HUNTINGTON BEACH, California (Monday, July 13, 2009) – South Huntington Beach Pier is set to host an massive international field of up-and-coming competitive surfing talent at the famed Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing which hosts both Men’s and Women’s Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6- Star events. Running in conjunction with the premier contest will be theU.S. Open of Surfing Nike 6.0 Pro Junior, which includes Men’s ASP Grade-2 and Women’s ASP Grade-4 divisions.

Youth collides with history at the Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing, July 18 to 26, when the world’s largest professional surfing competition honors the golden anniversary of competitive surfing at the famed Huntington Beach Pier.  The U.S. Open venue will be infused with history, the highlight of which is the “True Performance” Walk of Champions.  This unique tribute pays homage to the men and women champions of the original U.S./West Coast Championships, Op Pro Surfing Championships and the U.S. Open of Surfing.

Surfers competing in the ASP 6-Star event are looking to capture their share of the ample ratings points available towards qualification for the 2010 ASP Dream Tour while surfers on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series are out to finish within the top three on the regional series in order to qualify for the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships held in Narrabeen, Australia each January.    

Stephanie Gilmore (Tweed Heads, AUS), 21, reigning two-time ASP Women’s World Champion and former U.S. Open Champion is a primary example of the top-quality talent set to tackle this year’s Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing. With a long break between ASP Women’s World Tour events, the talented young Australian is out to utilize this year’s event to get back to competition mode before returning to attempt her third consecutive ASP Women’s World Title.

“I always look forward to the U.S. Open as its one of the biggest and most important events on the ASP`s calendar,” Gilmore said. “Since the event is in the middle of the long break, it’s perfect to shake off the holiday mode and find that competitive groove again in time for the Beachley Classic in September.”

Gilmore is currently leading the pack of impressive young talent currently pushing the limits of progressive female surfing and knows that topping the field of impressive talent out to take this year’s Hurley U.S. Open title will be no easy feat.

“I’ve always felt that the ‘QS events are very testing especially lately because there are fewer events and all the competitors are so hungry for both success and prize money,” Gilmore said. “Then with Carissa (Moore) leading the charge and Malia (Manuel) as defending champ, this year will be more exciting than ever.”

Last year Malia Manuel (HAW), 14, became the youngest girl to claim victory in a U.S. Open of Surfing Women’s final.  She was also part of the youngest duo ever to compete in a U.S. Open of Surfing final, beating out close friend Coco Ho (HAW), 16, winner of the S3 Supergirl Junior Pro the same weekend.

Also competing in the event will be nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (Cocoa Beach, FL), 37, current ASP World No. 2 Adriano de Souza (Guaruja Sao Paulo, BRA), 22, and former U.S. Open Champion and ASP World No. 3 C.J. Hobgood (Melbourne, FL), 29, in addition to several other ASP World Tour and ASP Women’s World Tour surfers.

This year will set a global record $100,000 first place prize (up from $20,000) and a hefty $225,000 overall purse (up from $145,000) for the men’s six-star World Qualifying Series (WQS) event. 

The Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing will kick off on Saturday, July 18 and will run through Sunday, July 26, 2009.

Against the backdrop of the golden anniversary celebration of competitive surfing at the Huntington Beach Pier, the Surfing Walk of Fame will honor its 16th class of inductees on Thursday, July 23 at 10:00 a.m.  Joining more than 100 individuals who have made significant contributions to the sport and culture of surfing are Fred Hemmings, Duke Boyd, Wendy Botha, Mark Martinson and Jackie Baxter.

The open-to-the-public ceremony takes place in front of Jack’s Surfboards located on the corner of PCH and Main.  More information is available at www.surfingwalkoffame.com

Woman of the Year: Wendy Botha            
A prolific South African surfer, Wendy won four world titles (1987, 1989, 1991 & 1992) and three Surfer Poll Awards (1990, 1991 & 1993).  Born in 1963, Botha began surfing at age 13 and won four consecutive South African National Championship titles from 1981 to 1984. 

She turned pro in 1985 and finished the season ranked seventh in the world, earning rookie-of-the-year honors.  Wendy became an Australian citizen in 1989 and would go on to win a record seven World Tour events that year.  She retired from competitive surfing after the 1993 season and moved to New Zealand.

Honor Roll: 50 Year’s the HB Pier Men’s & Women’s Champions

The Walk of Fame adds to its rich “Honor Roll” tradition this year by honoring the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Championships, first held in 1959.  Beginning with Jack Haley and Linda Benson, both Surfing Walk of Fame inductees, the Honor Roll will include the many great surfers who have captured championships at the famed pier over the past five decades.  

Created in 1995, the Honor Roll pays tribute to those individuals who have contributed to surfing and its culture and are deserving of recognition, but might not qualify to receive a stone on the Walk of Fame.  The Honor Roll is the only category voted on by all the board of directors.

Founded on May 28, 1994 by honoring Duke Kahanamoku as the Father of Modern Surfing, the Huntington Beach Surfing Walk of Fame marked a historic addition to “Surf City USA.”  Each year, the Walk of Fame’s selection committee conducts ongoing research through surf associations, museums and media venues around the world to compile a comprehensive ballot of qualified candidates.  Every inductee receives a granite stone embedded in the sidewalk (PCH side) in front of Jack’s, the Surfing Walk of Fame Patron. 

More information is available at www.surfingwalkoffame.com.

For all of the LIVE action log on to  www.usopenofsurfing.com

For additional ASP information check out:

www.aspworldtour.com or www.aspnorthamerica.org

www.ExplorerGirls.com / ASP and Courtney Crow

Images: Courtney Crow / Explorer Media