Each year, the Vans US Open of Surfing features the best in the world tearing up the storied break at Huntington Beach. Along with competitions for skate and BMX and dozens of on-site sponsors, the nine-day festival features four separate surf contests, including Junior Tour contests for men and women, a high-stakes men's Qualifying Series battle, and a women's Championship Tour contest for the Top 17. With so much to see, get a glimpse of some of the standouts from 2014, and ones to watch for the year ahead.
The hard-charging Aussie went on to win the women's elite event in 2014 with powerful hacks in Huntington's small-scale waves combined with progressive skills.
With her win at the US Open last year, Wright announced her competitive fire on Tour, and effectively moved the needle forward for women's progressive surfing. Her combination of impressive power and seamless boosts -- like the one in her video, above -- set a new bar for the Top 17. Wright had a strong start this year, opening with third- and fifth-place event finishes that had her in No. 3 on the Jeep rankings. A ninth-place finish in Fiji has set her back to No. 5, but the US Open could be just the opportunity she needs to shine again.
Wright won't however, be alone in her efforts to dominate at Huntington Beach: Californians Courtney Conlogue (USA) can match Wright in terms of power-hooks and the sheer will to win. Lakey Peterson (USA), meanwhile, won in 2013 and can boost with the best of them -- as can Brazilian Silvana Lima (BRA). The women's CT kicks off July 27.
On the final day of competition at the men's US Open QS contest, Brazilian Filipe Toledo gave fans a taste of things to come.
As a points-rich opportunity to climb the rankings, the men's Qualifying Series contest offers a mix of performances from surfing's elites (like Jordy Smith (ZAF) and Julian Wilson (AUS)) as well as rising stars. Because the event is worth a whopping 10,000 rankings points for the winner, it attracts surfers who are pushing to qualify for the 2016 Championship Tour, current CT surfers backing up their elite rankings with QS rankings to stay on Tour in 2016, as well as mid-tier QS surfers who are working their way up. The mix can provide a preview of who might shine on Tour in 2016: Last year, Toledo blew minds with his high-flying maneuvers, which proved to be just a taste of what would unfold in Rio.
Other top-ranked surfers to watch include Alejo Muniz (BRA), who just won the Ballito Pro; Willian Cardoso (BRA), who finished runner-up to Toledo in 2014; and Caio Ibelli (BRA), who's currently ranked No. 3 on the QS, and has some dangerous progressive skills.
Get a glimpse of the Hawaiian's competitive prowess before she paddles out at HB.
Maeda was runner-up at the 2014 Vans US Open Junior Pro, and has been on fire ever since. Not only did she win the World Junior Championships, but she proved her mettle in heavy conditions, too. On a heavy day at Nazare, Portugal, she was towed in to this bomb of a wave. In smaller surf, she's continued to hold her own. While Maeda finished No. 3 and No. 9 so far this year on the Junior Tour, she has been doing well on the QS, and is currently ranked No. 7. That QS experience, combined with her recent appearance as a wildcard in Fiji, should hold her in good stead amid a heavy field at Huntington Beach.
Other Junior women to watch out for are Hawaiians Bailey Nagy, who won the US Open Junior contest last year, and Dax McGill, who's leading the Hawaiian regional junior rankings. Plus, Australia's Isabella Nichols has been the one to beat in her region.
Comfy on home turf, Seth Moniz showed his ability to hit the lip -- and then some -- in Hawaii.
Among the Junior Tour men, Seth Moniz has similarly been on a tear in the past few months. He just won the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) Championships (an early playing field for Carissa Moore, among other pros) and was runner-up at the Los Cabos Open of Surf QS contest. Moniz's older brother Josh made the US Open Junior Pro last year -- could it be Seth's turn this time around?
A few other young surfers will likely stand out as well: Huntington Beach local Kanoa Igarashi will likely light up the break, as will Australia's regional leader Kai Hing among others.
The women's CT at the Vans US Open of Surfing will stream LIVE daily from July 27 - August 2 here and on the WSL App. See more about the US Open here.
US Open of Surfing's High-Flying Stars
Anna Dimond
Each year, the Vans US Open of Surfing features the best in the world tearing up the storied break at Huntington Beach. Along with competitions for skate and BMX and dozens of on-site sponsors, the nine-day festival features four separate surf contests, including Junior Tour contests for men and women, a high-stakes men's Qualifying Series battle, and a women's Championship Tour contest for the Top 17. With so much to see, get a glimpse of some of the standouts from 2014, and ones to watch for the year ahead.
Women's CT: Tyler Wright (AUS)
With her win at the US Open last year, Wright announced her competitive fire on Tour, and effectively moved the needle forward for women's progressive surfing. Her combination of impressive power and seamless boosts -- like the one in her video, above -- set a new bar for the Top 17. Wright had a strong start this year, opening with third- and fifth-place event finishes that had her in No. 3 on the Jeep rankings. A ninth-place finish in Fiji has set her back to No. 5, but the US Open could be just the opportunity she needs to shine again.
Wright won't however, be alone in her efforts to dominate at Huntington Beach: Californians Courtney Conlogue (USA) can match Wright in terms of power-hooks and the sheer will to win. Lakey Peterson (USA), meanwhile, won in 2013 and can boost with the best of them -- as can Brazilian Silvana Lima (BRA). The women's CT kicks off July 27.
Men's QS: Filipe Toledo (BRA)
As a points-rich opportunity to climb the rankings, the men's Qualifying Series contest offers a mix of performances from surfing's elites (like Jordy Smith (ZAF) and Julian Wilson (AUS)) as well as rising stars. Because the event is worth a whopping 10,000 rankings points for the winner, it attracts surfers who are pushing to qualify for the 2016 Championship Tour, current CT surfers backing up their elite rankings with QS rankings to stay on Tour in 2016, as well as mid-tier QS surfers who are working their way up. The mix can provide a preview of who might shine on Tour in 2016: Last year, Toledo blew minds with his high-flying maneuvers, which proved to be just a taste of what would unfold in Rio.
Other top-ranked surfers to watch include Alejo Muniz (BRA), who just won the Ballito Pro; Willian Cardoso (BRA), who finished runner-up to Toledo in 2014; and Caio Ibelli (BRA), who's currently ranked No. 3 on the QS, and has some dangerous progressive skills.
Junior Women: Mahina Maeda (HAW)
Maeda was runner-up at the 2014 Vans US Open Junior Pro, and has been on fire ever since. Not only did she win the World Junior Championships, but she proved her mettle in heavy conditions, too. On a heavy day at Nazare, Portugal, she was towed in to this bomb of a wave. In smaller surf, she's continued to hold her own. While Maeda finished No. 3 and No. 9 so far this year on the Junior Tour, she has been doing well on the QS, and is currently ranked No. 7. That QS experience, combined with her recent appearance as a wildcard in Fiji, should hold her in good stead amid a heavy field at Huntington Beach.
Other Junior women to watch out for are Hawaiians Bailey Nagy, who won the US Open Junior contest last year, and Dax McGill, who's leading the Hawaiian regional junior rankings. Plus, Australia's Isabella Nichols has been the one to beat in her region.
Junior Men: Seth Moniz (HAW)
Among the Junior Tour men, Seth Moniz has similarly been on a tear in the past few months. He just won the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) Championships (an early playing field for Carissa Moore, among other pros) and was runner-up at the Los Cabos Open of Surf QS contest. Moniz's older brother Josh made the US Open Junior Pro last year -- could it be Seth's turn this time around?
A few other young surfers will likely stand out as well: Huntington Beach local Kanoa Igarashi will likely light up the break, as will Australia's regional leader Kai Hing among others.
The women's CT at the Vans US Open of Surfing will stream LIVE daily from July 27 - August 2 here and on the WSL App. See more about the US Open here.
Mahina Maeda
The Rip Curl Pro Anglet is back and bigger than ever with 3,000 ranking points on offer this summer for the winners!
Epic showdown, live music, big moves, all that at night at the Caraïbos Surf de Nuit Anglet presented by Rip Curl.
Competition resumed in big fashion at Riyue Bay and women battled through Round 3 with a new swell on offer.
The Corona Open China hosted by Wanning awaits its first call with a hefty lineup of world-class talent on both the men and women's side.
The first Corona Open China hosted by Wanning is ready and waiting. Take a look at what some of the world's best men and women will be
Women's Vans US Open of Surfing
Huntington Beach local Courtney Conlogue talks surfing in her backyard for the Vans US Open of Surfing.
Get an inside look at the venue for Stop No. 6 on the women's Championship Tour, the Vans US Open of Surfing.
Celebrate Southern California's beach culture as the world's best female surfers converge on the Huntington Beach for Stop No. 6.
Catch the latest Fantasy ups and downs after the Vans US Open in Huntington Beach.
Johanne Defay wins a CT for the first time and Hiroto Ohhara makes history at the 2015 Vans US Open of Surfing.