HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — The Honda U.S. Open of Surfing kicked off Round 2 competition this morning in improved 2-to-4-foot south swells at Huntington Beach Pier. The Association of Surfing Professionals World Qualifying Series 6-Star event enjoyed sunny skies and
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — The Honda U.S. Open of Surfing kicked off Round 2 competition this morning in improved 2-to-4-foot south swells at Huntington Beach Pier.
The Association of Surfing Professionals World Qualifying Series 6-Star event enjoyed sunny skies and huge scores as competitors let loose in the improved, peaky conditions.
Adam Robertson of Australia, current No. 93 on the ASP WQS, posted the biggest heat score of the day with a 16.24 out of a possible 20.
The powerful natural-footer looked limber and fit as he man-handled the punchy beach break peaks.
“The conditions today are much improved over the last few days,” Robertson said in a release. “Still not the greatest waves, but I think the swell is picking up and it just feels good to get into the next round. I’m sitting at 93 right now on the ‘QS so I need to get a solid result in the next few events if I’m to make a run at the World Tour.”
Darren O’Rafferty, current No. 88 on the ASP WQS, was another Australian who highlighted the day’s activities, smashing a bowly right-hander to grab the event high single-wave score of a 9.50 out of a possible 10.
“Stoked to grab that one and it had a bit more of a wall on it so I was able to really open up on a few turns,” O’Rafferty said. “Didn’t know it was going to be as high as it was, but the turns were committed so I think the judges really rewarded that.”
Other standout high-scorers for the day included Australia’s Chris Davidson with a 9.33 and California’s Nathan Yeomans with a 9.23.
Australia’s Adrian Buchan, current No. 20 on the elite Foster’s ASP World Tour, showed the rest of the draw just what surfing amongst the world’s best will do to your form, racking up an impressive 16.10 out of a possible 20 in his early morning heat.
“It’s pretty fun for Huntington today,” Buchan said. “I was talking to a few of the guys and they were saying it’s the best it’s been in a few days. You can’t complain though. The waves are really rippable and the water is warm.”
Last year’s U.S. Open was Buchan’s first event back in the water following a serious ankle injury that prevented him from really digging into his rookie season on the Dream Tour. One year since, Buchan is back to full strength and looking sharper than ever.
“It’s been a full year, almost to the day, that I got back in my first heat since the injury,” Buchan said. “My foot feels 100 percent better now and I’m really grateful for that. It took a while to get all my confidence back up, but now it’s back to normal and I’ve never felt stronger. I’m really hoping for a good result here.”
Josh Fuller of O‘ahu, one of the eight surfers to advance to the main event through the Trials, continued his incredible run through Round 2 of the main event today.
“It’s great to be in the main event as a lot of times you get to the round right before and miss out when the waves improve,” Fuller said. “I think it’s good to surf through the Trials and get used to the break. I’m stoked that I’m still in it and I hope to get through a few more heats. I’m really looking to build my seed before Hawai‘i because that’s where I’m focusing on this year.”
Fuller joins Greg Cordeiro of Brazil and Granger Larsen of Lahaina as the remaining trialists left in the Honda U.S. Open of Surfing presented by O’Neill.
Sunny Garcia of O‘ahu, former ASP World Champion (2000), competed in his first ASP-sanctioned event since his incarceration last January. The legendary natural-footer delivered on the excitement surrounding his much-anticipated return to competition with one of the most exhilarating heats of the day.
Down with moments to go, Garcia tore into a set righthander with reckless abandon and patented power gouges garnering huge applause from the thousands in attendance.
The wave bolted Garcia from third to first, however the lead was to exchange hands twice more in the last 15 seconds leaving the Hawaiian back in third. Unfortunately out of U.S. Open competition, fans can expect to see much more of Garcia in the coming months.
There are 15 Hawai‘i surfers still in competition. Aside from Fuller, Larsen and Garcia, Bruce Irons, Jason Shibata, Roy Powers, Ian Walsh, Joel Centeio and Kekoa Bacalso are in Heat 1 through 9, of the Round of 96.
Hank Gaskell, Jesse Merle-Jones, T.J. Barron, Frederick Patacchia, Dustin Cuizon, Mason Ho and Dustin Barca finish out the round.
Today, the girls in the Honda Open will hit the water.
