A Star-Studded Saturday At The Vans US Open Of Surfing

From finals day to the skate jam send-off at the Vans Duct Tape Invitational.

style // Aug 5, 2019

Words by Stab

Reading Time: 5 minutes

It’s incredible what a little pulse of south swell will do for the morale on the beach at the US Open.

With clean, consistent three-foot peaks popping up and down the Hunting Pier’s Southside, the weekend crowds culminated this weekend for Final’s Day for both the US Open Juniors and the Duct Tape Invitational.

While anyone not surfing in heats Saturday AM woke up more than a little rattled after Friday night’s myriad blowouts, the scene in the VIP tent was a mellow, vibey affair. While a hundred or so packed in to bear witness to Caitlin Simmers’ Blowtail Heard Around The World, the rest of the crowd settled in out front to watch Florida’s Justin Quintal take out his 9th DTI win or 14-year-old Kelis Kaleopa’a dust ladies twice her age.

The youngest winner in the history of the Duct Tape Invitational, Kelis Kaleopa’a.

Photography

Sam Moody.

After crowing winners, the whole Vans mob was bussed out to the Huntington Beach Skate Park, for an afternoon shredding with Harry Bryant, Mikey February, and Alex Knost sessioning with groms Jett Schilling and Tosh Tudor, while Nate Florence and the rest of the team demolished a spread of fresh viggies and fruit, the biggest bowl of gualcamole we’ve ever seen, and as many flame-broiled burgers as we could handle. While Final’s Day for the US Open just wrapped, y

Scroll through the gallery below, shot by the ever patient Sam Moody, who lugged his camera all over the dusty Huntington sand on what was a very warm Saturday indeed.

Welcome to Huntington Beach.

Photography

Sam Moody.

DTI Finalists, Honolua Blomfeld, Haley Otto and Kelis Kaleopa’a.

Photography

Sam Moody.

Joel Tudor giving the ladies away.

Photography

Sam Moody.

Fourteen-year-old Hawaiian phenom Kelis Kaleopa’a perched in front of a captive HB audience.

Photography

Sam Moody.

Huntington in full swing.

Photography

Sam Moody.

Troy Mothershead and Andy Nieblas vying for the Best Shared Wave.

Photography

Sam Moody.

Nolan Hall and Mitch Abshere.

Photography

Sam Moody.

The Boys in the brine.

Photography

Sam Moody.

Kevin Skvarma, poised.

Photography

Sam Moody.

Jimmy Wilson carries this flag with him to every ‘CT event, in case a Floridian wins. You’d be amazed how many times he’s probably been glad he’s had it. Justin Quintal, flying his flag proudly after taking him his 9th DTI win.

Photography

Sam Moody.

As soon as the dust had cleared at the pier, the Vans team was headed east to their stunner of a concrete playground: the Vans Huntington Beach Skate Park.

Photography

Sam Moody.

Sizzlin.

Photography

Sam Moody.

Kyuss King.

Photography

Sam Moody.

Scott Sisamis, Troy Elmore, and Andy Doubles LTD.

Photography

Sam Moody.

Victoria Vergara, Zoe, and Mahina Garcia.

Photography

Sam Moody.

Ainara Aymat and Mikey February.

Photography

Sam Moody.

Al Cleland Jr.

Photography

Sam Moody.

Harry Bryant and Wyatt McHale.

Photography

Sam Moody.

Nate Florence smashing a double-stack chicken-beef burger, with Wyatt McHale and Harry Bryant.

Photography

Sam Moody.

“Chicken, cheddar, beef, pepperjack, some plants got in there that aren’t supposed to be there, but whatever. You want peak performance, this is it.” -Nathan Florence.

Photography

Sam Moody.