The US Open of Surfing Returns to Huntington Beach

Starting on Saturday, the Vans US Open of Surfing returns to Main Beach in Huntington, for 9 days of surfing, skating, and BMXing.  This yearly event brings together some of the best surfers in the World, all vying for the title of the prestigious US Open.On the men's side, Alejo Muniz, Kelly Slater, Jordy Smith, Julian Wilson and Huntington Beach's former U.S. Open champion Brett Simpson are among the participants. On the women's side, there is returning Champion Carissa Moore, Sally Fitzgibbons, Stephanie Gilmore, Tyler Wright and local athlete Courtney Conlogue, and all want to make their own mark on the Open.From the Daily Pilot...

The Vans U.S. Open of Surfing returns to Huntington Beach with a menu that includes surfing, skateboarding and BMX competitions. The sports action continues daily through Aug. 3.

James Leitz, senior vice president of IMG, which owns and operates the event, called the 2014 edition of the U.S. Open of Surfing an "important year" for the event.

"Our promise was to bring sports back as the main focus of the U.S. Open of Surfing, and we are on track for that," Leitz said. "That has always been there, but the idea this year was to sharpen the focus."

The U.S. Open of Surfing comes at a key stage of the Men's Assn. of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Qualification Series and the Women's World Championship Tour (WCT). For the men, the ASP Prime event offers valuable points toward a top 10 QS ranking; for the women, the Open marks the halfway point of the WCT tour.

Hope to see you out there!