Swells Expected at U.S. Open

Consistent head-high surf is expected today at the Philips U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, remnants of Hurricane Elida off the coast of Baja. According to Surfline, the surf forecasting service for the event, the tropical south swell will peak this afternoon with some sets shooting through the Huntington Beach pier two to three feet overhead. Hurricane Douglas, which also originated off Baja, created similar conditions Thursday along Southern California beaches.

The best surf of the event is expected to dissipate by the time current and former world champions C.J. Hobgood, Kelly Slater, Sunny Garcia, Tom Curren, Lisa Andersen and Pauline Menczer compete later this week, but a round of Southern Hemisphere swells should keep waves chest high and very contestable. Competition begins at 7 a.m. today, Tuesday and Wednesday, and at 8 a.m. Thursday through Sunday.

The $100,000 men’s final is Sunday at 4:30 p.m., preceded by the semifinals at 2:30 p.m. The $10,000 junior final is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. The $30,000 women’s final is scheduled for Saturday at 4 p.m., preceded by the $10,000 longboard final at 2 p.m.

Free bleacher seating is available on a first-come first-served basis. All-day parking is available for $6 in city and state lots adjacent to the beach and metered spaces along Pacific Coast Highway. In addition to surfing, the U.S. Open will include an action sports, technology and music festival, live concerts and BMX and skateboarding competitions.