A taste of Huntington Beach, California

This is a very accurate depiction of Huntington Beach, right now. Day one of the US Open Of Surfing only fired up the beginning of the men’s junior rounds, but the beach was humming all the same with a record crowd, all wanting a taste of the warm California sun and to have various body parts smudged with a pro surfer’s signature. The waves were small, crumbling and not great, but the forecast promises a jump later in the week towards the business end of the event, when you’ll see men like Kelly Slater surfing under the pier. This study, taken by Mr Thom Pringle (he doesn’t just spend time above the lip), captures the dirty warmth, enthusiastic crowds and constant fin displays of the scene (this time, performed by Cam Richards). Stay tuned for more to come. Photo: Thom Pringle