Nike US open of Surfing - Huntington Beach, CA

Heading down to Huntington Beach, CA for the Nike US open of Surf was an experience that rivals some of the best competitions in the world.  As tens of thousands flooded the sandy beaches of Surf City USA, a name trademarked by Huntington Beach after a long legal battle with Santa Cruz, surfers from around the world competed daily in the week long competition.

On Sunday, August 7th, Kelly Slater, the 10 time ASP world champion, won his first US open title in 15 years and took home a hefty $100k check for the win.  The veteran surfer was undisputed in his win over the Australian Yadin Nicol.  "I guess Yadin wanted me to win because he didn't catch any waves," Slater says after getting doused in champagne on the winner's stage.

Slater accepting his well earned trophy

Sally Fitzgibbons of Australia took the women's title over teenage sensation Lakey Peterson(16) of Santa Barbara, who also competed in and won the junior women's competition.  "It's such an unbelievable feeling to get chaired up the beach," Fitzgibbons said.  "There is just a sea of people and it's one of my biggest achievements.  To get three wins this year it has been a really special year and although I didn't get the title, I can't believe I've won this event."

All Smiles

Along with the surfing competition, BMX and skateboarding were also showcased at the NIKE US open this year while motocross did not return to the arena.

At the end of each day's events, the NIKE music stage hosted big name bands for a line up of free shows that took place in one of the greatest venues imaginable.  A sunset show on Huntington Beach isn't easy to match in the world of music, and US open visitors took advantage of bands like Jimmy Eat World, The Sounds, and MGMT rocking the stage into the early evening.

This sea of onlookers watching MGMT rock the stage stretches from the highway to the ocean where, standing knee deep in shallow waves, even passers by stopped to enjoy the show.