2014 Vans US Open of Surfing: Surf Action Recap

Anticipation was high as the 2014 US Open of Surfing rolled into Huntington Beach, CA and it didn’t disappoint. With another year of Men’s Prime, Women’s WCT, Pro Junior, and longboard competition, there was never a dull moment.

The first surf champions of the week were the Pro Junior competitors. Hawaiian Bailey Nagy took the Women’s Pro Junior title with a heat score of 14.17.  Australia’s own Matt Banting, who also competed well in the Men’s Prime main event, won the Men’s Pro Junior. Banting posted an impressive 9.00 wave score on his way to a 14.83 overall heat score.

On the final day, Tyler Wright (AUS), 19, and Filipe Toledo (BRA), 18, reigned supreme at the 2014 Vans US Open of Surfing. Ultimately, Wright was crowned champion of the Women’s event, stop No. 6 of 10 on the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour, while Toledo won the Men’s ASP Qualification Series (QS) Prime event. Tyler Wright battled back in her Final clash against five-time ASP Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 26, to collect her first victory of the 2014 season. The all-Brazilian Final saw flyboy Filipe Toledo take on powerhouse Willian Cardoso (BRA), 28. Both Toledo and Cardoso relied on their respective strengths to achieve excellence early. Toledo launched an 8.73 to start while Cardoso collected a 9.03 for three big backhand hooks. Toledo locked into an additional right, lofting an additional aerial combo for an 8.73 and the Vans US Open of Surfing win.

Also on hand, the Vans Joel Tudor Duct Tape Invitational returned to Huntington Beach for its second year as part of the Vans US Open of Surfing. The invite list was a Who’s Who in longboarding, with names like Jared Mell, Alex Knost, and Troy Elmore. But when the dust settled, Justin Quintal came out on top and claimed victory.