Surfers set to hit waves

It was eerily empty to the immediate south side of the Huntington Beach Pier Friday, save for a few earth-movers trudging through the sand while construction workers nearby busied themselves piecing together bleacher sections and a Soul Bowl-to-be that on this day had, well, no soul just yet.

But, oh, what this site has metamorphosed into in the days since.

Crowds are expected to swell in excess of 400,000 on the south side over the next 10 days as the world’s largest professional surfing competition, the Honda U.S. Open of Surfing presented by O’Neill and Beach Festival, returns to the Huntington Beach Pier Friday through July 29.

More than 500 world-class surfers from a dozen countries are expected to compete in four divisions during that 10-day period, all after a portion of a $175,000 prize purse and the chance to grab a piece of U.S. Open glory.

Add top skaters and BMX and FMX stars into the mix, and more than 600 athletes will converge on Surf City.

The Beach Festival features the TransWorld SURF’s Tomorrow Beach, Honda Base Camp, Teen Vogue Fashion Live! runway show, an interactive area that includes music, video games, dance contests, DJs, autograph sessions and prize giveaways, and a Beach Festival Concert Stage where live music from national acts will perform.

Surfing pre-trial rounds will be held Friday through Sunday.

Festival activities, BMX and skate competitions begin on July 26. FMX events begin July 27.

“The U.S. Open of Surfing is the biggest WQS (World Qualifying Series) surf competition in North America and draws more spectators than any other surf event in the world,” O’Neill Clothing Chief Executive Officer Toby Bost said in a statement. “The U.S. Open has a rich history in surfing and showcases the best surfers in the world battling it out for the six-star titles, and we are stoked to be part of that energy for the fifth year.”

The Honda U.S. Open of Surfing is North America’s only six-star World Qualifying Series-rated men’s and women’s competitions, longboarding and men’s junior (19-and-under) disciplines.

As of Tuesday, 288 men, 60 women and 129 junior surfers were scheduled to compete in their respective divisions.

The $10,000 Lost Pro Junior for men is the largest event of its kind in the nation and the competition also figures to be fierce in the $10,000 O’Neill U.S. Open of Longboarding. Last year, Huntington Beach’s Dodger Kremel experienced a “one-of-a-kind” thrill when he won the longboard title on his home break.

The 23-year-old, a 2003 graduate of Marina High, became the first Huntington athlete to become a U.S. Open champion.

Kremel said he is seeded in the round of 32 this year.

“I’ve been waiting for this competition for a whole year,” Kremel said. “For longboarding, this is one of the biggest events in the world and to win it last year in my own backyard was an incredible feeling.

“I’m ready to go again but you know, it’s a new year and nothing’s the same. It just depends on who catches the right waves. But I’m stoked for the competition.”

One of Huntington’s hottest surfers, Brett Simpson, says he’s also ready for the challenge of what, too, will be a grueling men’s U.S. Open competition.

Simpson burst onto the scene in a big way by winning his first five heats in his first-ever U.S. Open appearance in 2002. Two years ago, he beat defending U.S. Open men’s champion Taj Burrow to advance in the competition. Last year, he was eliminated in the round of 48.

“Last year it was kind of a disappointment result for me, not the ‘breakthrough’ event I had hoped for,” said Simpson, 22, the Nose Guard Vans Triple Crown Rookie of the Year for 2005. “I’m really excited for this year’s event and ready to take that next step.”

Andy Verdone, who coached Simpson at Huntington Beach High — Simpson was team captain of the Oilers his senior year in 2003 — says his former star pupil has the tools to emerge from the field.

“He’s a freak when it comes to talent but now’s the time for him to step up and have that breakthrough performance that he’s capable of having,” Verdone said. “It’s time for Brett Simpson to show.

“He can win this thing, and it’d be sweet for him to do it on his home break.”

All events during the Honda U.S. Open of Surfing and the Beach Festival are open to the public, free of charge.

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SCHEDULE

FRIDAY7 a.m.: Men’s Trials (Round of 96; heats 1-16)

(South contest area)

12:20 p.m.: Men’s Trials (Round of 64; heats 1-8)

(Pier contest area)7 a.m.: Junior Men (Round of 128; heats 1-13)

11:20 p.m.: “Battle of the Brands”

SATURDAY

(South contest area)

8 a.m.: Men’s Trials (Round of 64; heats 9-16)

10:40 a.m.: Men’s Trials (Round of 32; heats 1-8)

1:20 p.m.: Longboard (Round of 56; heats 1-4)

2:40 p.m.: Longboard (Round of 48; heats 1-4)

(Pier contest area)8 a.m.: Junior Men (Round of 128; heats 14-16)

9 a.m.: Junior Men (Round of 96; heats 1-16)

2:20 p.m.: Junior Men (Round of 64; heats 1-6)

SUNDAY7 a.m.: Men’s Trials (quarterfinals; heats 1-4)

(South contest area)

8:20 a.m.: Longboard (Round of 48; heats 5-8)

9:40 a.m.: Longboard (Round of 32; heats 1-8)

12:20 p.m.: Longboard (quarterfinals; heats 1-4)

1:40 p.m.: Longboard (semifinals; heats 1-2)

(Pier contest area)

7 a.m.: Junior Men (Round of 64; heats 7-16)

10:20 a.m.: Junior Men (Round of 32: heats 1-8)

1 p.m.: Junior Men (quarterfinals; heats 1-4)

2:20 p.m.: Junior Men (semifinals; heats 1-2)

MONDAY(Surf Stadium)

7:30 a.m.: Men (Round of 192; heats 1-24)

TUESDAY(Surf Stadium)

7:30 a.m.: Men (Round of 144; heats 1-24)

WEDNESDAY(Surf Stadium)

7:30 a.m.: Women (Round of 60; heats 1-6)

9:30 a.m.: Women (Round of 48; heats 1-12)

1:30 p.m.: Men (Round of 96; heats 1-5)

JULY 267 a.m.: Beach Festival (O.C. Fair Cattle Drive)

9 a.m.: Beach Festival Village opens

(Surf Stadium)

7:30 a.m.: Men (Round of 96; heats 6-24)

3:30 p.m.: Boost Mobile Shoot Out (heat 1)

3:50 p.m.: Boost Mobile Shoot Out (heat 2)

(Soul Bowl)9 a.m.: Open practice

11 a.m.: Skate practice

1 p.m.: Bike practice

3 p.m.: Open practice

(Concert Stage)3 p.m.: Teen Vogue Fashion Live!

6 p.m.: Beach Festival Village closes