U.S. Open of Surfing relatively calm after melee last year, police say

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Rich Jacobs paints a mural on the Van Doren Invitational Skate Bowl competition site. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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A surfer heads in at sunset as crews prepare for the U.S. Open of Surfing that starts Friday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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A surfer practices at sunset. Huntington Beach city officials have worked with organizers of the U.S. Open of Surfing to ensure a safe event. Last year, windows in the city were broken and 12 people were taken into custody. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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A surfer walks past a giant Vans store as crews prepare for the U.S. Open of Surfing that starts Friday at the Huntington Beach Pier. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Zio Ziegler paints a mural at the Van Doren Invitational Skate Bowl site. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Bob LaSalle of Vans erects banners as crews prepare for the U.S. Open of Surfing that starts Friday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Pier walkers watch surfers and beachgoers as crews prepare for the U.S. Open of Surfing that starts Friday at the Huntington Beach Pier. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Surfers head in at sunset as crews prepare for the U.S. Open of Surfing that starts Friday at the Huntington Beach Pier. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

By Scott Glover

July 27, 2014 1:11 PM PT

A year after a melee broke out on the final day of the U.S. Open of Surfing tournament in Huntington Beach, police said that there had been no major problems associated with the tournament so far this year.

Officers have arrested approximately 40 people since the tournament began Friday evening, said Lt. Kent Ferrin, a police spokesman.

Ferris said the arrests were for “relatively minor offenses” such as fighting and public intoxication.

“We were busy,” Ferrin said, “but there was nothing major.”

On the final day of last year’s event a disturbance broke out in which rioters smashed glass storefronts and overturned portable toilets. Several officers suffered minor injuries and a person was treated and released from a hospital after being struck by a rubber projectile.

Tournament organizers scaled back this year’s event and banned alcohol sales and live music, among other precautions. The event also got a beefed-up police presence, including mounted officers in the downtown area.

“We staffed it well,” Ferrin said.

The tournament ends Aug. 3.

Twitter: @ScottGloverLAT