The 2022 Vans US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach will definitely feature a battle of sorts on the beach, to decide who will claim the title.
Will it be that one among the top surfers in the world will prove beyond doubt that they’re the best at what they do? Or will they be ousted by hungry surfers hopeful of earning valuable points en route to a possible win during the 9-day contest?
Regardless of who takes home the title come August the 9th, spectators can rest assured there will be plenty of explosive shows on display in the surf arena that’s located on the south side of Huntington Beach Pier.
“It’s an exciting event where there’s always a few underdogs who kind of break through,” said Ryan Simmons, a longtime announcer and USA Surfing coach. “Everyone is gnarly. Anyone can win the event.”
The contest—which starts on July 30th—has drawn a medley of competitors including surfers familiar with the amateur circuit and now trying to prove themselves on this world-renowned surf-break, and international athletes who have come from afar for their chance at claiming the coveted title.
The US Open was recently added to the stops on Challenger Series, and a strong finish at it could mean gaining big points regarding joining the world’s best surfers. Also, surfers who are about to fall off the World Tour can manage to stay in the race this way.
The men’s event will have 96 surfers who will paddle out, and of these, several have already won a US Open title.
For example, Griffin Colapinto from San Clemente (last year’s winner), is among the surfers watching while he attempts to defend his title. He is currently in a breakout year, having ranked fifth following two huge wins—one in Portugal and another in El Salvador.
Also seeking another title is Kanoa Igarashi, who’s been surfing since his early years in Huntington Beach Pier, and who consequently know the break a lot better than a majority of his peers. Igarashi also has an Olympic silver medal under his belt, which he won surfing for Japan when the sport debuted last year.
“Guys who have done well in the past always seem to do well,” Simmons said.
Kolohe Andino of San Clemente, who in his early years competed against Igarashi, as well as in Colapinto’s same town, came really close to landing first, so it looks like this could be his year.
That said, the international contenders aren’t to be discounted either. Brazilian Italo Ferreira, who is an Olympic gold medalist and world champion, is one among the many international competitors who have signed up. Ferreira’s explosive style has always wowed crowds and judges alike. He is currently ranked fourth and hence isn’t facing the prospect of being evicted from the world tour.
Then there’s also a big line of younger surfers looking to bag the big points on the way to becoming top professionals. Crowds are heavily rooting for many of them, including San Clemente surfers Jett Schilling, Kade Matson, and Kei Kobayashi. There’s also Long Beach’s Nolan Rapoza, a surfer who came up in the Huntington Beach Pier circuit, landing third-place last year.
The women’s side has Santa Ana’s Courtney Conlogue, who has long been a crowd favorite. She’s won the US Open twice, and now has her sights on her first possible win since 2018.
Conlogue will have to contend with other World Tour surfers such as Caroline Marks of San Clemente and Lakey Peterson, who is of Santa Barbara. Plus, there are numerous other prominent surfers from San Clemente to be wary of, such as Kirra Pinkerton and Sawyer Lindblad.
“They are doing well and looking to get a big breakthrough result that would help them to qualify,” Simmons opined about the younger surfers vying to overtake the veteran surfers on tour.
Caitlin Simmers, last year’s winner who is from Oceanside, is back in the race and defending her title.
One woman that’s on the roster of competitors and who created a good impression this year is Moana Jones Wong of Hawai. She dominated in the big surf event at Pipeline, and this was against some of the world’s best; this was also during a highly competitive season.
Known for her barrel-riding chops, Jones Wong has left fans eager to see how she’ll handle the smaller beach conditions of Huntington Beach. With a few strong runs in the Challenger Series, she could earn her own place on the World Tour, and that’s one place she would definitely be a threat.
