Fun Week at 2016 US Open of Surfing
The fun week at the 2016 US Open of Surfing held in Huntington Beach stood as the premier surfing extravaganza in the United States. Drawing in crowds of enthusiasts from across the globe, this week-long spectacle is a beacon for surf aficionados everywhere. Since 2011, I’ve had the privilege of capturing it through my lens, armed with a media pass that grants me access to document it for my OCSurfPix website and OCPix.
My preparations kick off weeks in advance. First, I reach out to the event organizers to secure a Media Pass from the World Surfing League. About a week before the festivities commence, I make a trip to the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier, capturing the gradual transformation of the beachfront. Then once the surf schedule is published, I plan my attendance. I focus on the days where some of the more popular surfers, both established and newcomers, are set to compete.
Then I set out my camera gear, clean it all up, packing at least two camera bodies and enough memory cards to last each day. Then download them all later that night. I’ll edit a few for the OCSurfPix website and Instagram accounts. Then clear out the memory cards and start again the next day.
This particular week was a whirlwind of excitement. Brazilian pro surfer Filipe Toledo clinched the coveted men’s championship title, while Hawaiian, Tatiana Weston-Webb took the top women’s division. In Tatiana’s final, she was carried on the shoulders of her peers, as she was ushered onto the shore. I was there, in the crowd, to capture it all, see the photo gallery in high resolution below:
I also made sure to capture the crowds at the event. From beachgoers relaxing at the beach, to the fans greeting their favorite surfers at the beach. Here’s a shot from the view in the Media Center, where I would recharge and view some of the heats.
In conclusion, it was truly a fun week at the 2016 US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach. And like most photographers, by the end of the week, I was looking forward to some rest! But, no, that wasn’t to be. I still had thousands of images to processes. Most of the more important ones, I had already edited and published on OCSurfpix website and OCSurfPix Instagram as well as other social media accounts. Some were also picked up by major publishers like the LA Times and local news channels. To see photo galleries of previous surfing events, visit our main page on OCPix.