One of the prevailing arguments heading into the US Open of Surfing is that because H.B. is a relatively crappy wave, it's not worthy of the 6 Star Prime status that granted by the ASP this year.
Huntington, the argument goes, doesn't measure up to "dream tour" standards set out by the ASP, and with the Open being a 6 Star Prime it has significant world tour implications (albeit no world title ones).
There are very strong arguments against the whole Huntington Beach circus, an easy target if there ever was one, but each and every one of them completely ignore the larger issue. While the allure of tropical reef passes and exotic point breaks represent every surfers ultimate travel fantasy, the vast majority of surfers depend on beach breaks for survival, thus does surfing as a whole. So to deny beach break surfing its place in deciding a world champion would be nothing short of a massive injustice.
Beachbreaks will always be easy targets. Despite all the flesh-bots prowling the sand they aren't nearly as romantic or sexy as their counterparts. In Huntington's case, we're talking about a wave smack in the middle of a concrete jungle with oil platforms on the horizon and massive tankers docking nearby. There's much to despise.
Even the world's best beachbreaks are hardly considered dream destinations. Yet they all get good - some really good -- and the fact remains the most progressive high performance surfing is explored, refined and perfected in the beach break arena. If you doubt that just go and ask the most progressive surfers in the world, who go sprinting straight to a fun "beachie" when they're striving to add a big moves to their repertoire, video segment or website.
Above the lip surfing is where most progression is taking place right now. And the best aerial assaults aren't happening at Snapper, Teahupoo or J-Bay, but rather in fun beachbreak conditions. So to crown any world champion without demanding to see their approach in these conditions would be beyond ridiculous.
These waves are the most productive laboratories for progress. And believe it or not, they're more physically and mentally demanding too: from paddling out through rows of whitewater, to hunting waves down, to keeping board speed going and the timing and rhythm sharp, it's all demanding stuff...and that's why many surfers hate it. Everyone wants the easy stand-up tube. Why, because those are easy rewards.
Huntington will forever be an easy target for haters. And 51 weeks out of every year I'm right there with them. But the world's best surfers have a way of making even crappy waves look pretty damn good. That's the best part of forcing them to surf there. It reminds us both that they're human...and that humans can do incredible things.
Finally, while performance alone is worth keeping a couple beachbreak stops in the ASP mix, tradition is why Huntington Beach belongs as one of them. H.B., after all, is where the ASP of today was born back in 1983. And after five decades of hosting surfing tournaments and honoring the world's best surfers, pro surfing and pro surfers shouldn't be pulling the "I'm too cool for Huntington" card. Those who do just look lame.
She may not be pretty...but she loves you.
