HURLEY US OPEN OF SURFING - MENS
Competing at the Hurley US Open of Surfing® is a lot of pressure. Not only are upwards of half a million people on the beach plus tens of thousands in cyber world scrutinizing your every move, there are major points and prize money at stake. In short, if you do well at the US Open, chances are you will do well anywhere. As a six-star ASP qualifier, it’s a gateway to the coveted breaks of Teahupo’o and Pipeline on the Dream Tour. A win here means 2500 points and a major boost in the ratings. Just ask last year’s champ Nathaniel Curran, who ended up winning the entire World Qualifying Series after taking the US Open. He also called it the “most significant win” of his career. The prize money is real motivator as well, with a $145,000 purse and $16,000 for first.
Format-wise, we’ll see more than 250 surfers whittle down to eight man-on-man heats on Saturday, which will play out to the last man standing on Sunday. Man on Man heats are a welcome addition to ASP World Qualifying series events, allowing the event to be focused, back-and-forth battles that hearken back to the glory days of the Op Pro.
This year, the addition of the WPS All Stars should add even more TNT, as guys like Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning and Dane Reynolds will be dropping bombs next to the Pier. Be prepared for a whole new level of performances on the South Side in 2009.
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