Conlogue, Fanning and Benson in Sizzling Form at 2009 US Open.
Posted on July 27, 2009
Filed Under Events, Mick Fanning, Rob Machado, Tonino Benson |
Huntington Beach was back to its best. As last week saw perfect week long surf for the 2009 US Open.With $100,000US up for first place the event saw the best surfing talent from around the world compete for the prestigious US Open title. The Open was stacked with the big names of the sport like Slater, Irons, Machado and Fanning, but it was WQS ripper and HB local Bret Simpson who stole the show.
Brett battled out the 30min final with 2007 ASP world champ and Reefer Mick Fanning. Both surfers started with high scores in the 7-point range but it was the local kid Simpo who back up his strong start with a 9.10 with a sick front side assault of snaps followed by an air reverse.
As the tide filled in throughout the final Fanning waited for the scored that never came. Mick had surfed brilliant all week. He said that he hadn’t been to Huntington since 2002 and was just pumped to be part of the whole scene and feed off the awesome energy from the crowd and level of surfing from other competitors.
It’s great for surfing and for Brett to win at his local break, as the crowd was so intense and excited for the local kid to win the event. I am stoked with my performance during the event and was great to be apart of this great event.
Local knowledge didn’t just pay off for the inform Simpo but local ripper Courtney Conlogue dominated Saturday’s final as she took her maiden US Open crown in the women’s pro where she smashed the class field. Courtney who is only 16 years of age turned it on in the perfect 4ft plus conditions with a class performance. Her back snaps and carves were second to none in both the men’s and women’s division.
Courtney pocketed $10,000 for the win and valuable WQS points for qualification of the women’s dream tour for 2010.
Tonino Benson who was the US Open pro junior champ in 2007 came 1 spot short of winning the title again when he was runner up to the inform Kai Barger.
Tonino led for most of the final, as he started strong with a score over the 7-point range. He followed up with a solid 6 but it was Barger who managed to find a perfect running right with 8 minutes to go and scored an 8.5.
Behind Barger Tonino was runner up, Malibu’s Dillon Perillo came in 3rd and Santa Cruz whiz kid Nat Young placed 4th respectively.
In what was classed as the busiest and most stacked US Open event in over 20 years Reef’s presence was felt in all divisions, promos and parties during the week passed .In a concluding recap of outstanding Reefer performances we saw;
US Open Men’s; Mick Fanning, 2nd, Rob Machado 5th and Leigh Sedley 17th.
US Open Women’s Pro Final; Courtney Conlogue 1st place.
US Open Pro Junior; Tonino Benson Runner Up.
Check out aspworldtour.com too see all the great replays and images of the event.
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