What time does the surf action kick off, and when does the festival area wrap up for the day? Can you bring booze to the beach? And when is Brodie the Goldendoodle making an appearance?
The Lexus US Open of Surfing can be a lot to take in, so if you’re heading down to Huntington Beach, here are a few tips and some need-to-know info to navigate the surf festival.
The event runs from Saturday, July 25, to Aug. 3 and happens on the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier, and the best tip if you’re making the pilgrimage to the beach: arrive early.
Weekends are busier than weekdays, but all days require an early arrival if you want to nab a parking spot close to the sand.
There are beachfront parking lots on both sides of the Huntington Beach Pier, as well as metered parking along Pacific Coast Highway, for the closest spots. Those, however, are often gobbled up quickly by the early-rising pro surfers and the staffers working morning hours to put on the event.
If you don’t mind strolling down Huntington Beach’s Main Street (and maybe doing some shopping along the way), there are several parking lots to accommodate the crowds, including the 830-space Main Promenade Parking Structure, 200 Main St., on the east side of Main Street between Walnut and Olive Streets, and the Strand Parking Structure, 155 Fifth St., which has its entrance off of Sixth Street.
The fun starts the night before the US Open of Surfing at 5 p.m. on Friday, July 24, with the grand opening of the Huntington Beach International Surf Museum, which recently moved to the Main Street Library at 525 Main St. The exhibit will showcase 50 years of World Surf League pro surfing championships.
The surf action kicks off with the World Surf League’s longboard competition from Saturday, July 25 through Tuesday, July 28. The heats run from 7:35 a.m. until 3:35 p.m., while the festival village hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day of the event.
There are about two dozen vendors this year, some that will be offering games to give away prizes or samples, others simply showcasing their products.
If the setup is anything like last year, there will be areas to hang out and lounge if you just want to soak in the sights, with the contest showing on big screens.
Opening day also features a screening of “The Search for Volcano Island” on the festival village screen at 4 p.m., followed by a DJ set by Huntington Beach musician Matt Costa from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Beach Bar for the 21-and-older crowd.
While you can’t bring your own booze to the beach (security will be doing bag checks upon entry), the Beach Bar will be serving up cocktails and beers throughout the event.
An opening ceremony will be held on the sand in Huntington Beach at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 27, followed by a WSL One Ocean Beach Cleanup at noon.
The Challenger Series contest kicks off at 7:35 a.m. on Wednesday, July 29, and runs through the duration of the event, bringing 80 men and 50 women shortboard surfers from around the world to compete.
Other interesting highlights include a Red Bull Bodyweight Workout led by World Tour surfer Griffin Colapinto at 10 a.m. on July 30.
That same time and day, the Surfing Walk of Fame induction ceremony happens on Main Street just across from the surf contest. The next morning, on July 31, the Surfers’ Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. in front of Huntington Surf and Sport.
Later that afternoon, at 4 p.m., a screening of Red Bull’s “Now Days” will showcase female surfing at its best on the Festival Village screen.
That night also kicks off the concert series, with Real Estate and Allah-Las on the music stage from 5 to 8 p.m. The following night Local Natives and Arcy Drive take the same stage.
Autograph signings and meet-and-greets will happen on the sand at sponsor booths, as well as at local surf shops, throughout the event. An event nearby at The Huntington Beach House will honor Peter “PT” Townend, the first world pro surfing champ, at 5 p.m. on July 29.
A meet and greet with Brodie the Goldendoodle at the sandcastle sculpture at the festival entrance will happen from 10 to 11 a.m. on Aug. 1.
The final day of surf competition wraps up about 2:45 p.m., with a ceremony on the main stage set on the sand. The festival continues until 4 p.m., with the Beach Bar open with music from DJ Savi until 5:30 p.m.
For more information: usopenofsurfing.com