USA (Friday, August 2, 2024) - The iconic Huntington Beach Pier is set to play as the backdrop for the upcoming World Surf League (WSL) Lexus US Open of Surfing Presented by Pacifico, Stop No. 4 of the 2024 Challenger Series, and the Huntington Beach Longboard Classic for Stop No. 2 of the 2024 WSL Longboard Tour, running from August 3 - 11 in Huntington Beach, California. The legendary event that began in 1959 continues to serve as a testing ground for some of the world's best proven and emerging talents. The nine-day festival will bring a plethora of high-performance action along with the style and grace of longboarding into the spotlight alongside a full set up of activations and activities for the whole family.
kelis kaleopaa - WSL / Tommy Pierucki
Lexus US Open of Surfing Ready for California's Famed Lineup
The US Open of Surfing has experienced many eras since its inception as the West Coast Surfing Championships in the 1950s. Throughout the different scopes professional surfing has witnessed, the world's best have made their way to the famed lineup of Huntington Beach each year to put on a showcase in front of some of the sport's biggest crowds throughout the 1980s, 90s, and 2000s US Open saga.
The Lexus House will provide event patrons with a premium new experience every day of competition from 9 a.m. PDT to 4 p.m. This will include a brilliant viewing area, Lexus Culinary Masters-inspired bites, daily product giveaways, on-the-sand surf lessons with ‘A Great Day of Stoke,' and much more.
Lexus also brings the X Games Vert Pro to the sands of Huntington Beach for skateboard fans all over. Action begins opening weekend, Saturday, August 3 at 1:30 p.m. PDT with women's Skateboard Vert Next X Jam followed by the men's on Sunday, August 4 at 3:30 p.m. PDT and resume on Finals Day weekend, August 10 and 11.
Race for Championship Tour Qualification and WSL Longboard World Title Reignites
Fans are in for a showcase of the world's best longboarders and next in line to join the 2025 Championship Tour (CT).
The Huntington Beach Longboard Classic marks the second stop toward the 2024 WSL Longboard World Title hunt and will kick off the weekend-to-weekend action. Reigning WSL Longboard Champions, current World No. 1, Soleil Errico (USA) and Kai Sallas (HAW) continue their hope of defending their World Titles alongside world-class fields after Errico's victory and Sallas' Semifinal finish at Bells Beach to start the 2024 season.
They will join the Challenger Series contenders' fourth stop in chasing their dream of qualifying for the 2025 CT. The high-performance showcase will begin Wednesday, August 7, following the Huntington Beach Longboard Classic Finals on Tuesday, August 6. Current Challenger Series No. 1's Isabella Nichols (AUS) and Ian Gouveia (BRA) look to separate themselves on the rankings with more success but will have an elite field of the sport's proven stars and rising talents ready to fight back.
California's Own Look To Hold Down Home Waters Alongside Recent Olympic Contenders
Both Lexus US Open of Surfing and Huntington Beach Longboard Classic victors are back for more among an elite field of Challenger Series and WSL Longboard Tour competitors. San Clemente, California's own Sawyer Lindblad pushed her way toward becoming a CT rookie courtesy of her esteemed win in 2023. Fellow US Open of Surfing victor, Eli Hanneman(HAW), also returns with his aspirations of returning to the CT in 2025.
Southern Californians Bella Kenworthy (USA) and Nolan Rapoza (USA) return to competition in home waters following an incredible showing at the Ballito Pro. San Clemente's Kenworthy earned her first major career win while Long Beach's Rapoza marked his best-career result with a runner-up. Now, both Kenworthy and Rapoza are in the CT qualification picture, ranked No. 4 and No. 8, respectively, heading into Huntington Beach.
A heavily-stacked field of fellow Californians and international talents look to make charges of their own including current Challenger Series No. 1's, former CT competitors, Isabella Nichols (AUS) and Ian Gouveia (BRA). Plus, former US Open of Surfing winners Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Lakey Peterson (USA), two-time event winner Kanoa Igarashi (JPN), 2023 runner-up Crosby Colapinto (USA), and more are ready to vie for one of surfing's most prestigious wins.
Igarashi joins the likes of fellow, recent 2024 Paris Games Olympians Vahine Fierro (FRA), Alan Cleland Jr.(MEX), Kauli Vaast (FRA), Sanoa Dempfle-Olin (CAN), and more following their incredible performances on sporting's greatest stage.
Alongside those vying for CT qualification, the world's best longboarders are back in action at the Huntington Beach Pier arena. Current World No. 1's, and three-time WSL Longboard Champions, Soleil Errico (USA), reigning World Champ, and Taylor Jensen (USA) look to bring the event titles back to California alongside 2016 WSL Longboard Champion Rachael Tilly (USA) and fellow Southern Californian Kevin Skvarna(USA).
But, they must contest with defending event victors, 2023 World Title runner-ups, Kelis Kaleopa'a (HAW) and Kaniela Stewart (HAW) after their Waikiki sweep last season. Plus, reigning WSL Longboard Champion Kai Sallas (HAW), three-time WSL Longboard Champion Honolua Blomfield (HAW), perennial World Title threats Ben Skinner (GBR), Alice Lemoigne (FRA), and the Philippines newest star Rogelio Jr Esquievel(PHL).
Event organizers will convene Saturday, August 3, at 7:00 a.m. PDT to determine a possible 7:35 a.m. PDT start.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com and USOpenofSurfing.com.
Watch LIVE The US Open of Surfing and Huntington Beach Longboard Classic will hold a competition window from August 3 through 11. Starting Sunday, August 4, the competition will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app. Also, check out more ways to watch from the WSL's broadcast partners.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.