500,000 expected in Huntington Beach for U.S. Open of Surfing, opening Saturday

More than 500,000 people are expected to gather on the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier for the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing’s annual nine-day run, which begins Saturday.

The free action-sports cultural event, which runs through Aug. 5, showcases many of the best competitors in surfing, skateboarding and BMX cycling, plus a full list of interactive activities, including a T-shirt customization workshop, giveaways, movies and art and vendor exhibits.

“We consider Huntington Beach basically the home of surfing and skateboarding,” said Vans Senior Director Kristy Van Doren-Batson. “We’re bringing all of the components of action sports here on the beach.”

More than 200 men and women surfers will compete throughout the week.

Van Doren-Batson said the event is “switching things up” this year by bringing “creative expression to the beach.”

Visitors to the Van Doren Village near the center of the beach venue can make their own shirts, tote bags and photo collages. An art and surfboard exhibit will show how surfboards are handcrafted. Jessie Calvin from the band Bleached will offer guitar lessons.

The Pier Plaza amphitheater will showcase movies on select nights, including “Can’t Steal Our Vibe,” featuring pro surfers Michael February and the Gudauskas brothers.

With large crowds expected, Huntington Beach Police Chief Robert Handy said his team has been assessing how to ensure public safety.

“We reevaluate on lessons learned,” he said. “We’re still screening some bags that come to the venue, we still have plain-clothed and uniformed officers. Coverage area will focus on Main and numbered streets to minimize residual impact on residents and businesses.”

Handy did not provide an estimate of how many officers — who often work 12-hour shifts — will patrol the pier and downtown area but said more will be onsite during the weekends for the largest crowds.

The city’s Fourth of July parade and fireworks make for the biggest event for police, Handy said. But the nine days of the U.S. Open present a different challenge — “keeping everyone on their toes all day every day,” he said.

The U.S. Open is a major financial event for Huntington Beach as well. An economic impact study summarized spending related to the event in 2010, when 494,000 people attended.

Citywide, U.S. Open visitors that year spent $16.677 million, including $3.54 million at the event on clothing merchandise.

Elsewhere in Orange County, those attending the U.S. Open spent $4.81 million, according to the study.

Emiko Kaneoka, public relations coordinator for Visit Huntington Beach, the city’s official destination marketing organization, said an updated study is planned to look at this year’s economic impact. The numbers are expected to be ready by fall next year.

Parking for the U.S. Open will be available at the Main Promenade at 222 Third St., the Strand at 155 Fifth St., Pacific City at 21010 Pacific Coast Hwy. and the Pierside Pavilion at 126 Main St.

Visit Huntington Beach will offer shuttle service on the two Open weekends that will pick up people from Huntington Beach High School at 1905 Main St. and Edison High at 21400 Magnolia St. and drop them off at Main and Orange streets every half-hour. The service will run between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m., with the last shuttle departing downtown at 7:30 p.m.

During Open finals weekend Aug. 4-5, the shuttle also will pick up from the Huntington Beach Civic Center at 2000 Main St. from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

U.S. OPEN EVENTS

Note: The surfing schedule for Monday through Aug. 5 will be based on surf conditions. For the full events schedule, visit vansusopenofsurfing.com/2018/schedule.

Saturday

8 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Vans Stoke-O-Rama youth surfing

8 a.m. to 1:20 p.m.: Junior men’s surfing, Round 1

1:20 to 4 p.m.: Junior men’s surfing, Round 2

Sunday

8 to 11:20 a.m.: Men’s surfing trials, Round 1

11:20 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Men’s surfing trials, quarterfinals

1 to 1:50 p.m.: Men’s surfing trials, semifinals

2:10 to 2:40 p.m.: Men’s surfing trials, finals

Monday

9 a.m. to noon: Vans BMX Pro Cup qualifier practice

12:30 to 3 p.m.: Vans Park Series skateboard qualifier practice

6 to 6:30 p.m.: Vans BMX flatland demonstration

Tuesday

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Vans Park Series skateboard qualifier practice

3:30 to 6:30 p.m.: BMX Pro Cup qualifier practice

Wednesday

1 to 3 p.m.: Vans Park Series women’s skateboard practice

5 to 7 p.m.: Vans Park Series select pro skateboard practice

Aug. 2

2 to 5 p.m.: Vans Park Series women’s skateboard qualifier

6 to 7 p.m.: Vans Park Series skateboard qualifier practice

Aug. 3

10:30 a.m. to 12:35 p.m.: Vans BMX Pro Cup qualifier

1 to 2 p.m.: Vans Park Series skateboard qualifier practice

Aug. 4

10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Vans Park Series skateboard semifinals, final and awards

Aug. 5

TBD: Women’s and men’s surfing finals

1 to 4:30 p.m.: Vans BMX Pro Cup final and awards

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Twitter: @vegapriscella

UPDATES:

12:20 p.m. July 27: This article was updated with a revised schedule for the Visit Huntington Beach shuttle service.

This article was originally published at 5:45 p.m. July 26.