California’s blend of action sport, music and lifestyle will be on show at the Honda US Open of Surfing and Beach Festival, which returns to the Huntington Beach Pier from July 20-29th, 2007. More than 600 of the globe’s finest surfing, skateboarding, FMX and BMX athletes will be competing to get their hands on the fat pot of prize cash.
The main event kicking off the week is the Honda US Open of Surfing presented by O’Neill. Dating back to 1959, this is North America’s only 6-star World Qualifying Series men’s and women’s event. The men’s Lost Pro Junior also returns for the groms (ages 19 and under) along with longboarding and the ‘They Will Surf Again’ expression session. Cash prizes totalling $175,000 are on the line, as well as the kudos of joining the line-up of previous event champs including Andy Irons, Kelly Slater, Cory Lopez, Layne Beachley, Rob Machado and Sofia Mulanovich.
Set on 12 acres of Huntingdon sands, Freestyle Motocross will be fuelling the beach festival with double-seat grabs, cliffhangers and gravity-defying back-flips. A custom-built course allows spectators to be within a few feet of top FMX riders such as Nate Adams, Jeff Tilton, Jeff “Ox” Kargola and X Games medalist Mike Mason.
A bundle of BMX riders and skaters will battle it out in the Honda Soul Bowl, a contest that combines the core elements of pool riding with a freestyle half-pipe competition. Skaters and bikers will drop into the 13-foot deep kidney-shaped pool and vie for serious prize money. Prior competitors include Brian Patch, Tony Magnusson, Cara-Beth Burnside, Mat “Condor” Hoffman and Tony Magnusson.
An estimated 400,000 spectators will partake in the interactive music and video game hub of Honda Base Camp and chill out to live music on the Beach Festival Concert Stage. More than 100 exhibits, athlete autograph signings, DJs and prize giveaways are on the packed agenda.
All events during the Honda U.S. Open of Surfing and Beach Festival are open to the public, free of charge. The early rounds of surfing begin on Friday, July 20 and run through Sunday, July 29. Festival activities, BMX and skate competitions begin on Thursday, July 26 with FMX starting on Friday, July 27th.
Can’t afford the air fare? All of the action will be live on www.usopenofsurfing.com
