MUSE TV & Culturally Obsessed’s Michael Sandoval, David Peralta & Victor Castillo recently attended the 2019 Vans US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach. The nine-day event is one of the world’s largest surfing competitions and also holds skateboarding and BMX competitions. The US Open of Surfing started in 1959 at the same pier in Huntington Beach. Aside from the competitions, there are plenty of activities simultaneously occurring. Vans offered free daily workshops. This year included the 2019 Surfing Walk of Fame Induction Ceremony, a Duct Tape Festival, screening of surf films, live music, art exhibits and of course, lots of shopping.
The Vans US Open of Surfing is a World Surf League (WSL) Men’s and Women’s Qualifying Series (QS) 10,000 event. In Qualifying Series, surfers can receive points. The more points you accumulate at the end of the year, the better your ranking. This year was particularly historic as it marked the first 10,000 prime for women with equal pay as the 10,000 prime for men. This year when Sage Erickson won the Vans US Open of Surfing women’s title, she took home $30,000, the same amount won by the men’s title winner, Yago Dora. David Peralta and Victor Castillo spoke to both, Sage Erickson & Yago Dora after their respective wins. Michael Sandoval also spoke to surfers Sally Fitzgibbons & Stephanie Gilmore about the progression of women’s surfing.
David and Victor also got a chance to catch up with some of the biggest names in skateboarding. They talked to Riley Hawk, Erick Koston, Braydon Szafranski, Paul Hart & Jeremy Wray about who they were rooting for. Fabiana Delfino won first in the Women’s Finals, Tayler Kirby won the Men’s Finals, and David Gonzalez won Best Trick. Click the videos below to check out our interviews. For more info on the Vans US Open go to https://www.vansusopenofsurfing.com/