Another summer, another glorious run of action in the shade of the Huntington Beach Pier as we’re now down to the business end of the U.S. Open of Surfing. Looking at the action to come this Sunday on finals day, I can’t help but fly the California flag. To have both Crosby Colapinto and Kolohe Andino still in the draw’s a big deal, and to have them potentially square off in the final? What a dream. I couldn’t be more stoked for the local crew. Here are four heats that have me fired up:
Men’s Quarterfinal 2: Crosby Colapinto vs. Alex Cleland
Alex Cleland’s coming off of an inspired showing at the Olympics where he logged one of the heats of the event and showed shades of Andy Irons in his barrel-riding bravado. Can he convert that momentum to the small waves and big stage of the U.S. Open?
Crosby Colapinto’s hoping the answer is a resounding no. Cruz has been on a roll all year, and into the quarters of the Open is just further proof that he thrives when the pressure’s on and the fans are screaming their heads off. He’ll be bolstered by the stoke of his San Clemente crew, who will be out in force on finals day.
Men’s Quarterfinal 4: Kolohe Andino vs. Jackson Brunch
On the other side of the bracket, San Clemente godfather Kolohe Andino meets up with Hawaii’s Jackson Brunch. Andino’s come close to winning the Open in the past, and he seems to have the fire in his belly at the moment to go the distance. The tropical swell from earlier in the week his fading out and his small-wave arsenal will be in full display on Sunday. And if Andino and Colapinto can both survive the quarters and semis, we’ll have a California battle for the ages in the final.
Women’s Quarterfinal 2: Sophia Medina vs. Sally Fitzgibbons
The ageless Sally Fitzgibbons took out teen phenom Erin Brooks in the Round of 16 and is looking as on point and unstoppable as ever. Meanwhile, she’ll be going up against Brazilian upstart Sophia Medina. Obviously winning heats is in the Medina family DNA, and the three-time world champ’s younger sister has been stacking results this year. Sophia’s currently ranked eighth on the Challenger Series leaderboad, while Fitzgibbons is nestled in comfortable at third. The top five women make the 2025 Championship Tour, so this is heat means a lot.
Women’s Quarterfinal 4: Bella Kenworthy vs. Alyssa Spencer
Don’t sleep on Bella Kenworthy running the table in Surf City. Part of the teen phenom movement taking California surfing to the next level at present, Kenworthy’s coming off a win at the Balito Open and has been on a steady rise all year long. Sitting number four on the Challenger Series Leaderboard, a result in Huntington will go a long way in helping her join her friends Caity Simmers and Sawyer Lindblad on the Championship Tour in 2025.
And then there’s Alyssa Spencer, who had a good run on the Championship Tour this year before getting clipped by the mid-season cut. She’s holding down ninth on the Challenger Series, so she’ll have some work to do if she’s to get back on tour next year. There’s still a lot of surfing to be done this season, but acing another couple heats would be big.
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