Simpson the champ of U.S. Open of Surfing

HUNTINGTON BEACH – Brett Simpson grew up dreaming to be like the surfing greats as they competed near his home at the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach.

Now he’s atop the elite. Simpson, the Huntington Beach native, won the men’s title and the largest cash reward of $100,000 today at the Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing. He is believed to be the first HB native to win the Open.

Simpson saved his best for the final, gaining a combined wave score of 16.93. He dazzled the crowd of over 130,000 with some great moves on this third set, scoring a 9.10.

Australian Mick Fanning, a former world champ, could never match it, finishing at 12.50 with his highest wave score of 7.50.

“I’ve been watching this [event] since I was 12,” said Simpson, 24. “It was always my goal in the back of my mind to win it. It’s nice to be on top with the prize money being the most, $100,000.”

Simpson defeated defending champ Nathaniel Curran in the quarterfinals to start the day’s action. He then beat C.J. Hobgood in the semifinals.

Brazilian Adriana de Souza upset surf star Kelly Slater in the quarterfinals, making good on some low sets. But the waves picked up, reaching up to eight feet and staying around six feet.

“I felt this was my chance,” Simpson said. “You don’t get a lot of chances.”

Fanning said he was “stoked” for Simpson that he won it in front of his home crowd, family and friends.

Simpson’s father, Bill, was also happy for his son, nearly left in a daze.

“Surreal,” Bill Simpson, a former pro football player, said of watching his son win the Open. “It was almost like it was an out-of-body experience. You really couldn’t believe that it was happening. You thought about it for so long, you know he’s worked so hard and when it was actually happening you’re just kind of checking yourself, ‘Is this really going on? Am I going to wake up in a second?’ ”

When Brett Simpson falls asleep sometime late tonight, he won’t have to dream about being the best anymore. He’ll also wake up an Open champion and maybe realize again that he is $100,000 richer.