Team News

O'Neill team riders take out top spots at U.S. Open of Surfing

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 11 August, 2010 : - - Amid record-breaking crowds on and around the iconic Huntington Beach pier, O’Neill team riders stood out among the competition over the weekend at the U.S. Open of Surfing, taking the top two spots in the Women’s Pro Junior event and finishing runner-up in the Men’s Final. 
 
Current Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World No. 1, Jordy Smith, 22, continued his dream season with another solid performance yesterday.  After posting the highest scores of the day in the Quarterfinals, and defeating two-time ASP World Champion Mick Fanning in the Semifinals, Smith took on Huntington Beach native and 2009 U.S. Open champ Brett Simpson in the Finals. Simpson executed a series of high scores against Smith, who ultimately placed second overall.

“You always want to win and do your best to adapt to the conditions, but I'm really happy with my performance overall this week,” said Smith.  “I’m relaxed and feeling confident, so we’ll see how the year goes from here.” On Saturday, 19-year old Sage Erickson gave a landmark performance when she claimed the Women’s US Open Pro Junior title in a stacked Final. 

Erikson took an early lead and edged out last year’s Pro Junior winner and O’Neill teammate, Malia Manuel, and clinched her first ASP victory with a final score of 10.20 to 7.56.  The title was Erickson’s first competition win and with Manuel by her side, signals a bright future for Team O’Neill. “This is an awesome experience, I can’t believe it,” said Erickson. 

“I came in second last year with Malia (Manuel) getting the score in the last couple of seconds, so she definitely pushed me out there this time. It was a good battle in the Finals, and it feels great to win here in front of all these people and stand next to my friend and teammate.” Surfers competing in the U.S. Open of Surfing are out to clinch crucial ratings points towards their ASP World Ranking. 

ASP Pro Junior surfers look to finish atop their regional ratings to qualify for the ASP World Junior Tour.  Next, Smith will take his number-one world ranking to the ASP World Tour stop at Teahupoo, Tahiti, August 23rd-September 3rd.   Meanwhile, Erickson and Manuel will head to World Juniors in Bali, Indonesia from October 2nd-13th.

Outside the competition, O’Neill was out in full force throughout U.S. Open weekend.  Team riders were meeting fans and signing autographs, while Jack’s Surf Shop on the corner of PCH and Main Street offered an hourly O’Neill-Bobby Martinez-Monsterfreak boardshort giveaway.

www.oneill.com

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Kevin Burke

Team - Surfersvillage