It’s been 55 years since Paul Van Doren came up with an idea to step into the world of surfing with a shoe brand he wanted to create with his brother James.
He could use aloha-print shirts worn by famous surfers Duke Kahanamoku, Fred Hemmings, Corky Carroll and Paul Strauch during a big surf contest at the Huntington Beach Pier in 1964, he figured, and he’d make the men custom shoes to match.
“My grandfather went back to the factory and made the shoes,” said Kristy Van Doren-Batson, senior director of brand marketing for Vans and granddaughter of co-founder Paul. “The rest is history.”
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That moment was the start of Vans — born two years later in Orange County — becoming one of the big names in action sports.
How big? The Vans US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach will kick off Saturday, July 27, a nine-day event that draws some of the best athletes in surf, skate and BMX to the sand and sea, a festival that blends sport with art and culture and draws an estimated half-million people to the mini city on the sand.
“This is where the mecca of action sports is,” said Van Doren-Batson. “This is where skateboarding, surfing and BMX live and breathe.”
If you’re planning to check out this year’s US Open of Surfing, here’s what you need to know:
What is it?
The US Open of Surfing is considered the largest action-sports competition and festival in the country, carrying on a tradition that began at the pier in 1959.
During its long history in Huntington Beach, the contest has transformed from a wild party to what’s now a family-friendly event, in part due to efforts by title sponsor Vans, in its seventh year as host. The current incarnation includes plenty of activities for youth, including games and artwork on the beach.
The festival is set up on the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier, though events are held throughout the city. There are movie premieres, autograph sessions at surf shops, and the inductions into the Surfing Walk of Fame Aug. 1 and Surfers’ Hall of Fame Aug. 2 on Main Street, across Pacific Coast Highway.
In the water, the surfing contest has always been a place for up-and-comers to make a name for themselves, and the spot where some of the world’s best athletes can earn valuable points on the World Surf League Qualifying Series in their efforts to join the World Tour.
The 2018 event was especially exciting, with Orange County surfers Courtney Conlogue, of Santa Ana, and Kanoa Igarashi, who grew up in Huntington Beach, both winning and celebrating their second victories at their home breaks.
One change this year is the downgrade of the women’s competition from a World Tour event to a QS 10,000 — that means the win won’t count toward the world title race, but does allow lower-ranked athletes to be pitted against the world’s best.
It’s also a notable event for women because it’s the first year the winner will earn equal prize money to that of the men – $30,000 for first place. The new policy makes pro surfing the only U.S.-based global sports league — and one of the few internationally — to achieve prize-money equality in their top-tier events, according to the World Surf League.
Who’s in it?
There’s plenty of Orange County talent to cheer for, including surfers Kolohe Andino, currently ranked No. 1 on the World Tour, and fellow San Clemente surfers Griffin Colapinto and brothers Pat and Tanner Gudauskas, and female athletes such as Florida-born transplant Caroline Marks.
Tanner Gudauskas took the podium for the junior win in 2008, and said he’s ready for another US Open of Surfing title. It’s the stadium-like arena, with people cheering on the pier and sand, that makes it so unique, he said.
“That’s what I look forward to the most … the surf spirit is super high,” he said. “It lifts your performance. You have to dig a little deeper.”
The next generation of surfers will be showcasing their skills with the juniors surf contest, and 32 of the best male and female longboarders will display style and flow in the Joel Tudor Duct Tape Invitational.
Sand space can be tough to come by, so get there early to nab a space if you want to watch the stars compete.
But will there be waves?
Huntington Pier is known for having consistent surf, and there are always rideable waves on the south side. But whether competitors will get lucky with a strong swell, or if they’ll have to figure out how to navigate and earn points on small waves, is always the question.
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An early look at Surfline.com shows fun-size 3- to 4-foot surf the first half of the contest, with south swell expected for the final days, potentially bringing waves upward of six-foot.
“If there’s waves, it’s gonna be a great show,” Patrick Gudauskas said.
Other stuff to do
Away from the water, there’s an entire town being built up on the sand, in Van Doren Village.
Instead of a big bowl for skaters and BMX riders to compete on, as in past years, this year will showcase a street course for riders.
“We wanted to change it up. It’s an invite-only contest, no points,” said Van Doren-Batson. “We celebrate style, creativity and fun.”
A new invitational street contest, the Vans Showdown, will have some of the world’s best skateboarders competing from Aug. 2 through Aug. 4. Skaters will have a shot at $125,000 in prize money.
The Vans BMX Rebel Jam is a brand-new event showcasing creative BMX street style and unique BMX obstacles the first two days of the event. BMX medalists Dennis Enarson, Dakota Roche, Kevin Peraza and Chad Kerley are among the big names expected to compete.
In an effort to get spectators involved, there will be skate and BMX public sessions on the course, open to the community.
“A lot of the community are already immersed in action sports in Huntington Beach,” said George Pedrick, Vans public relations manager. “The opportunity to ride a course their heroes are riding, you don’t really get that. The interaction with the riders and attendees is super exciting.”
In addition to the sporting aspects of the US Open of Surfing, there are a variety of other activities, including art-craft stations where visitors can design their own tote bags or hats, give-aways and games.
A retail shop on the sand, 5,000 square feet larger than in previous years, will have Vans merchandise for sale. There’s also an effort by Vans to create the look and feel of mini surf and skate shops within the space, said Van Doren-Batson.
Guests also can stop by the annual Stoke-O-Rama event on opening day, just south of where the surfers are competing. The fun event was created by the Gudauskas brothers to provide a surf day for area youth. It aims to raise awareness and funds for local youth water safety and ocean-education programs around the world, with this year’s funds benefiting the Ben Carlson Memorial and Scholarship Foundation.
And as always, Steve Van Doren will be dishing out hot dogs and hamburgers to attendees from noon to 2 p.m. each day in Van Doren Village.
More to know if you go
You’ll be at the beach and it could be blazing on the sand, so make sure to pack some sunscreen, as well as some water to keep hydrated. Bring your own reusable water bottle — there will be water stations throughout the area.
Among the things to leave at home: booze and drugs. Cops and security have had a big presence at the event since there was rioting in downtown Huntington Beach following the 2013 US Open of Surfing, and they’re not shy about checking bags for anything suspicious.
Also, smoking is outlawed at this beach, so you’ll get a hefty fine if you light up.
And remember to get there early — parking around town fills up fast.
For a full schedule or more about the event, click here.
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