Local surfers charge into finals day at US Open of Surfing
Surf fans will have plenty of local competitors to cheer for on the final day of the US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach.
Three of the four male competitors in the main Challenger’s Series event grew up surfing local waters and have competed since they were kids in countless events at Huntington Beach’s famed pier. And another San Clemente surfer has made it to the finals day in the women’s event.
The hundreds of surfers who traveled from around the world have been whittled down to just a handful who will compete on Sunday, Aug. 6, but it will be no easy task to take down the remaining surfers hoping to clinch the prestigious title.
Huntington Beach’s Kanoa Igarashi is hunting for his third US Open title, which has eluded him since he took the win in 2017 and 2018. Making it to the semifinals takes him one step closer.
“It’s been a really good week so far,” said Igarashi, who competes on the elite World Tour level and is a silver Olympic medalist. “I’m at home, I’m surrounded by friends and family. For me, it’s just another day at the beach.”
It’s the fans that make the event so special, he said.
“I know for sure I wouldn’t have gotten my other titles if it wasn’t for the fans,” he said in an interview with the World Surf League. “They give me the energy to do my best surfing. I always draw from the crowd and the crowd in Huntington is the best.”
Long Beach surfer Nolan Rapoza, who like Igarashi calls Huntington Beach his home surf break, has also clinched a finals day spot.
Crosby Colapinto is the remaining San Clemente surfer in the men’s event, after the town’s Cole Houshmand went down against Rapoza in the round of 16 on Friday, Aug. 4. The other San Clemente hopeful, Jett Schilling, was also eliminated in that round when he matched up against Colapinto.
Colapinto, whose brother, Griffin, competes on the World Tour, bested Brazilian Mateus Herdy during his heat.
The pressure was on about halfway through the heat, but he said he told himself there was plenty of time to get two scores.
“I was just trusting and believing in myself,” he said.
His plan heading into finals day is to keep it light and view it as another day, he said. “I definitely feel like I have more in my belt.”
He will be matched up against Rapoza in the semifinals.
Brett Simpson, who helps coach the USA Surf Team, said they hold scrimmages often where the duo have to go up against one another.
“Those guys are sparring partners,” he said. “It’s great to see the Cali kids taking off here.”
Hawaii’s Eli Hanneman took out San Diego surfer Jake Marshall.
“It was scrappy in the water,” Hanneman said, adding the two are friends on land.
For San Clemente’s Sawyer Lindblad – like Colapinto and Rapoza – a leap in the Challenger Series could land her onto the prestigious World Tour next year.
She posted one of the highest scores of the day, a 9-point ride, by sitting on the south end of the contest area, away from her competitor.
“I was going to paddle next to the pier, I was nervous leaving her. But as I was paddling, I found that wave. So I just got really lucky,” she said of landing the points to move into the finals.
The 17-year-old surfer will go up against Australian Ellie Harrison. Also in the hunt for the points are veteran World Tour surfer Sally Fitzgibbons, hoping to make it back on tour, who will go up against Costa Rican Leilani McGonagle.
The remaining longboard competitors will also be hunting for a title, with Huntington Beach the first of four stops on the tour.
World champion competitor Honolua Bloomfield, of Hawaii, said the skill levels have risen every year of the longboard contests.
“It keeps me motivated to battle,” she said. “I’m just happy to make it through to the finals day. I didn’t expect it.”
San Diego’s Taylor Jensen also earned a spot into the semi finals when the longboard event resumes.
“I just went surfing,” he said after his heat win. “I’ve just been watching, amped to go surf.”
The defending champ is hoping to take another win.
“That’s the goal,” he said, “to be at the US Open on finals day is huge.”