{"id":421413,"date":"2026-08-02T04:40:30","date_gmt":"2026-08-02T04:40:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/421413\/"},"modified":"2026-08-02T04:40:30","modified_gmt":"2026-08-02T04:40:30","slug":"san-clemente-san-diego-surfers-thrive-survive-at-us-open-of-surfing-orange-county-register","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/421413\/","title":{"rendered":"San Clemente, San Diego surfers thrive, survive at US Open of Surfing \u2013 Orange County Register"},"content":{"rendered":"

The ocean delivered San Clemente surfer Eden Walla<\/a> a gift for her birthday.<\/p>\n

There were five minutes left in her heat on Friday, July 31, and she was trailing her opponent, needing a big score to move to the next round at the LEXUS US Open of Surfing.<\/p>\n

So Walla went big, turning and twisting her board in the wave\u2019s face, weaving her way into the inside section to end the ride with a big hack near the shoreline.<\/p>\n

The judges delivered her a 9-point score, one of the highest of the event.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m here at the US Open on my birthday, surfing a heat,\u201d said Walla, who turned 17. \u201cNo matter what happens, it will be a great day, so making it was just a bonus. \u2026 I\u2019m just super grateful to be here, trying to enjoy every moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Walla was just one of several Southern California surfers who got the gift of another day of competition, battling big waves and strong currents to make it into the finals weekend of the Challenger Series event in Huntington Beach. Surf size was down just slightly from previous days<\/a>, the competitors no longer getting lifts from personal watercraft safety teams, instead paddling out on their own to navigate the still turbulent waves.<\/p>\n

The morning kicked off with the men\u2019s round of 32, with San Clemente\u2019s Taj Lindblad and Encinitas\u2019 Jake Marshall both advancing in the first heat of the day. Fellow San Diego surfer and last year\u2019s US Open winner Levi Slawson was eliminated from the event.<\/p>\n

\"Levi<\/p>\n

Levi Slawson competes in the Round of 32 during the Challenger Series during the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Levi<\/p>\n

Levi Slawson competes in the Round of 32 during the Challenger Series during the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Kade<\/p>\n

Kade Matson competes in the Round of 32 during the Challenger Series during the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Griffin<\/p>\n

Griffin Colapinto competes in the Round of 32 during the Challenger Series during the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Luke<\/p>\n

Luke Thompson competes in the Round of 32 during the Challenger Series during the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Griffin<\/p>\n

Griffin Colapinto competes in the Round of 32 during the Challenger Series during the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Crosby<\/p>\n

Crosby Colapinto competes in the Round of 32 during the Challenger Series during the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Taj<\/p>\n

Taj Lindblad competes in the Round of 32 during the Challenger Series during the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Taj<\/p>\n

Taj Lindblad competes in the Round of 32 during the Challenger Series during the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Luke<\/p>\n

Luke Thompson competes in the Round of 32 during the Challenger Series during the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Griffin<\/p>\n

Griffin Colapinto competes in the Round of 32 during the Challenger Series during the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Kade<\/p>\n

Kade Matson competes in the Round of 32 during the Challenger Series during the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Crosby<\/p>\n

Crosby Colapinto competes in the Round of 32 during the Challenger Series during the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Levi<\/p>\n

Levi Slawson competes in the Round of 32 during the Challenger Series during the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Taj<\/p>\n

Taj Lindblad competes in the Round of 32 during the Challenger Series during the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Levi<\/p>\n

Levi Slawson competes in the Round of 32 during the Challenger Series during the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Griffin<\/p>\n

Griffin Colapinto competes in the Round of 32 during the Challenger Series during the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Taj<\/p>\n

Taj Lindblad competes in the Round of 32 during the Challenger Series during the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Crosby<\/p>\n

Crosby Colapinto competes in the Round of 32 during the Challenger Series during the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Jake<\/p>\n

Jake Marshall competes in the Round of 32 during the Challenger Series during the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Jake<\/p>\n

Jake Marshall competes in the Round of 32 during the Challenger Series during the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Jake<\/p>\n

Jake Marshall competes in the Round of 32 during the Challenger Series during the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Luke<\/p>\n

Luke Thompson competes in the Round of 32 during the Challenger Series during the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Jake<\/p>\n

Jake Marshall competes in the Round of 32 during the Challenger Series during the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Luke<\/p>\n

Luke Thompson competes in the Round of 32 during the Challenger Series during the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 25<\/p>\n

Levi Slawson competes in the Round of 32 during the Challenger Series during the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThere was a lot of current, and the waves were juicy and dumpy, so it was hard to land turns,\u201d said Lindblad, his coach, Ryan Simmons, reminding him to reset in the middle of the heat before he earned the score he needed to take second spot in the heat.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe goal is to win,\u201d Lindblad said. \u201cIt\u2019s a chess game.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even though Marshall surfs on the elite World Tour, a win at the US Open would be huge, he said. \u201cI remember coming to this contest when I was 10, watching all my favorite surfers. This event has been a part of my life as far as I can remember, growing up in California.\u201d<\/p>\n

San Clemente\u2019s Crosby Colapinto<\/a> described the strong current pulling the surfers to the pier.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour wave selection has to be on point, you can\u2019t be falling, which I was doing a little bit,\u201d he said. \u201cYou really have to be on your game, I\u2019m just psyched to make it. It\u2019s just so fun competing, to be in a jersey and sleeping at home, it\u2019s just so epic.\u201d<\/p>\n

Several San Clemente surfers found themselves going up against one another in the four-man heats.<\/p>\n

San Clemente\u2019s Cole Houshmand<\/a> and Hayden Rodgers both took the top two spots to advance, as did Griffin Colapinto and Kade Matson.<\/p>\n

Griffin Colapinto, who celebrated his 27th birthday this week, talked about the big community of professional surfers from the region<\/a>, including his own brother Crosby, who spend the year traveling and how the US Open of Surfing is an event that brings them together.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll the best Californians are in this contest, it brings it back to the NSSA days,\u201d he said of the amateur events that happen at the same surf spot for up-and-coming kids.<\/p>\n

Though he was already on the World Tour, Griffin Colapinto\u2019s US Open title in 2021<\/a> was one that helped give him confidence to earn two more elite-level wins shortly after.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was the biggest event win of my career at the time,\u201d he said. \u201cThat set me on the trajectory. I think just getting a win, I got to feel what it was like, just keep the motivation to continue to pursue that.\u201d<\/p>\n

He was stoked for his friend, Matson, who got the points needed to move into the next round \u2014 also valuable as Matson tries to make it back on the World Tour.<\/p>\n

\u201cGetting through that round is huge for him to get his year started, and me getting to do that with him is so cool,\u201d Colapinto said. \u201cIt\u2019s a pretty special day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Matson, who advanced with a buzzer-beater wave, said it was stressful, but glad the score went his way.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my favorite event of the year. To be making heats is awesome,\u201d he said. \u201cIt seems like everyone is doing good in this event, so it\u2019s sick. We all grew up competing against each other, so to all come together is cool.\u201d<\/p>\n

Huntington Beach\u2019s Kanoa Igarashi, who has two US Open titles<\/a>, reflected on how he\u2019s competed in the event at every phase of his life, back when he was 14 and so nervous he was shaking, to now in the middle of his World Tour career and in the hunt for a World Title. He also won a silver Olympic medal in that time.<\/p>\n

Local female surfers had some wins, and some losses, during their Round of 16 heats, several eliminated from the event on Friday.<\/p>\n

Huntington Beach\u2019s Bailey Turner was eliminated during her heat, as was San Clemente\u2019s Kirra Pinkerton, who went down against Encinitas surfer Sierra Kerr, who splits time between San Diego and Australia.<\/p>\n

Encinitas surfer Alyssa Spencer moved to the next round, also in a last-second effort to earn the score she needed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose are the moments we train for,\u201d she said of the wave just before the buzzer. \u201cStay mentally strong to still perform until the end, never give up.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The ocean delivered San Clemente surfer Eden Walla a gift for her birthday. There were five minutes left…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":421414,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[1785,7,588,100,611,74,76,75,136],"class_list":["post-421413","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-san-diego","tag-beaches","tag-california","tag-huntington-beach","tag-news","tag-orange-county","tag-san-diego","tag-san-diego-headlines","tag-san-diego-news","tag-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/421413","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=421413"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/421413\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/421414"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=421413"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=421413"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=421413"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}