Planning to hit the Lexus US Open of Surfing this week, but not sure where to start?
Of course, you can bring a beach towel or chair and hang out on the sand all day to soak in the world-class surfing competition – with some possible tropical swell on the horizon heading into the final weekend, there should be some fun action to watch in the water.
But there’s so much more to see in the 13-acre festival area created on the south side of the pier, including more than 30 booths and exhibitors. So if you want to cruise around and check out the mega event, we have a few ideas:
X Games skate ramp
There’s a 14-foot vert ramp built on the sand this year, and if you time your visit just right you can watch the skaters fly down the huge ramp, get air and do big spins, turns and tricks.
But the skate exhibition only happens on the weekend. Scheduled for Aug. 10 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. is the women’s final, then from 4 to 5 p.m. will be the men’s final.
On the last day, Aug. 11, there will be a skateboard vert pro demo from 3 to 4 p.m.
Kids enjoy the surfing simulator during the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA, on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024 at the Hoag booth. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Surfing simulator
Want to surf, but don’t want to get wet? One of the fun activities on the sand is at a booth hosted by Hoag, where two surfboards allow festivalgoers to see how it feels to surf, without the waves.
Monitors set up show riders navigating a barrel and cruising on the wave’s face as they balance on the boards. Be warned, there will be a crowd gathered to watch you wipe out.
Grab a drink
The expanded Beach Bar is the perfect place to kick back and take a break from the madness. The lounge area is set up right on the sand with chairs and tables. The 805 Beer patio offers views overlooking the surf action.
Sorry kids, this is a 21-and-over area.
Check out live music, movies
The Hurley stage set up in the Beach Bar area is a great way to be entertained on the south end of the festival area.
On Aug. 7, at 1 p.m., check out StrateJacket, a ’90s and early 2000s nostalgia band.
Save Dark Heavens, a metal/experimental rock, will perform at 1 p.m. on Aug. 8, while SUNBENDR, an indie rock band, performs at 1 p.m. on Aug. 9, followed by Nice & Swell at 4 p.m. on the Hurley Stage.
Wes Chiller, an alt-rock performer, will do a set at 1 p.m. on Aug. 10, for the final performance in the concert series.
Movies will take over at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 8, when sponsor Samsung features its “Open Always Wins” film series, which will showcase “Concrete Dreams” and “The Next Wave,” a pair of skateboarding and surfing films.
The movies will be followed by a Q&A with 1977 World Champion Shaun Tomson and members of the films’ production teams.
There will be a repeat performance of those films at 5 p.m. on Aug. 10.
Chill in the Lexus House
If the Beach Bar is a bit too packed, check out the Lexus House area on the sand.
It’s a VIP experience that doesn’t require you to pay extra, with couches and lounge areas to chill in, small bites from the Lexus Culinary Masters team and daily product giveaways.
There will also be “on-the-sand surf lessons” with A Great Day in the Stoke from noon to 4 p.m. on Aug. 9.
Carlos Esquivel takes a picture of sisters Olivia Jauregui and Gwen Jauregui during the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA, on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024 in the Cup Noodle wave. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ride a noodle wave
There’s plenty of fun selfie spots to find, including a custom US Open of Surfing sandcastle greeting beachgoers and a big blue event banner at the entrance of the festival area.
But the best spot may be the noodle wave. Yup, Cup Noodles, an event sponsor, brought the fun installation so visitors can take a photo to share on social media or even use for a holiday card.
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Hockey on the sand?
It’s not every day you see hockey on the beach. The Anaheim Ducks team is out at the event. Its booth offers a hockey net for the kids to shoot at, complete with hockey sticks and balls.
The booth also has Ducks swag you can score.
Onewheel track
Have you seen those crazy contraptions that have just one fat wheel, the riders straddling the electric board and navigating on the sand or on the streets?
Onewheel has a set up on the sand with “the world’s first full-scale rideable sandcastle experience,” according to its creator, Future Motion.
There is a 60-by-40-foot Onewheel oval sand course for a “magical beach shredding experience.”
Check out the official US Open of Surfing merchandise store forsouvenirs, with many of the apparel and posters adorn with San Clemente artist Ryder Biolos’ artwork. (Photo by Laylan Connelly/SCNG)
Shop in the merch store
There are plenty of surf shops and other areas to grab souvenirs of your visit to Huntington Beach, but if you want something custom from the event, the official merchandise store has plenty of offerings – T-shirts and other apparel, beach towels, hats, water bottles and more.
The artwork on many of the items is courtesy of San Clemente surfer Ryder Biolos, an 18-year-old selected as this year’s official artist. She’ll also be doing a live painting at the store on a surfboard on Aug. 10.
Get an autograph signing
The US Open of Surfing is a great opportunity to get up close with your favorite athletes. Autograph signings happen throughout the festival area and at various sponsor booths, as well as at surf shops on Main Street.
Each afternoon at the official merchandise store at the event entrance, surfers from that day’s action will be on hand for autograph signings.
Check out the Lexus LX surf-concept vehicle set up around the sand at the US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach. (Photo by Laylan Connelly/SCNG)
Check out latest products, gear
Sponsors set up booths on the sand to showcase their latest gear or products on the market.
Just to name a few on hand: Rad Power Bikes is showcasing its most popular e-bikes, complete with surf racks to show the best ways to use the fast-moving bikes for a beach day. Pura Vida is on hand with its beach-inspired jewelry offerings, while the Lexus LX surf-concept vehicle is set up around the sand.
You may have to wait in line, but some sponsor booths even give out samples to try.
Stay hydrated
Bring your own water bottle to fill up water courtesy of the Yeti station to reduce plastic reuse.
Didn’t bring a bottle? Don’t worry, there’s a Yeti booth set up where you can buy one, and get it customized with a US Open of Surfing design.
Sawyer Lindblad, of San Clemetne, won the US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach in 2023. Now a World Tour surfer, she will be back to defend her title. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Watch the surfing
And of course, there’s the surf action.
Some of the world’s best surfers hit the water with the main men’s and women’s Challenger Series competitions starting Wednesday. Even some newly minted Olympians are expected to show up to compete against hungry surfers hoping for the win at the US Open of Surfing. The surfing starts early each morning.
The finals showdown will be Sunday afternoon.
