ROADTRIP
Talking the left coast with local legend Kelly Slater With a rich history dating back to 1959, the U.S. Open of Surfing boasts one of a few of North America’s six-star World Qualifying Series (WQS)-rated men’s and women’s events. Offering the highest-possible allotment of qualifying points and overall cash prizes totaling $200,000, the prestigious competition is critical to American surfers aspiring to reach the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) elite World Tours. This month, aXis Magazine and Pacifico Beer are giving away two pairs of all expense paid tix to the US Open in Huntington Beach for the opening weekend of July 20th, with flights, hotels and Open tix covered... and Pacifico VIP treatment! So we took this chance to catch up with Cocoa Beach’s living legend of the aqua kind, Kelly Slater, to talk about the US Open’s past, present and future, and his own personal experiences at Huntington Beach.
aXis: The US Open has seen significant growth over the past half decade, what would you attribute this to? SLATER: For a lot of years, since the ‘80s, they had smaller crowds for whatever reason.And with the webcasts, surfers can just watch online. But there were a lot of people there and I’m not sure what you attribute that to. Maybe it’s surfing’s growth, maybe it’s just good marketing and publicity and where it’s held.You’d have to ask everyone what they’re doing there.There were probably a lot of guys there just looking for girls. aXis: Seems like an insane crowd, with some great bands on the mainstage and a constant party. Yet you brave the crowd and wander straight through unnoticed? SLATER: I get by with my hooded sweatshirt up. I actually didn’t have one walk where I didn’t get detected, but I just kept walking. It was actually sort of fun to see if I could make it all the way [to the competitors area].
aXis: Everyone thinks being a pro surfer is just a permanent vacation. But a tourney is actually quite grueling? SLATER: It’s pretty full on. I get really overwhelmed after I surf.You know, you surf, you do the interviews, and then you do an hour of signing [autographs].You just want a massage after that. It’s a lot of stimulation.That’s the biggest thing. From all the people to all the music to watching the contest, there are just so many things going on.
WHO: US OPEN of SURFING WHAT: PACIFICO TRIP GIVEAWAY (2 All Expense Packages for 2) WHERE: Huntington Beach, Ca WHEN: July 20 - 28th INFO: vansusopenofsurfing.com Contest info next page ----->