There was just a single round of World Surf League Qualifying Series competition at the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach on Friday, but those eight heats saw the elimination of last year’s champion along with two California natives.
In the second men’s Qualifying Series heat of the day, 2015 Open winner Hiroto Ohhara of Japan went up against two Australians, upstart 17-year-old Ethan Ewing and Championship Tour rookie Ryan Callinan.
Ohhara was strong out of the gate, snapping a turn and whipping his board around on a curl to earn a 6.50. That score stood as the best in the heat for about 20 minutes, but Callinan posted a 6.93 and Ewing followed up with a 7.0 to push Ohhara to elimination.
In the closing minutes of the heat, the waves lulled, removing any chance Ohhara had to respond.
The loss affirmed that Ohhara would not become the second surfer in Open history to win back-to-back titles. The first and only man to accomplish that feat is Huntington Beach native Brett Simpson, who triumphed in 2009 and 2010.
Simpson hasn’t won since — 2016 won’t be his year, either, as he was eliminated with a third-place finish in the final heat on Friday.
All Americans
Friday’s sixth heat was the only one to pit two Californians against each other, as local Kanoa Igarashi of Huntington Beach and Griffin Colapinto of San Clemente competed with Torrey Meister of Hawaii to move on to the next round in the Qualifying Series.
Colapinto and Igarashi are no strangers. Both 18, they’re two of the youngest surfers to qualify for the event, and last year Colapinto defeated Igarashi to take the junior men’s Open title.
However, on Thursday, Colapinto was eliminated from the junior men’s competition. He entered the heat Friday, which was also his birthday, hoping to avoid another disappointment. Instead, he caught just two waves to finish last in the heat.
“I wanted to beat [Igarashi] pretty badly, because he’s beaten me a few times and I wanted to get him back,” he said. “It didn’t work out, but I’ve got next year.”
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Filipe Toledo celebrates with fans after winning the men’s title at the 2016 U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntingon Beach on Sunday.
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Brazilian surfer Filipe Toledo, 21, is swarmed by fans after winning the Vans US Open of Surfng title.
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Fans cheer as Brazilian surfer Filipe Toledo, 21, defeats Ethan Ewing for the Vans US Open of Surfng title.
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Filipe Toledo cuts away from the Huntington Beach pier during the finals of the U.S. Open of Surfing.
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Australian Ethan Ewing, 17, competes against Filipe Toledo in the final round.
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Tatiana Weston-Webb lets out a victory yell after winning the women’s title at the U.S. Open of Surfing on Sunday in Huntington Beach. (Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times)
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Fans carry American surfer Tatiana Weston-Webb, 20, ashore after she defeated Malia Manuel for the women’s title.
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American surfer Tatiana Weston-Webb, 20, reacts after defeating Malia Manuel for the women’s title.
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Tatiana Weston-Webb competes in the finals of the U.S. Open of Surfing on Sunday in Huntington Beach.
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Hometown surfer Kanoa Igarashi gathers his thoughts before competing in a semifinal round.
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Thousands of surf fans watch the final day of competition at the 2016 Vans U.S. Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach.
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Adriano De Souza loses control of his board while competing in the semifinals of the US Open of Surfing.
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Ethan Ewing, who would finish second, cuts off the top of a wave during the finals of the U.S. Open of Surfing.
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Torrey Meister during round four of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach. Meister finished first in his heat.
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Josh Davis, 16, of Sacramento keeps cool under the pier while the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing competition takes place in Huntington Beach on Friday.
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Conner Coffin, left, and Matt Banting collide during round four of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach on Friday.
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Kanoa Igarashi signs an autograph for Kalea Mussack, 2, of Huntington Beach after competing in round four of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 18/44
Brett Simpson cuts back on a wave during round four of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach. The two-time Open champion finished third in heat and failed to advance.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 19/44
Filipe Toledo cuts back on a wave during the fourth round of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach. Toledo finished first in heat seven.
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A fan carries a shark floatie while the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing competition takes place in Huntington Beach on Friday.
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Deivid Silva rides a wave near the Huntington Beach pier during the fourth round at the U.S. Open of Surfing on Friday. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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Bino Lopes cuts back atop a wave during round four of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach.
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Surfer Kanoa Igarashi rides a wave during the US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach on Thursday.
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Surfer Kanoa Igarashi takes a picture with fans after competing in round 3 of the men’s qualifying series during the US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach. Igarashi placed first in his heat.
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Tanner Gudauskas competes during the third round of the U.S. Open of Surfing on Thursday, July 28, 2016.
(Dillon Deaton / Los Angeles Times) 26/44
Brazilian native Bino Lopes rides a wave during the US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach.
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Australian surfer Jack Freestone competes during round 3 of the mens qualifying series during the US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach.
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Surfer Carlos Munoz competes during round 3 of the mens qualifying series during the US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach.
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Brazilian Surfer Michael Rodrigues competes during round 3 of the mens qualifying series during the US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach.
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Surfer Tanner Gudauskas competes during round 3 of the mens qualifying series during the US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach.
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Patrick Gudaukas of La Jolla ompetes in third round of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach on Wednesday.
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Patrick Gudaukas poses for a photo with a fan after competing during the third round of the U.S. Open of Surfing on Wednesday.
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Australian Ethan Ewing competes during the third round of the U.S. Open of Surfing on Wednesday. Ewing, 17, is making his Huntington Beach debut.
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Hawaiian surfer Keanu Asing competes during the third round of the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach on Wednesday.
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Australian Keely Andrew competes during the third round of the U.S. Open of Surfing on Wednesday.
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Courtney Conlogue emerges from the surf after competing in the third round of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing on Wednesday. Conlogue is currently the top-ranked women’s surfer in the world.
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Surfing fans stake out their spots on the sand for the third round of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach on Wednesday.
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Courtney Conlogue of Santa Ana cuts away from the Huntington Beach Pier as she competes in third round of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing on Wednesday.
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Australian Stephanie Gilmore competes during the third round of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing on Wednesday. Gilmore, 28, is a six-time world champion.
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Carissa Kainani of Hawaii cuts off the top of a wave during the third round of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing on Wednesday.
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Lakey Peterson of Santa Barbara cuts back into a wave during the third round of competition at the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach on Wednesday.
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Australian Sally Fitzgibbons turns away from the Huntington Beach Pier as she competes during the third round of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing on Wednesday.
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Australian surfer Sally Fitzgibbons, 25, mingles with fans after competing in third round of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing on Wednesday.
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Huntington Beach’s Kanoa Igarashi rides a wave during the U.S. Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach on Wednesday.
(Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times) Meister, less well-known in these parts compared to the two youngsters, had the heat’s top score after getting off to a quick start.
“Those kids are such good surfers that I don’t even see them as being inexperienced at all,” said Meister, 26. “I actually felt like more of an underdog. I just went out there and did my own thing.”
Looking ahead
After Saturday’s Round 5 in the men’s Qualifying Series, only eight surfers will remain. One of the most competitive heats will be Igarashi squaring off against Santa Barbara native Conner Coffin, who is ranked No. 23 in the men’s Championship Tour.
The junior competitions will finish up Saturday. Australian Ewing will surf in both the junior men’s round and the Qualifying Series round, and Caroline Marks will try to repeat as junior women’s Open champion.
The women’s Championship Tour surfers have one more day off before their quarterfinals, semifinals and finals take place within a period of 4 ½ hours on Sunday, the Open’s final day.
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Twitter: @ReneeMGriffin
