Waves Up, So Are Spirits at Competition

The scent of suntan oil wafted across the beach and bleachers as 20,000 spectators gathered Saturday to see 60 of the world’s best men and women surfers show their stuff.

“If you’re not out there doing it, you might as well watch it,” said surfer Brian Kaanehe, 25, of Huntington Beach, watching the the semifinals of the Third Annual U.S. Open of Surfing.

As the crowds waited for each new wave and then watched the graceful rides, U.S. Open spokesman Mike Kingsbury said conditions were perfect for the event.

“The swells are up, allowing the best surfers in the world to showcase their talents,” Kingsbury said.

“It’s probably the key ingredient this year.”

The waves, averaging 3 to 5 feet and sometimes reaching 7, were expected to hold up through today, Kingsbury said.

Spectator Dan Richmond of Fountain Valley had been watching the surfers, bodyboarders and long boarders for about four hours. But what really drew his attention was the Jet Ski demonstration.

“It’s pretty exciting when they get high in the air,” Richmond, 27, said.

Behind the grandstands, more crowds jostled for free stickers, T-shirts and posters from surf magazines, suntan oil companies and body board manufacturers.

Heather Rotsch, 15, of Valencia wandered among the stalls, but she wasn’t shopping for T-shirts. She wanted autographs of the competitors.

Rotsch had gathered signatures of many surfers she hadn’t heard of before, but not the one she came to see: three-time world champion Kelly Slater.

“He’s, like, the most popular surfer,” she said.

Marine Safety Lt. Stephe Davidson said the event was a vast improvement over the surfing competition 10 years ago, when a riot broke out.

Then, he said organizers “didn’t have activity booths, so people hung out and didn’t have anything to do.”

On Saturday, he said, “The crowd is pretty well-behaved all in all. Everything seems to be running smoothly.”