HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — Brett Simpson, 24, claimed the Association of Surfing Professionals World Qualifying Series 6-Star Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing over former ASP World Champion Mick Fanning, 28, states a press release. The competition took place Sunday in
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — Brett Simpson, 24, claimed the Association of Surfing Professionals World Qualifying Series 6-Star Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing over former ASP World Champion Mick Fanning, 28, states a press release. The competition took place Sunday in front of an ecstatic hometown crowd, netting surfing’s biggest victory purse ever: $100,000.
An event that will go down in surfing history, the 2009 Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing was treated to incredible surf (waves reaching as high as ten-to-twelve feet), an unprecedented number of elite ASP Dream Tour competitors in attendance as well as the biggest winner’s prize in surfing history. The young local’s emphatic victory in front of the hundreds of thousands on the beach provided the storybook ending and vaulted the event to unprecedented heights.
Running in conjunction with the Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing was the ASP Grade-2 Nike 6.0 Pro Junior, Stop No. 5 of 9 on the 2009 ASP North America Pro Junior Series. The final was an incredible assemblage of global talent, with Kai Barger, 19, of Maui, taking the big win over Tonino Benson, 19, of the Big Island, Dillon Perillo, 19, and Nat Young, 18.
Barger, reigning ASP World Junior Champion, went on an absolute rampage in the star-studded junior final, smashing both rights and lefts to net an impressive 15.50 out of a possible 20.
“This is hands down the best contest ever,” Barger said. “Biggest crowd, great waves, lots of sun, big money. Best event ever. I don’t really go out into heats thinking about what I need or what I want to accomplish. I go out to win. That’s what I did out there today and I’m having a great year!”
Simpson wasted no time in putting his opponent on the ropes in the final, collecting a 6.83, a 7.83 and a 9.10 in the opening half of the heat with razor-sharp turns, explosive aerial maneuvers and a supernatural rapport with the Huntington Beach sandbanks.
“I knew the tide was coming up and there weren’t going to be as many waves,” Simpson said. “I knew I needed a quick start. We (Mick Fanning and I) both got off to pretty quick starts. We both picked up some good scores off the bat and I was able to build a little momentum throughout my opening waves. I couldn’t believe it when the heat finished – I’m still at a loss. I can’t ask for more than to beat Mick Fanning in the final at home. With that, and the $100,000 and the 2,500 QS points, I’m nearly in tears at the moment.”
Each one of Simpson’s maneuvers was met with a thunder of cheers from the hundreds of thousands of spectators on the beach, and the young Californian’s win was caused an unparalleled eruption of excitement to ripple through the Hurley U.S. Open event site.
Highlights from the Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing are available at www.usopenofsurfing.com.
