Here’s what you need to know about the 2024 US Open of Surfing
The Lexus U.S. Open of Surfing, kicking off Aug. 3 and running for nine days in Huntington Beach, can be an overwhelming adventure.
Don’t worry, we have you covered to help navigate the 13-acre seaside festival on the south side of the famed pier, where big crowds will be showing up to what’s called the world’s largest action-sports festival.
The first and most important tip: Arrive early or parking will be a challenge.
The beachfront lots next to the pier will fill up in the early morning hours. The downtown area has plenty of parking structures walking distance from the festival, but spots there will even be hard to come by, especially toward the final days of the event, which wraps up on Aug. 11.
If you don’t want to deal with crazy crowds, pick a weekday early in the event to check it out — they tend to be less chaotic. Each day leading up to the final weekend will get more and more busy, with the beach a shoulder-to-shoulder sea of people on the final two days.
Here’s a run down of some of the event highlights this year to plan your visit:
Surf contest
There are actually two surf contests happening during the World Surf League’s US Open of Surfing.
The first few days will feature the Huntington Beach Longboard Classic, which has a contest window from Aug. 3 to Aug. 6.
This contest, the second stop on the WSL Longboard Tour, showcases a more traditional style of surfing on larger boards. Watch for surfers walking on the board and “hanging 10” with their toes on the nose of the board.
The main event US Open is a stop on the WSL’s Challenger Series, set to kick off on Aug. 6 and run through the remainder of the festival. This event draws up-and-coming surfers looking to earn points to qualify for the World Tour, but also will have several more experienced, elite surfers who want a chance at the prestigious title.
The surfing will typically kick off at 8 a.m. each day and go until 3 or 4 p.m., depending on conditions.
The dates are set as guidelines; contest organizers check the wave, wind and tide conditions each day to determine when surfers will actually compete.
Lexus X Games Vert Pro
One of the big draws this year will be skaters doing radical tricks on a 14-foot vertical ramp.
The X Games collaboration returns skateboarding to the sand, though there hasn’t been a vert ramp exhibition for years at the US Open.
The skate competitions, showcasing both women’s and men’s pro and amateur divisions, will happen on both the opening and final weekend.
The first day, women will take to the ramp from 1:30 to 3 p.m., followed the next day, Aug. 4, by the men from 3:30 to 5 p.m.
Both men and women will again compete in the Skate Vert Pro Final from 2:30 to 5 p.m. on Aug. 10, while the final day, Aug. 11, will feature Vert Pro Demos from 3 to 4 p.m. on the mega ramp.
Competitors include 12-time X Games medalist Jimmy Wilkins, 16-time medalist Elliot Sloan and Tony Hawk’s protege, 12-year-old Reese Nelson.
Merchandise and signings
The official WSL US Open of Surfing merchandise store opens at 8 a.m. each day and stays open until 5 p.m. on weekdays and 7 p.m. on weekends. Get everything from jerseys with your favorite surfer’s name and number, to umbrellas, beach towels, hats and more.
Each day at 2 p.m., at the WSL official store, there will be an athlete signing with the winners of that day’s action.
Music and movies
Several concerts will take the Hurley Stage at the Beach Bar.
The first night will feature Sublime, with an opening set by Big Wave World Champ Makua Rothman. But if you don’t already have tickets, you’re out of luck — those sold out just days after the show was announced.
Most of the concerts over the following days are for a 21 and older crowd.
At 1 p.m. on Aug. 5 and Aug. 6, Politik, a band inspired by ’90s alternative and grunge, will perform. Reggae band Capital Dub will take the stage at 3 p.m. on Aug. 5.
On Aug. 8, at 1 p.m., Save Dark Heavens, a metal/experimental rock, will perform.
SUNBENDR, an indie rock band, performs at 1 p.m. on Aug. 9, followed by Nice & Swell at 4 p.m. on the Hurley Stage.
Wes Chiller, an alt-rock performer, will do a set at 1 p.m. on Aug. 10 for the final performance.
Movies will take over at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 8, when sponsor Samsung features its “Open Always Wins” film series, which will showcase “Concrete Dreams” and “The Next Wave,” a pair of skateboarding and surfing films. The movies will be followed by a Q&A with 1977 World Champion Shaun Tomson and members of the films’ production teams.
There will be a repeat performance of those films at 5 p.m. on Aug. 10
Chill at the Lexus House
One of the new additions this year is an area called the Lexus House, a “premium space for fans with exciting programming,” according to event coordinators.
Throughout the festival, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Lexus House will open to the public. There will be views of the action, small bites from the Lexus Culinary Masters team and a Lexus LX surf concept vehicle on display.
There will also be daily product giveaways and on-the-sand surf lessons with A Great Day in the Stoke.
The surf lessons happen from noon to 4 p.m. on the first day, Aug. 3, and again from noon to 4 p.m. on Aug. 9.
Eat and drink on the beach
There will be several food trucks on the sand for people who don’t want to leave the event, while the Beach Bar will be open from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day, except on Aug. 9, when it will stay open until 7 p.m.
For more information: USOpenofSurfing.com.