US Open of Surfing Doesn’t End So Well

As you may’ve heard by now, the Vans US Open of Surfing ended last night in almost-similar fashion to the 1986 event: with rioting. Which is a term that tends to be thrown around quite liberally. But, make of this what you shall:

With so many people (teens jacked-up on cheap liquor) jazzing around on the sand, it was never gonna take much to boil over. It might’ve been when water was poured on a girl, but it might also have been when a ketchup bottle was thrown from a balcony into the street, or maybe it was both. Either way, a fight broke out. The fight escalated, moved down Main Street, and the only obvious progression was to tear a stop sign outta the ground and jam it through the HB Easyrider shop window. A $500 bike was, uh, removed, before employee Bert Etheredge stepped in and stopped a second bike from being scooped without monetary transaction. Which is lucky, since the second set of wheels was a custom ride worth $5k. Good hustle, Bert.

Undesirables wore bandanas across their faces while they upturned portable toilets, stomped vehicles, and fisted other people’s faces. Helmeted police came in hot, firing pepper spray pellets. They were met with a flurry of rocks and bottles, but arrested eight people on suspicion of failing to disperse. And, here’s their names and the charges: Michael John Lytle, 30, of Anaheim: Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest. Andres Gomez, 24, of Huntington Beach: Refuse to Disperse and Resisting Arrest. Michael Anthony Avila, 28, of Santa Ana: Resisting or Delaying a Police Officer. Joseph Monterrosa, 28, of Ontario: Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest. Adam A. Cecot, 18, of Irvine: Refuse to Disperse/Unlawful Assembly. Chase Scott Christman, 19, of Simi Valley: Vandalism (over $400), Urge Destruction of Property, Refuse to Disperse/Unlawful Assembly.

There was a bow on it all by 9pm.

The US Open of Surfing later released this statement through their Facebook page: “We’re extremely disappointed and saddened by the disturbance that occurred up on Main St after the close of the US Open of Surfing. We work tirelessly with City staff, police, fire and other agencies to ensure a safe environment for all. We appreciate the quick response of HBPD and are awaiting further information.”