World Cup to Ride on Surf City’s Waves

Surf City will continue to live up to its name this fall when it hosts the International Surfing Assn. World Cup, a prestigious competition that officials say will draw as many as 700 athletes from 40 countries.

Community Services Director Ron Hagan said the city completed negotiations this week to hold the event in Huntington Beach from Sept. 28 to Oct. 6.

“It’s like Huntington Beach just won the World Cup finals for soccer,” said Don Meek, executive director of the event’s organizing committee and vice president of Prime Sports Event Group. “It’s a huge coup. To bring it to Huntington Beach is just awesome.”

City officials were ecstatic. “Every hotel room in town will be sold out,” Councilman Dave Garofalo said. “It’s a major economic generator. There will be a huge flow of capital--sales tax and bed tax--and we will share this with all of Orange County.”

Huntington Beach will host two other prominent surfing contests in July: the Bud Pro Surf Tour and U.S. Open of Surfing.

Meek said the World Cup, held every two years, has not been hosted by a U.S. city since 1984. All surfers, regardless of their professional standing, may participate.

There will be three event sites: north and south of Huntington Beach Pier and off the bluffs south of Golden West Street. Short- and long-board competition, body boarding, knee boarding and tandem surfing will be featured.

The event will be broadcast on Prime Ticket worldwide, Hagan said, giving the city international exposure.