Skaters Roll In to Vie With Big Surf Meet

Those who make money off the world of surfing have discovered they must add another ingredient to lure additional spectators to one of the nation’s most elite wave-riding competitions.

Land.

And so it is that the U.S. Open of Surfing is putting an increased emphasis on the landlocked sports of skateboarders, inline skaters and stunt bicyclists. While the competition has included skateboard demonstrations and even bikini contests in the past, the event’s new owners have expanded what happens up on the shore in an effort to attract more people.

On Friday, the crowd at the Huntington Beach competition seemed less focused on the surfers than on the inline skaters executing loops and bikers pulling off stunts on immense, oceanfront ramps. When the various skating competitions begin today, $45,000 in prize money will await the winners.

An estimated 25,000 visitors strolled the shore adjacent to the Huntington Beach Pier. Some who showed up even said they find surfing to be boring, or at least difficult to watch.

There were families with strollers, young skateboarders with their parents in tow and locals who admitted it was their first trip to the U.S. Open.

Even one organizer with sports marketing giant IMG, which recently purchased the Open and is intent on making a splash in the alternative-sports scene, conceded that “watching surfing, to Joe Citizen, is just boring. You need to have it be more of a party that appeals to more than just surfers.”

Jeremy Smith, 32, of Westminster brought his two children on a bicycle to the event mainly to watch skaters and stunt bike riders.

“There’s much more to see here now,” said Smith, who is hopeful his 6-year-old son Christopher will develop an interest in skating. “I think it’s great they expanded the event into . . . something bigger than it was.”

There had been some worry that the increased focus on landlocked sports--not to mention the demonstration of high-tech gadgets in booths and other promotional offerings--might offend surfing purists. But on Friday, many agreed that the additional festivities were generally a good thing.

“It puts a big thing even bigger on the map,” said a 20-year-old Garden Grove resident who identified himself as Christopher. Leaning on his long skateboard, he said, “I’m a skater. Skaters can make this a really big deal.”

Patrick Smith, 33, of Huntington Beach who said he comes to the competition every year, expressed some reservations about the land events.

“I feel like it takes away a little from the surfing, which is what this is all about. But this way you’re going to get people from Riverside who never would have come down here, which is great for the city and great for business. I think it’s good the [event] is trying to offer the best of both worlds.”

That’s what organizers are banking on. James Leitz, a vice president of IMG, said the surfing event “needed a shot in the arm. These days, people want different options. Not just a surfing competition, but something that has broader appeal. Who hasn’t put their leg over a bike, or tried to skate?”