Competitors make waves on first day of U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach

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Huntington Beach’s own Griffin Foy goes high up off the lip of a head-high wave during opening round of the Vans US Open of Surfing Pro Junior in Huntington Beach on Saturday. Foy took second in the heat to advance. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Reef Heazlewood surfs in route to a high scoring wave during the opening round of the Vans US Open of Surfing Pro Junior in Huntington Beach on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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San Clemente’s Kade Matson performs on his highest scoring wave during the opening round of the Vans US Open of Surfing Pro Junior in Huntington Beach on Saturday. Matson won the heat took to advance. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Junior pro Tommy McKeown banks off the top of a wave during the Vans US Open of Surfing Pro Junior opening round on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Kade Matson and Te Kehukehu Butler, from left, embrace after their battle in opening round of the Vans US Open of Surfing Pro Junior in Huntington Beach on Saturday. Mason won the heat took to advance. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Luke Gordon rips a backside turn during opening round of the Vans US Open of Surfing Pro Junior in Huntington Beach on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Micah Cantor performs an off-the-lip near shore during the opening round of the Vans US Open of Surfing Pro Junior in Huntington Beach on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Te Kehukehu Butler performs an aerial turn during the Vans US Open of Surfing Pro Junior opening round in Huntington Beach on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Kyle Tester sets up a wave with a long backside bottom turn during the opening round of the Vans US Open of Surfing Pro Junior in Huntington Beach on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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San Clemente’s Kade Matson rips a backside turn during the opening round of the Vans US Open of Surfing Pro Junior in Huntington Beach on Saturday. Matson won the heat took to advance. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Huntington Beach local Griffin Foy goes deep on a bottom turn as he sets up a high score on wave during the opening round of the Vans US Open of Surfing Pro Junior in Huntington Beach on Saturday. Foy took second in the heat to advance. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Cole Houshmand goes backside on a wave during the opening round of the Vans US Open of Surfing Pro Junior in Huntington Beach on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Junior pro Zander Venezia goes off the lip of a wave next to the pier during opening round of the Vans US Open of Surfing Pro Junior in Huntington Beach on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Junior pro Cole Houshmand glides down the line during the Vans US Open of Surfing Pro Junior opening round in Huntington Beach on Saturday. Houshman won the heat to advance. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Gabriel Morvile catches a solid wave during during opening round the Vans US Open of Surfing Pro Junior in Huntington Beach on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Micah Cantor takes a tumble as he gets caught up in his leash running down the beach during the opening round of the Vans US Open of Surfing Pro Junior in Huntington Beach on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

By Daily Pilot staff

July 29, 2017 6 PM PT

The U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach was ushered in Saturday with the Pro Junior surfing competition.

Surfers from all over the world battled it out on the south side of the pier to earn a spot in the men’s U.S. Open competition that starts next week.

Conditions were ripe for a contest as waves ranged from 2 to 4 feet with a slight breeze.

Several local surfers advanced, including Griffin Foy from Huntington Beach and Tyler Gunter of Newport Beach.

The U.S. Open continues through Aug. 6.

benjamin.brazil@latimes.com

Twitter:@benbrazilpilot

Competitors make waves on first day of U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach

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