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HUNTINGTON BEACH : Surf Contest’s Best Seats Come at a Price

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If spectators want the best seats at the beach to watch the U.S. Open of Surfing finals this weekend at the pier, they will have to pay for it.

But while grandstand seats cost $7 a day, there is plenty of free seating on the sand, event organizers said.

“There is a ton of free seating out here,” said Don Meek, executive director of the U.S. Open of Surfing.

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The surfing competition, the fourth stop on the world championship tour and the only one in the continental United States, started Tuesday and continues through Sunday on the south side of the pier.

Meek said there will be a charge for grandstand seating on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $7 a day, or $15 for a three-day pass. Meek said children 12 and younger who are with their parents may attend for free.

Grandstand seating on the sand and pier will be available at no charge to spectators today and Thursday, Meek said.

An outdoor festival of exhibitors of surf products and food booths also is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Meek said the charge for weekend grandstand seating will help offset costs of putting on the back-to-back surfing contests. Last week, the Op Pro Surfing Championship was held at the beach.

“Had we not (charged for seating), we wouldn’t have come to Huntington Beach to do this event,” Meek said.

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Tickets for grandstand seating will be sold at the pier and will also be available at Jack’s Surfboards and Huntington Surf & Sport. Reserved seating can also be ordered by calling TicketMaster or Prime Ticket at (310) 286-3700.

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