Sage Erickson and Kanoa Igarashi Win Vans US Surf Open

This year’s edition of the Vans US Surf Open took Huntington Beach, CA and its infamous pier by storm. Familiar returning names were Jordy Smith, who started as the number-one seed in the qualifying series, Filipe Toledo, who recently won the event at J-Bay, and the Huntington Beach local Kanoa Igarashi. Igarashi has not had the results he wanted this year, and after competing in the Championship tour the last two years he now returns to the qualifying series in order to get back on track.

During the qualifying series, the top seeds put on quite a show as they rode some of the best waves the competition has seen in recent years. The riders were quick to take advantage of the optimal five-foot swell that filled the pier.

This years final head-to-head matchups were exciting and had spectators on the edge of their seat. The final two women surfers were Sage Erickson, and Tatiana Weston-Webb. After a tough battle, Sage Erickson was able to claim the Vans US Open title for her second win over Weston-Webb. During the competition Weston-Webb was in the lead forcing Erikson to get above a 4.63, and in the last ten minutes Erikson delivered, earning a 6.67 and the win. For the men's final, Igarashi went up against Brazilian Tomas Hermes. In the beginning of the finals Igarashi earned an eye-opening 9.63, and claimed the highest single scoring wave in the men's final event. Igarashi kept the momentum going throughout the finals, putting Hermes in a tough situation. Igarashi emerged with the win on home turf, and this was Hermes best finish since 2013, when he won in Portugal.