Huntington Beach 8/9/2010 1:18:12 PM
News / Entertainment

Eye on Entertainment Covers U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA

Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing Is One of North America’s Six-star World Qualifying Series (WQS)-rated Men’s and Women’s Events

Dawna Lee Heising and Paul Heising of Eye on Entertainment on Time Warner Cable covered the U.S. Open of Surfing on August 8, 2010. With a rich history dating back to 1959, the Hurley 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.  The US Surf Open is one of the largest surf competitions and the only one in North America to combine ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals) Men's Prime and the Women's Six-Star competition.

More than 250 surfers have been competing in the waters near the Huntington Beach Pier since the start on July 18. By the end of the event on Saturday, August 7, the event consists of eight “man-on-man” heats, segueing into “last man standing” on Sunday, August 8.  Occurring for the first time ever this year is an “All Stars” component. This features 10 of the world’s best surfers as voted by fans, including Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning and Dane Reynolds, who are surfing and signing autographs.

Brett Simpson, a Huntington Beach native, won his second U.S. Open of Surfing championship in as many years, the only surfer ever to repeat at this event.  He's also the first local to take the prize in the tournament's more than 50-year history.  The winner of the Women’s final held on Saturday, August 7, 2010 was Carissa Moore.

The nine day event, running this year from July 31 through August 8, also includes the Nike 6.0 HB BMX Pro competition, which has amplified into 12,000 square foot course with a prize purse of $100,000.  This year’s BMX pro competition will include 15-year-old boy wonder Brett Banasiewcz, and long-serving pros like Ryan Nyquist, Daniel Dhers and Mike Spinner.

About Eye on Entertainment
"Eye on Entertainment", a division of Eye on Excellence™ Productions, is aired twice weekly on Time Warner Cable in Southern California. The EOE team covers entertainment and music events, film festivals, red carpets and award shows, and features interviews with successful people in all walks of life, exploring the traits they have in common. Dawna Lee Heising, EOE executive producer and host, is a member of SAG & AFTRA, has an MBA and PhD and is Ms. Universe 2010.  To schedule appearances or films, please contact Matt Chassin at matt@mattsmarketing.com. The EOE team includes Linda Maxwell of Time Warner Cable, producer David J. McNeil, former United Artists executive who was one of the developers of Pay-per-View, director/editor John Cox, director Steve Van Wormer, editor Gordon Michael, photographer Kevin Le and business manager Paul Heising. Please visit www.eyeonentertainment.tv, www.dawnaleeheising.tv and www.youtube.com/eyeonentertainment.