I’m trying something new here for you to see where we have come to where we are now with professional Surfing. In the USA things are changing and top surfers are becoming finally at a new level with what they love Surfing!
www.surfermag.com/photos/classic-huntington/#8e73147f07
“The U.S. Open is one of the most iconic, longest-running events in professional surfing. Winning here can make a surfer feel less like a man on a podium and more like Zeus upon Mount Olympus.” In 1982 we moved back from the days of wearing bright orange helme
ts and shooting the pier during comps to the era when the twin-fin reigned supreme, 4-time World Champion Mark Richards took down his competitors on his winged swallow-tail during the 1982 Op Pro.
And going back into the 1960’s and surfing the U.S. Championships with the classic Surfing, and culture of David Nu’uhiwa, Corky Carroll, Brad McCaul, J. Riddle, The Hilton’s, Dru Harrison, Mike Purpus, Billy Hamilton to name a few men and the Classic’s for the Women were Joyce Hoffman, Joey Hamasaki, Terry Eselun, Linda Benson, Linda Spheeris, Mary Lou Drummy, Sharron Webber, Jericho Popplar, Margo Godfrey, and the kid me.
Then bringing us forward to now and the world starts talking about the young talent hot on Slater’s heels, he silences the masses with some amazing smooth moves. In 2011, Kelly put the last nail in the coffin of a frustrated Dusty Payne with this backside rotation. Kelly is always pulling rabbits out of his hat and answering back with his connection with the ocean and his raw talent!
Women’s World Champion Kim Mearig, dominating at the Op Pro in 1983 with her classy style and wonderful nature. I loved traveling with Kim and the Victory Wetsuit Team to Japan, we got some the most amazing waves in Japan back in the 1980’s.
Well now we are back again with the New ASP Based out of Santa Monica and bringing surfing to larger than life at the Vans US Open which started yesterday in Surf City Huntington Beach once again. If you are in California and Love surfing, come on down or watch it live on TV, as its going LIVE world wide with the Top 17 professional women surfers and could start as early as this morning. So stay tuned to www.aspworldtour.com
All and all The Vans US Open is a show in itself. I’m personally on my way there in a few hours flying in from Australia. If you can not come down or want to keep abreast of whats happening, check my facebook surf page “ALOHA SURF CLINICS WITH NANCY EMERSON I will be giving daily results and the induction of famous surfers being inducted to The US Surfing’s Walk of Fame. Which is happening on Thursday July 31st at 10am down on the Jacks side of Main Street. See you all there! Aloha!