Surf Event Is More Like Festival

The banners have been unfurled in downtown Huntington Beach. The sand has been combed and the infrastructure is in place. The world’s best surfers are making their annual trek to the south side of the city’s historic pier, pointed toward the Philips U.S. Open of Surfing.

Former world champions Kelly Slater, Tom Curren and Lisa Andersen are among about 500 contestants scheduled to compete at the World Qualifying Series event, which begins Monday and concludes Aug. 4. They can expect another face-to-face meeting with thousands of sun-drenched fans, new and old, who have broadened this venue into the most spectator-friendly in the sport and kept the industry relatively bullet proof during the recent stock market slump.

The biggest changes are occurring behind the scenes, and behind the grandstands. Philips Electronics, which has returned for a second year as title sponsor, has teamed with International Management Group, a sports and celebrity management firm with a client list that includes Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer, Venus and Serena Williams, Derek Jeter and Bob Costas. Although both corporations are relatively new to surfing, they’ve combined to develop a multi-faceted event they hope will attract more than just surf fans.

In addition to seven days of surfing, visitors can watch skateboarding and BMX competitions, visit 60 to 70 sponsor booths and exhibits or check out a digital lounge that will feature an extensive hands-on display of products, where they can even burn their own CDs and DVDs. There will also be a digital house of the future with advanced electronics in every room.

“We’re hoping to offer something for everybody,” said James Leitz, vice president of extreme sports at IMG, which bought production rights from longtime promoter Ian Cairns shortly before last year’s event. “We recognize that the spectators and those in the industry want more from their events. The festival-like atmosphere seems to be what people are into.”

The return of Philips as title sponsor was a significant first step. Since 1994, eight companies have paid close to $1 million to list their name in concert with the U.S Open of Surfing.

The main reason for the high turnover has been simple, those involved with the tour say. Sponsors didn’t feel like they could make a connection between their products and the consumer, leaving many feeling oversold and undelivered. Leitz said sponsorship, the main revenue stream for the event, is already up 70% over last year. Other signs of success are showing up, as well.

“The buzz on the street tells us we’re on to something,” said Leitz, who predicts 200,000 people will visit the event.

Beck’s Back

Life as a professional surfer has been grand for Holly Beck, almost as good as the movies.

Beck, who grew up in Palos Verdes, is experiencing her first full season on the women’s pro circuit. Two weeks ago, she enjoyed her best result in a major event, reaching the quarterfinals of the Billabong Pro in Jeffreys Bay, South Africa. She’s in Huntington Beach to compete next week in the $30,000 Havaianas Women’s Pro, the highest-rated women’s event on the WQS tour. She’s part of a growing group of females taking up the sport, a market Hollywood is trying to corner with the August release of “Blue Crush,” a movie about a young woman determined to pursue a surfing career.

Beck enjoyed the movie during a sneak preview and hopes it will get more females serious about the sport. “A lot of girls tend to be summer surfers,” she said. “They go to the beach but don’t make the transition to surfing in the winter and entering contests. I want to have more intermediate camps, not just for beginners, but encourage girls to pursue the sport and not just the lifestyle.”

Beck, 20, is older than the average rookie on tour, but she has good reason. She put off her professional career to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology at UC San Diego, a goal she completed in three years.

“If I took a break I would have had a hard time getting back,” Beck said. Fortunately, UC San Diego also has one of the best breaks close by, Black’s Beach.

“It was nice because the waves are always good at Black’s,” said Beck, who also models.

“At other schools, they’re only good at certain times of the day, making it too tempting to blow off class.”

Slater to Be Honored

Slater will be inducted into the Walk of Fame and Hall of Fame next week in downtown Huntington Beach.

Slater, who received a wild-card entry into next week’s event, will be inducted into the Walk of Fame on Thursday and the Hall of Fame Aug. 2. Both are located near Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway. The six-time world champion came out of semi-retirement after receiving a full season wild card by the Assn. of Surfing Professionals.

“It’s simple,” he said of his comeback. “I’d like to win another world title. I plan on giving myself this year to really get back into feeling out the competition.”

Slater, 29, from Cocoa Beach, Fla., is the sport’s most decorated athlete.

He won his first world title at 20 in his rookie season on tour in 1992, becoming the youngest surfer to win the world championship.

By the time he semi-retired at the end of 1998, Slater had a record six world titles, including five straight, and had amassed the most prize money in the sport.

Slater showed he still has the ability to be successful at the highest level, winning the Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau big wave contest in January, held in 20-foot surf at Waimea Bay in Hawaii.

Surf Watch

According to Sean Collins at Surflink, the surf forecasting service for the ASP, the best conditions should roll in late next week, with a possible second southern swell arriving in time for the finals. He said swells should reach three to five feet by Thursday, with an occasional seven-footer. The swell could arrive as early as Wednesday and should last until Friday.

A hurricane is also brewing deep inside Baja and is expected to produce some powerful waves this weekend and possibly into Monday’s opening day. Hurricane Elida, the second hurricane to originate off Baja this week, has the potential to be elevated to a category 5, the highest rating possible, and bring sustained winds of 140 to 170 knots, Collins said.

He added that it’s too early to tell if there’s another hurricane behind Elida, but the conditions are favorable.

“The tropics off Mexico are extremely active,” Collins said Wednesday afternoon. “Usually the first two [hurricanes] will go through and suck up most of the moisture, then a third comes through and doesn’t have much pop. But that’s not always the case.”

Climb Stories

Eric Simonson, world-renowned mountaineer, will speak Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Oakley World Headquarters in Foothill Ranch.

Simonson will speak and show slides from his adventures climbing Mt. Everest and from his 1999 and 2001 Mallory & Irvine Research Expeditions, which were successful in finding clues about the history of the world’s highest mountain.

His team also found the body of pioneer explorer George Mallory in 1999, solving the mystery of who reached the summit first.

In 2000, Simonson’s team was recognized for its heroic efforts in rescuing five stranded climbers on Mt. Everest.

This year, Eric and his team led the all-women’s No Boundaries expedition.