• Loading stock data...
Friday, March 29, 2024
2024 Best Venues nominations are open now through April 8! Submit Now

Vans U.S. Open Of Surfing Dominates With Newcomers

Thousands flocked to Huntington Beach to take in the sights and sounds.

Huntington Beach, CA (Michael Silver)

The summer season of surf contests are in full swing as Huntington Beach, CA held its annual event last week. The modest beach town, appropriately nicknamed Surf City, USA, hosts the world’s largest surf competition and lifestyle festival each summer. Originally called the West Coast Surfing Championships in 1959, wave riders across the globe descend upon Orange County for the weeklong festivities.

During the 9-day event an estimated $26 million is spent locally and nearly 500,000 people flock to the sunny beach.

Huntington Beach Pier (Michael Silver)

Not only are fans treated to world-class athletes catching waves, skateboarding’s Vans Park Series launched last year and the BMX Pro Cup was introduced this summer.

With a laundry list of competitors it could be challenging to know who to watch for by the casual fan and tourist. This was a learning experience for yours truly and speaking with athletes was the goal.

Maud Le Car (Michael Silver)

First up was Maud Le Car, the 25-year old from St. Martin burst onto the scene over the first weekend. She won the Championship Tour Trials, granting her a wildcard into the main contest. We spoke about her road to success and what it takes to compete with the world’s best.

When did you first stand up on a surfboard? Did you fall in love with the sport on that ride?

I first started when I was 12 on St. Martin island in the French Caribbean. From that wave on, I knew this was my thing.

What was life like growing up on St. Martin?

It’s a small island, 14km round. You can imagine it’s a small town. Most of the time you’re in the ocean since it’s all around. It’s a cool lifestyle! When I moved to France it was a total culture shock.

What kind of training and exercising do you work on to prepare for surfing competitions?

I have a coach that trains me 4 times a week. In the wintertime and the period with no contests I’ll train more. It’s a big part of getting ready for these contests. Endurance is important in the ocean, paddling out and catching the waves.



Maud Le Car’s 1st Round (WSL)

Congratulations on winning the CT Trials wild card. That placed you into the main event for your first time on Monday, what was that feeling like?

Everything went so fast, it’s crazy. My dream came true, as I’ve always wanted to be on this tour. It feels good because I had been struggling the last year on the qualifying tour.

You then faced 6-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore from Australia in the first round. How do you mentally get in the zone when competing with a surfer of her level?

If someone told me this before the tournament started I would have said ‘Oh stop kidding me!’ I wasn’t nervous though, just wanted to have fun and do the best that I can and enjoy this.

The competition didn’t get any easier against reigning Women’s World Champion Tyler Wright.

Maud Le Car wins the CT Trials (WSL)

It’s crazy, right? Especially this morning, the waves were closing out and I couldn’t find my momentum. I started to think too much because yesterday I had nothing to lose.

There’s a popular video on your Instagram with you surfing in high heels and a black dress. The caption says you lost a bet. Can you give me the back-story on that?

A sponsor wanted to do something different and we made a bet. They asked if I could surf in heels and to be honest I cannot walk in them. I fall over all the time! After a few tries I became better catching waves in the heels than waking.

How has social media helped establish your brand globally?

I’m not the greatest with social media but do it for fun when I have the time. I don’t put pressure on myself saying ‘I need to post daily,’ it’s really natural. I was so surprised this week with messages from the contest. It’s gnarly seeing how many people follow me and were so into it. Fans showing support is why I love social media, connecting and inspiring people.

What does Maud like to do for fun when she’s not in the ocean?

I love art and painting; this is a thing in my family that everyone is into. When I’m not surfing or training, I’m drawing on my surfboards.

Where is your favorite wave to ride in the world?

Seignosse, France where I’m living right now. The beaches are wide and not a lot of people.

What’s the biggest takeaway from your time here at the U.S. Open?

To accept what’s happened to you in life, taking the good with the bad. Last year was rough but I knew life is something special to me and I see it now. Maybe one year was frustrating because I didn’t win my heats but hard work pays off. I’ve stayed super determined and continued training, knowing one day I will succeed doing what I love.

Walking around the beach and taking in all the activations and sponsored booths required a Herculean effort on its own. Vans made sure to have a family-friendly environment for all to enjoy. From the vendor village and U.S. Open store to arts & crafts, kids and parents alike were treated to entertainment everywhere they looked.

Later in the week I met up with the G-SHOCK team who are the official timekeepers of the U.S. Open of Surf.

Yadin Nicol (Michael Silver)

Speaking with Yadin Nicol, the sponsored athlete and professional surfer hails from Margaret River, one of Australia’s largest waves.

When he’s not in Southern California his favorite place to travel and surf is Indonesia. “The waves may not be the biggest but they’re beautiful and I love being out there,” he gushed.

From a technology standpoint G-SHOCK offers a lot for the surf community. Their watches have built-in Bluetooth capabilities and a GPS hybrid wave receptor. This allows riders to track swells and know when big waves are coming their way.

G-Shock Watches (Casio)

The Vans Park Series drew a big crowd as well over at the concrete bowl stadium. Skateboarding and surfing are synonymous with Southern California, and it was no surprise seeing fans enjoying both. 17-year-old Tom Schaar from Malibu, CA took top honors with big aerial tricks.

Tom Schaar (Anthony Acosta)

At the end of this epic journey two surfers claimed victory. In the men’s Qualifying Series Kanoa Igarashi, the 19-year old Huntington Beach local took the crown and $100,000 prize. Meanwhile, 26-year-old Sage Erickson, also from California, swept the field and won the Championship Tour. Both were treated like royalty as King and Queen of the beach respectively.

Sage Erickson and Kanoa Igarashi (WSL)

Front Office Sports is a leading multi-platform publication and industry resource that covers the intersection of business and sports.

Want to learn more, or have a story featured about you or your organization? Contact us today.

https://upscri.be/f32ae1

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

March 22, 2024, Brooklyn, NY, USA; Northwestern Wildcats guard Brooks Barnhizer (13) and Northwestern Wildcats guard Boo Buie (0) react in overtime against the Florida Atlantic Owls in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at the Barclays Center.

‘An Expensive Game’: March Madness and NIL Collectives Are Intertwined

At schools nationwide, collectives are fueling NCAA tournament runs and vice versa.
Iowa’s Caitlin Clark (22) waits to be announced in the starting lineup against West Virginia in a NCAA Tournament round of 32 game Monday, March 25, 2024 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.

The Women’s Trading Card Market Is Overlooked. Can Caitlin Clark Change That?

Traditionally, women’s sports cards have been a marginal part of collectibles.
The Sports Illustrated cover signed by Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, February 27, 2019, at Don & Charlie's, 7501 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale. Don Charlie S

Everything You Need to Know About the Ongoing ‘Sports Illustrated’ Saga

Understanding the strange state of affairs for the nearly 70-year-old publication.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

Why the Timberwolves Sale was Called Off

0:00
0:00

Featured Today

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Inside the Big East’s Bizarre Online Subculture

Peeling back the curtain on the ‘phenomenally weird’ Big East online ecosystem.
Mar 21, 2024; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Stetson Hatters guard Stephan Swenson (30) reacts during team practice at Barclays Center.
March 22, 2024

First-Time NCAA Men’s Tourney Bids Could Be on the Verge of Extinction

Power and success are consolidating around the richest teams in college sports.
March 17, 2024

‘Everybody Was Under Suspicion’: The Day Selection Sunday Was Scooped

In 2016, the ‘Selection Show’ backfired when the bracket was leaked anonymously.
Sep 3, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Orlando Pride forward Ally Watt (11) and Orlando Pride forward Julie Doyle (20) enter the stadium before the game against OL Reign at Lumen Field.
March 16, 2024

So Long, White Shorts: Here’s Why the NWSL’s Uniform Pivot Matters

There’s finally a growing trend to adapt women’s sports to women’s bodies.

Careers

Powered By

Careers in Sports

Looking for a new job? Check out these featured listings and search for openings all over the world.
Live Nation
Multiple - USA Careers
Adidas
Multiple - USA Careers
Spotify
Multiple - USA Careers
Sponsored

How Sportradar and the NBA are Partnering to Fuel Fan Engagement

How Sportradar and the NBA are utilizing data to enhance fan engagement
Oakland-A's
April 25, 2023

Oakland A’s Could Share Stadium with Triple-A Team

The Oakland A’s could be searching for a place to play.
Sponsored

MLS’ Chris Schlosser on Pioneering the Digital-First Sports League with AI

Chris Schlosser discusses MLS’s growth and digital transformation.
Sponsored

How Daily Fantasy Sports Solved NBA Fantasy

The remarkable growth of the #1 Discord sports server in the world.
Titans stadium.
April 19, 2023

Titans’ Historic New $2.1B Stadium One Step Closer to Reality

About $1.26B in public money would go toward the new stadium.
Crypto-markets-sports-sponsorship
May 20, 2022

Crypto Crash Impact on Sports Sponsorships

Prior to the last two weeks, cryptocurrencies, NFTs, exchanges, and a host…
Insights-Wearables-Consumers
March 11, 2022

The Evolution of Consumer Wearables

The wearables market has seen incredible amounts of growth since the onset of the pandemic. Trends like telemedicine and remote patient monitoring have helped spur adoption and inspired new consumer products that allow for the tracking and collection of biometric data.
February 11, 2022

The Role of Live Sports in Streaming

The streaming wars have intensified as the field is as competitive as ever. One way to retain customers? The answer might be live sports.