Honda U.S. Open of Surfing
Presented by O'Neill

ASP 6 Star WQS Mens Event
ASP 6 Star WQS  Womens Event
Huntington Beach, California
21 - 30 July 2006

Live Webcast  |  Scores/Results/Photos/Videos etc 

Honda US Open of Surfing Presented by O'neill Begins

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 21 July, 2006 : - - Huntington Beach, CA - The world’s largest professional surfing competition, the Honda U.S. Open of Surfing presented by O'Neill, gets underway Friday, July 21 and runs through Sunday, July 30 at the Huntington Beach Pier. 

Five hundred of the sport’s elite surfers representing untold world, national, junior and amateur titles are traveling from across the globe to battle at Surf City’s famed landmark in front of more than 350,000 spectators. 

The $185,000 Honda U.S. Open of Surfing is North America’s highest-rated qualifying event for men and women—six-star World Qualifying Series (WQS)—and the world's most heavily attended professional surfing contest.  Top World Tour stars C.J. Hobgood (Florida), Timmy Reyes (Huntington Beach), Bobby Martinez (Oxnard) and Trent Munro (AUS) headline a 288 person men's draw that includes 27 of the World Tour’s elite top 46 and 80 of the top 100 WQS. 

Prior event champions Cory Lopez (Florida) and Rob Machado (Cardiff, Calif.), are among the top competitors along with former world champion Sunny Garcia (Hawaii) and rising stars Patrick Gudauskas (San Clemente), Brett Simpson (Huntington Beach) and Florida’s Gabe Kling.

Former world champion Sofia Mulanovich (Peru) and reigning event champion Julia Christian (Carlsbad, Calf.) anchor a powerful women’s draw that features Team O'Neill's world number three-rated Rochelle Ballard (Hawaii) and Melanie Bartels (Hawaii).  The Honda U.S. Open women's division features 13 of the top 17 women in the world among its 64 entrants. Key contestants include Serena Brooke (Australia), Karina Petroni (Florida) and Holly Beck. 

The Honda U.S. Open of Surfing’s men’s ($125,000 purse) and women’s ($30,000) divisions offer competitors the largest point allocation of any Mainland event and is sanctioned by the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP).  The $10,000 O’Neill U.S. Open of Longboarding (field of 48), $10,000 Target Women’s Junior Pro (field of 32) and $10,000 Lost Pro Junior (field of 128) round out the Honda U.S. Open divisions. 

Cornerstone of the Bank of the West Beach Games, the Honda U.S. Open of Surfing is considered North America’s original action sports event and boasts a history of tradition and innovation dating back to 1959.

Two unique additions to the Honda U.S. Open of Surfing this year add drama and intrigue over the final weekend.  The “O’Neill Tow At” aerial demonstration on Sat., July 29 will feature several of the best radical surfers, with the assistance of jet skis, launching into incredible, crowd-pleasing maneuvers.  The “Boost Mobile Pro Shoot-Out” on Thurs. & Fri., July 27 & 28 will determine one wild-card entrant into the WCT-rated Boost Mobile Pro at Trestles in Sept.

According to Sean Collins, Chief Forecaster of Surfline.com, “The Honda U.S. Open of Surfing will start off on Friday with two-three foot waves from a mix of NW and South swells with a slowly increasing South swell throughout the weekend.”  A developing Hurricane off Baja, Daniel off Baja, may bring larger waves over the weekend.

The “2006 Bank of the West Beach Games featuring the Honda U.S. Open of Surfing presented by O’Neill” attracts more than 600 international competitors and features surfing, skateboarding, BMX, FMX and volleyball in world-class venues along with an interactive lifestyle festival spread over 12 acres. 

All events are open to the public, free of charge.  Surfing competition begins on Friday, July 21 and runs through Sunday, July 30.  Festival activities, BMX and skate competitions begin on Thursday, July 27 with FMX starting on Friday, July 28.

Schedule: 

Friday, July 21
South Contest Area
8am              USOS Surf Stadium      Men's Trials (Rnd 96: Heats 1-16)
1:20pm          USOS Surf Stadium      Men's Trials (Rnd 64: Heats 1-8)   

HB Pier Contest Area
8am              USOS Surf Stadium      Junior Men (Rnd 128: Heats 1-16)
1:20pm          USOS Surf Stadium      Junior Men (Rnd 96: Heats 1-8)

Saturday, July 22
South Contest Area
8am              USOS Surf Stadium      Men’s Trials (Rnd 64: Heats 9-16)
10:40am        USOS Surf Stadium      Men’s Trials (Rnd 32: Heats 1-8)
1:20pm          USOS Surf Stadium      Longboard (Rnd 56: Heats 1-4)
2:40pm          USOS Surf Stadium      Longboard (Rnd 48: Heats 1-4) 

HB Pier Contest Area
8am              USOS Surf Stadium      Junior Men (Rnd 96: Heats 9-16)
10:40am        USOS Surf Stadium      Junior Men (Rnd 64: Heats 1-16)

Sunday, July 23
South Contest Area
7am              USOS Surf Stadium      Junior Men (Rnd 32: Heats 1-8)
9:40am          USOS Surf Stadium      Longboard (Rnd 48: Heats 5-8)
11am             USOS Surf Stadium      Longboard (Rnd 32: Heats 1-8)
1:40pm          USOS Surf Stadium      Longboard (Qtr: Heats 1-4)
3pm              USOS Surf Stadium      Longboard (Semi: Heats 1-2)

HB Pier Contest Area
7am              USOS Surf Stadium      Junior Girls (Rnd 32: Heats 1-8)
9:40am          USOS Surf Stadium      Men’s Trials (Qtr: Heats 1-4)
11am             USOS Surf Stadium      Junior Girls (Qtr: Heats 1-4)
12:20pm        USOS Surf Stadium      Junior Men (Qtr: Heats 1-4)**
1:40pm          USOS Surf Stadium      Junior Girls (Semi: Heats 1-2)**
2:20pm          USOS Surf Stadium      Junior Men (Semi: Heats 1-2)**

Monday, July 24
7:30am          USOS Surf Stadium      Men (Rnd 192: Heats 1-24)

Tuesday, July 25
7:30am          USOS Surf Stadium      Men (Rnd 144: Heats 1-24)

Wednesday, July 26
7:30am          USOS Surf Stadium      Women (Rnd 60: Heats 1-6)
9:30am          USOS Surf Stadium      Women (Rnd 48: Heats 1-12)
1:30pm          USOS Surf Stadium      Men (Rnd 96: Heats 1-18) 

Thursday, July 27
7:30am          USOS Surf Stadium   Men (Rnd 96: Heats 19-24)
9am              Festival                       Festival Village Open
9am              Soul Bowl                   Open Practice
11am            IMG Skybox               Bank of the West Media Day/Press Day    
11am             Soul Bowl                  Skate Practice
1pm              Soul Bowl                   Bike Practice
1:30pm          USOS Surf Stadium    Men (Rnd 48: Heats 1-4)
2pm              FMX Arena                Open Practice
3pm              Poker School              PartyPoker.net Big Throwdown - BMX
3pm              Soul Bowl                   Open Practice
3pm              Concert Stage             Teen Vogue Fashion Live!
3:30pm         USOS Surf Stadium    Boost Mobile Pro Surf Trials (Rd 8: Heat 1)

Friday, July 28
7:30am          USOS Surf Stadium      Men (Rnd 48: Heats 1-12)
9am              Festival                          Festival Village Open
9am              Soul Bowl                      Open Practice
10am            Soul Bowl                     Masters & Grandmasters Skate Open Practice
11am             FMX Arena                  FMX Practice Session
12pm            Poker School                PartyPoker.net Big Throwdown - Skate
12:30pm        USOS Surf Stadium     Women (Rnd 24: Heats 1-6)
12:30pm       FMX Arena                  MX Mayhem
1pm              Soul Bowl                     Girls Skate Jam
2pm              Concert Stage                Sound Check - Band
2pm              FMX Arena                   Whip It presented by Arrowhead
2:30pm          Soul Bowl                    Bike Practice
3pm              USOS Surf Stadium      Women (Rnd 12: Heat 1)
3pm              Concert Stage               Sound Check – Band
3:30pm          FMX Arena                 FMX Best Trick
3:30              USOS Surf Stadium      Boost Mobile Pro Shoot-Out (Rnd 8: Heat 2)
4pm              Concert Stage               Jet Fuel
4pm              Poker School                PartyPoker.net Big Throwdown - FMX
4:20pm         USOS Surf Stadium      Boost Mobile Pro Shoot Out Finals
4:30pm          Soul Bowl                    Open Practice
5pm              Concert Stage               Joe Wood & The Lonely Ones

Saturday, July 29
7:30am         USOS Surf Stadium     Women (Rnd 12: Heats 2-4)
8:45am         USOS Surf Stadium      Men (Rnd 24: Heats 1-6)
8:30am          Soul Bowl                   Open Practice
9am              Festival                     Festival Village Open
10am             Volleyball                   Karch Kiraly Invitational (Round Robin)
10:30am        Soul Bowl                   Bike Practice
11:15am        USOS Surf Stadium      Women (Qtr: Heats 1-4)**
12pm             FMX Arena                MX Mayhem
12:30pm        Poker School               PartyPoker.net Big Throwdown - Surf
12:55pm        USOS Surf Stadium      Women (Semi: Heats 1-2)**
1pm              Soul Bowl                   Bike Qualifier
1:45pm          USOS Surf Stadium      Target Women's Jr Pro (Finals)
2pm               FMX Arena                  Whip It presented by Arrowhead
2pm              Concert Stage             Sound Check – Band
2:15pm          USOS Surf Stadium      Honda Women’s US Open of Surfing presented by O'Neill (Finals)** 
2pm              FMX Arena                  FMX Demo
2:30pm          Soul Bowl                   Masters Skate Jam
2:45pm         USOS Surf Stadium     O'Neill Tow at Demo
3pm              Concert Stage             Sound Check – Band
3:30pm          Soul Bowl                   Grandmasters Skate Jam
4pm              Concert Stage             Common Sense
5pm              Soul Bowl                   Arrowhead Best Trick (Skate) Contest
5pm              FMX Arena                  FMX Demo
5pm              Concert Stage             Concert #2: TBD
5:30pm          FMX Arena               FMX Best Trick
** Man on man format

Sunday, July 30
8am              USOS Surf Stadium      Men (Rnd 12: Heats 1-4)
8:30am          Soul Bowl                   Open Practice
9am              Festival                     Festival Village Open
9:40am          USOS Surf Stadium      Men (Qtr: Heats 1-4)**
10:00am        Soul Bowl                   BMX Practice
11am             Soul Bowl                   Bike Final
11:20am        USOS Surf Stadium      They Will Surf Again Expression Session presented by Life Rolls On (Charity)
12pm             FMX Arena                  MX Mayhem
12:05pm        USOS Surf Stadium      Men (Semi: Heats 1-2)**
12:30pm        Soul Bowl                   Arrowhead (bike) High Air Contest
12:30pm        Volleyball                   Karch Kiraly Invitational (Semi 1)
12:55pm        USOS Surf Stadium      Lost Pro Junior (Finals)**
1pm              Soul Bowl                     Bike Awards
1:15pm         Soul Bowl                     Skate Practice
1:25pm          USOS Surf Stadium      O’Neill US Open of Longboarding (Finals)
1:30pm          FMX Arena                 Whip It presented by Arrowhead
1:45pm          Volleyball                   Karch Kiraly Invitational (Semi 2)
2:15pm          Soul Bowl                  Pro Skate Jam
3pm              Volleyball                   Karch Kiraly Invitational (Final)
2:15pm          USOS Surf Stadium      Honda Men’s US Open of Surfing presented by O’Neill (Finals)**
3:45pm          Soul Bowl                   Skate Awards
4pm               FMX Arena                 FMX Best Trick
**         Man on man format

www.usopenofsurfing.com 
www.bankofthewestbeachgames.com

Previous reports:
# 1 : Honda U.S. Open of Surfing to Host Internationally Acclaimed Surfers
# 2 : Coming soon
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon  

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Mike Kingsbury

WQS Contests - Surfersvillage