The U.S. Open of Surfing finally made a return to Huntington Beach on September 20, 2021 for the first time in over a year.
1 of 23
Sarah Baum rides a wave during the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach on September 24, 2021. Conditions for surfing were poor, with very few surf-able waves being seen Heat 4 of the Round of 16. Baum lost to her competitor Coco Ho.
Philippa Anderson surfs in the shallow water near the pillars of the Huntington Beach Pier on September 24, 2021. Anderson lost to competitor Courtney Conlogue during Heat 7 of the Round of 16, and finishes in 9th place in the U.S. Open of Surfing Women Challenger Series.
Spectators on the Huntington Beach Pier watch Alyssa Spencer and Bettylou Sakura Johnson compete in the U.S. Open of Surfing on September 24, 2021. Loud cheers were heard for Spencer, who ultimately lost the heat. (Photo by Samantha Cortes)
A crowd gathers on the shore of Huntington Beach to watch the Women's Challenger Series of the U.S. Open of Surfing on September 24, 2021. (Photo by Samantha Cortes)
Alex Ribiero flexes his muscles after coming out victorious in Heat 4 of the Round of 24 against Ezekiel Lau and Hiroto Ohhara on September 24, 2021. With a final score of 12.83, Ribiero can advance to the Round of 16 in the U.S. Open of Surfing. (Photo by Samantha Cortes)
Mihimana Braye of French Polynesia surfs in a victorious Heat 2 of the Round of 24 in Huntington Beach on September 24, 2021. Braye achieved a final score of 10.84, with his opponents Jake Marshall scoring 6.87 and Vasco Ribeiro scoring a 5.47. Braye easily advanced to the next Round of 16 in the US Open of Surfing. (Photo by Samantha Cortes)
Alex Ribiero of Brazil rides a wave in Huntington Beach during Heat 4 of the Round of 24 on September 24, 2021. Ribiero advanced to the next round after earning a score of 12.83. (Photo by Samantha Cortes)
Patrick Gudauskas surfs a small wave during Heat 3 of the Round of 24 on September 24, 2021. Gudauskas fell short in the competition with a score of 12.90, only 0.7 points away from claiming a spot in the Round of 16 of the U.S. Open of Surfing. (Photo by Samantha Cortes)
Courtney Conlogue rides a wave in Heat 7 of the Round of 16 on September 24, 2021. Conlogue earned a final score of 13.0 in this heat of the U.S. Open of Surfing, as well as loud cheers from audience members observing from the Huntington Beach shore. (Photo by Samantha Cortes)
Vahine Fierro of France paddles deeper into the water at Huntington Beach to catch more waves during Heat 2 of the Round of 16 on September 24, 2021. Despite catching the same amount of waves as opponent Gabriela Bryan, Fierro loses and does not continue on in the U.S. Open of Surfing. (Photo by Samantha Cortes)
Sara Wakita competes in Heat 5 of the Round of 16 in Huntington Beach on September 24, 2021. Wakita defeated her opponent Ariane Ochoa 12.17 - 11.34, and can advance to the quarterfinals. (Photo by Samantha Cortes)
Ariane Ochoa of Basque Country surfing S-turns during Heat 5 of the Round of 16 in Huntington Beach on September 24, 2021. Ochoa failed to out-score her opponent and cannot move forward in the U.S. Open of Surfing. (Photo by Samantha Cortes)
Sara Wakita wipes out during Heat 5 of the Round of 16 at Huntington Beach's U.S. Open of Surfing on September 24, 2021. Wakita still came out on top with a score of 12.17. (Photo by Samantha Cortes)
Crowds of people gather on the Huntington Beach shore and pier to observe the competitors of the U.S. Open of Surfing on September 24 2021, the fifth day of competition. People arrived as early as 7 a.m. to secure a spot to watch from. (Photo by Samantha Cortes)
After securing a victory in Heat 3 of the Round of 24, Team USA Olympian Kolohe Andino gives a shaka sign to cheering spectators on the Huntington Beach Pier. Andino scored an impressive 14.50, the highest of any male competitor that day on September 24, 2021. (Photo by Samantha Cortes)
Long Beach surfer Nolan Rapoza rides a wave in Heat 3 of the Round of 24 in Huntington Beach on September 24, 2021. Rapoza caught 6 total waves during his competition. With a total score of 13.60, he narrowly advances to the next round of the U.S. Open of Surfing.(Photo by Samantha Cortes)
Sawyer Lindblad competing in Heat 3 of the Round of 16 during the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach on September 24, 2021. Lindblad caught 4 waves during this heat, earning a final score of 11.67 to defeat her opponent. (Photo by Samantha Cortes)
Ariane Ochoa catches a wave during Heat 5 of the Round of 16 at the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach on September 24, 2021. Despite catching more waves than opponent Sara Wakita, Ariane was defeated in this heat. (Photo by Samantha Cortes)
Alex Ribiero maneuvers on the waves during Heat 4 of the Round of 24 on September 24, 2021 in the U.S. Open of Surfing, where he claimed victory. Ribiero moves on to compete with Nolan Rapoza in the Round of 16 in Huntington Beach. (Photo by Samantha Cortes)
Nolan Rapoza performs impressive maneuvers on the waves during Heat 3 of the Round of 24 in Huntington Beach on September 24, 2021. Rapoza successfully advanced to the next round. (Photo by Samantha Cortes)
Team Japan Olympian Hiroto Ohhara surfs a wave that earns him a 5.60 from the judges on September 24, 2021. This was his highest score from Heat 4 of the Round of 24 in the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach. Ohhara was unable to come out victorious in the end, and does not advance further in the competition. (Photo by Samantha Cortes)
The event has been scaled down this year, with only surfing competitions being held. The BMX and skateboarding competitions that drew large crowds in the past are not scheduled for this year.
Due to COVID-19 lockdowns and health guidelines, the 2020 U.S. Open of Surfing was cancelled. However, in September of 2021, it was announced that the event would return once again.
Despite this, top competitors from around the world have traveled to Huntington Beach to compete in the 2021 U.S. Open of Surfing in hopes of becoming champion.