Pat O'Connell (USA) : photo ASP/Covered Images

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

ASP 6 Star WQS Mens Event
ASP 6 Star WQS  Womens Event

Lost Pro Junior (ASP grade 2 event - Men)
Target Pro Junior (ASP Pro Junior -Women)

Huntington Beach, California, USA
21 - 30 July 2006

Live Webcast  |  Scores/Results/Photos etc 

MAIN EVENT KICKS OFF IN GREAT CONDITIONS AT DAY ONE OF THE U.S. OPEN

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 24 July, 2006 : - - HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (Monday, July 24, 2006) - The Men’s Honda U.S. Open of Surfing presented by O’Neill commenced this morning with round one hitting the water in clean three to four foot waves south of Huntington Beach pier.

An Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) six-star event, the U.S. Open has attracted 192 of the world’s top surfers to Huntington Beach. Many hoping to qualify for the ASP’s top-tiered Foster’s Men’s World Tour, commonly referred to as the ’Dream Tour.’

Pat O’Connell (Laguna Beach, CA), a former stalwart on the top-tier tour, started the day in great form posting a 14.34 out of a possible 20 to take the win in his opening round heat. "The conditions are really deceiving out there right now," O’Connell said. "It looks fun, but it’s actually really difficult to punctuate your maneuvers. Still fun though; this morning was one of the best days of surf I’ve ever seen at Huntington."

Although pseudo-retired from professional competition, O’Connell proved he’s still in top form defeating the onslaught of up-and-comers. "This event is so cool because it has the best of the younger guys competing and I’m just stoked to go out there and be a part of it." O’Connell said. "I’m really looking forward to doing well and it should be a good event."

Pablo Gutierrez (Spn) : photo ASP/Covered Images

After a short fog delay, competition resumed with some of the more anticipated heats of the day. Heat 16 saw former U.S. Open champion Rob Machado (Cardiff, CA), Australian aerial-maestro Jock Barnes (Lennox Head), Brazilian ripper Robson Santos (Sao Paulo) and California wunderkind Dane Reynolds (Ventura) come together for the battle royale of the day.

Reynolds, in his highly-anticipated return to WQS competition, delighted the mid-day crowd with his deep repertoire of progressive maneuvers. Reynolds’ "controlled recklessness" garnered him an excellent 17.06 out of a possible 20 with big aerials and exciting fin-free surfing.

"The heat went well. I was overly-psyched and was catching rails, but it worked out I suppose," Reynolds said. "I’ve got a good board but not necessarily for these conditions; it still managed to get through the flat spots and the chop and ended up alright."

Mike Losness (San Clemente, CA), who was originally in the trials, was seeded into the main event after a last-minute withdrawal of WCT campaigner Trent Munro (Scott’s Head, AUS), wasted no time in capitalizing on his good fortune today. "What I was watching in the trials was really good, young surfers who were hungry," Losness said, "and I think that some of the first trials heats were better than some of the first heats of the main event."

Ryan Helm (USA) : photo ASP/Covered Images

A former amateur champion, Losness has yet to see his previous competitive success translate to the WQS. However, a renaissance in 2006, sees the young goofy-foot steadily building momentum as he endeavors toward elite-tour qualification.

"Right now I’m trying to focus on doing some events so I can get some points," Losness said. "So next year, if I enter a contest like this, I don’t have to do the trials. It’s hard to fly across the globe and know that you’re only starting in the trials. You could have a bad heat and you’re away from home and I just don’t want to be in that spot. I don’t need to win every event, I just need to get some points in some events and I’ll start getting seeded in the main events."

The Honda U.S. Open of Surfing presented by O’Neill will hit the water again tomorrow morning at 7:30 with the Round of 96.

Current Foster’s Men’s World Tour competitors Toby Martin (AUS) and Chris Ward (USA) will join 2001 ASP World Champion Sunny Garcia (HAW) and other former elite-tour surfers Shea Lopez (USA), Nathan Webster (AUS) Russell Winter (GBR), Tim Curran (USA) and Kalani Robb (HAW) in rounding out the top-notch talent competing in the Round of 96 tomorrow.

Gony Zbizaretta (Spn) : photo ASP/Covered Images

Live scores will be available on www.aspnorthamerica.org and www.usopenofsurfing.com.

RESULTS DAY FOUR:

HONDA MEN’S US OPEN OF SURFING - ASP $125,000 WQS SIX-STAR

Round 1 (Heats 1 - 24): 192 competitors left (1st and 2nd advance)
Heat 1: Andre Silva (BRA) 15.17, Mason Ho (HAW) 8.57, Izuki Tanaka (JPN) 8.54, Love Hodel (HAW) 8.00
Heat 2: Eric Geiselman (USA) 16.17, Jason Shibata ( HAW) 12.17, Tyler Fox (USA) 6.13, Makua Rothman (HAW) 6.10
Heat 3: Dusty Payne (HAW) 15.50, Matt Jones (AUS) 8.90, Derek Ho (HAW) 8.37, Aaron Cormican (USA) 5.93
Heat 4: Dustin Barca (HAW) 13.10, Anthony Walsh (AUS) 10.53, Bron Heussenstamm (USA) 10.10, Gony Zibizareta (ESP) 8.93
Heat 5: Shaun Ward (USA) 13.17, Bobby Morris (USA) 11.67, Wesley Larsen (HAW) 10.34, Damon Harvey (AUS) 7.27
Heat 6: James Santos (BRA) 9.90, Dylan Graves (PRI) 9.83, Gavin Beschen (HAW) 8.70, Frederic Robin (REU) 8.63
Heat 7: Pat O’Connell (USA) 14.34, Hideyoshi Tanaka (JPN) 12.60 , Che Stang (USA) 10.56, Pablo Paulino (BRA) 7.53
Heat 8: Hank Gaskell (HAW) 10.50, Hodei Collazo (ESP) 9.67, Tyler Anderson (USA) 7.73, Alejandro Moreda (PRI) 4.76
Heat 9: Pablo Gutierrez (ESP) 12.90 , Teppei Tajima (JPN) 11.10, Kepa Acero (ESP) 8.47, Josh Fuller (AUS) 8.04
Heat 10: Michael Flores (BRA) 10.30, Dane Gudauskas (USA) 9.07, Jay Quinn (NZL) 8.43, Matt Keenan (USA) 8.20
Heat 11: Daniel Jones (HAW) 8.07, Ted Navarro (USA) 7.90, Abdel El Harim (MAR) 6.30, Mikey Bruneau (HAW) 6.03
Heat 12: Nathan Yeomans (USA) 12.17, Heitor Pereira (BRA) 9.56, Josh Lewan (AUS) 8.00, Noi Kaulukukui (HAW) 5.80
Heat 13: Michael Campbell (AUS) 13.33, Ryan Campbell (AUS) 11.44, Matt Hoar (AUS) 9.10, Jensen Hassett (HAW) 6.30
Heat 14: Darryll Goodrum (USA) 11.94, Julian Cuello (CNY) 10.37, Shaun Burrell (USA) 9.26, Austin Ware (USA) 8.83
Heat 15: T.J Barron (HAW) 12.66, Junior Faria (BRA) 10.57, Wesley De Souza (BRA) 7.43, Jamie O’Brien (HAW) 4.90
Heat 16: Dane Reynolds (USA) 17.06, Rob Machado (USA) 12.40, Robson Santos, (BRA) 9.84, Jock Barnes (AUS) 8.87
Heat 17: Myles Padaca (HAW) 11.50, Mike Losness (USA) 10.17, Jack Perry (AUS) 9.63, Chris Drummy (USA) 9.33
Heat 18: Kyle Garson (USA) 12.27, Anthony Petruso (USA) 12.00, Kyle Knox (USA) 11.57, Greg Cordeiro (BRA) 8.80
Heat 19: Dane Johnson (USA) 11.60, Peter Devries (CAN) 9.34, Darren Muschett (PRI) 8.86, Diego Rosa (BRA) 7.77
Heat 20: Rhys Bombaci (AUS) 11.84, Ricky Witlock (USA) 10.16, Raymond Reichle (HAW) 8.20, Brad Ettinger (USA) 6.37
Heat 21: Nick Coghlan (AUS) 12.54, Hira Teriinatoofa (PYF) 12.50, Josh Montgomery (USA) 12.50, Simon Marchand (FRA) 7.73
Heat 22: Beto Fernandes (BRA) 15.17, Federico Pilurzu (ITA) 13.16, Jano Belo (BRA) 10.50, Jeremy Ryan (USA) 7.93
Heat 23: Kieran Horn (USA) 12.17 (USA), Sam Page (AUS) 10.04, Ryan Helm (USA) 8.60, Travis Lynch (AUS) 8.10
Heat 24: Jean da Silva (BRA) 13.83, Matt King (USA) 9.57, Jadson Andre (BRA) 9.00, Marcus Hickman (HAW) 5.96

SCHEDULE FOR TUESDAY, JULY 25, 2006

Men’s US Open Round 2 (Heats 1 - 24) 7:30 am to 4 pm

About ASP:
The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the governing body of professional surfing. Crowning surfing’s undisputed world champions since 1976, the ASP sanctions the following tours: the Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and the World Longboarding, Junior and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America. These regions manage all their respective domestic affairs under the guidance of ASP International, which is located on the Gold Coast of Australia. ASP International and ASP North America are committed to the progression of surfing and are dedicated to continuing excellent relationships with their surfers, event operators, sponsors and media. For more information log onto www.aspworldtour.com or www.aspnorthamerica.org.

About Bank of the West Beach Games/Honda US Open of Surfing:
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. Consumer information is available at www.usopenofsurfing.com and www.bankofthewestbeachgames.com.

www.aspnorthamerica.org
www.usopenofsurfing.com 
www.bankofthewestbeachgames.com

Previous reports:
# 1 : Honda U.S. Open of Surfing to host acclaimed surfers
# 2 : Honda US Open of Surfing presented by O'neill begins 
# 3 : US Open blasts off with int'l stars in the Lost Pro Junior
# 4 : US Open: Lost Pro Junior charges on & action heats up 

# 5 : Best of the Best decided at Day 3 of US Open of Surfing
# 6 : Coming soon
# 7 : Coming soon
# 8 : Coming soon  

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