Challenger Series Competition Called OFF for the Day at the Lexus US Open of Surfing Presented by Pacifico

Small surf conditions force postponement as WSL Rising Tides initiative inspires next generation

The Lexus US Open of Surfing Presented by Pacifico hit an unexpected roadblock on Wednesday as inconsistent and small surf conditions forced event organizers to call off competition for the day at Stop No. 3 of the World Surf League (WSL) Challenger Series.

Next Call and Competition Outlook

Event officials will reconvene Thursday, July 31, at 6:30 AM PDT for a possible 7:05 AM start to the Opening Rounds of the Challenger Series. The decision comes after deteriorating conditions made competition virtually impossible at the iconic Huntington Beach venue.

“We’ve made the decision to call the event off for today,” explained Travis Logie, WSL Tour Manager. “We went on hold for a couple of hours to see if it would improve, and the conditions actually worsened. It’s borderline unsurfable today due to the lack of swell. There are not many signs that it will improve at all today, so we’re calling it off for the day, hoping for better conditions tomorrow.”

Despite the challenging conditions, Logie remained optimistic about Thursday’s prospects: “On the forecast, it says there is a slight improvement in swell size, so we’re being optimistic and hoping to come back tomorrow and get some heats going.”

Competition Ready to Launch

When competition resumes, the action will begin with high-stakes matchups across both divisions:

Men’s Round of 80 – Heat 1:

• Wesley Leite (BRA) and Rafael Teixeira (BRA) representing Brazilian surfing power
• Oliver Zietz (NLD) bringing European flair
• Luke Slijpen (RSA) showcasing South African talent

Women’s Round of 48 – Heat 1: Current Challenger Series No. 1 Francisca Veselko (POR) faces a formidable field including:

• Leilani McGonagle (CRC) – Costa Rica’s perennial Challenger Series threat
• Daniella Rosas (PER) – Peru’s promising newcomer
• Noah Klapp (GER) – Recent standout making waves

Rising Tides Initiative Shines Despite Conditions

While competition was sidelined, the WSL Rising Tides Presented by Body Glove initiative provided inspiration and opportunity for surfing’s next generation. The program brought together established stars with 22 young women ready to take the surfing world by storm.

2024 CT Rookie of the Year Sawyer Lindblad (USA) and 2025 CT Rookie Bella Kenworthy (USA) joined emerging Challenger Series contenders including:

• Talia Swindal (USA)
• Jessie Van Niekerk (RSA)
• Reid Van Wagoner (USA)
• Zoe Benedetto (USA)

The morning session combined surf instruction with educational components, including a Q&A with Hoag Hospital representatives, before participants joined some of the world’s leading competitors in the water.

Cultural Blessing Honors Indigenous Heritage

The event week began with a meaningful ceremony from the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians / Acjachemen Nation, providing a blessing for the Lexus US Open of Surfing. The ceremony honored the deep connection between the indigenous community and the coastal environment.

The Acjachemen people have stewarded what is now Orange County for over 10,000 years, continuing their environmental guardianship alongside surfers, environmentalists, and others committed to protecting the shared coastline.

2024 World Longboard Champion and US Open winner Taylor Jensen (USA) participated in the blessing ceremony, highlighting the respect and reverence the surfing community holds for indigenous traditions and environmental stewardship.

Competition Window and Broadcast Information

The Lexus US Open of Surfing Presented by Pacifico maintains its competition window through Sunday, August 3, 2025. All action will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app, with additional coverage available through WSL’s broadcast partners.

Complete Heat Matchups

Men’s Round of 80 Features:

• Heat 2: Afonso Antunes (POR) vs. Connor Slijpen (RSA) vs. Kolohe Andino (USA) vs. Tully Wylie (AUS)
• Heat 3: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Yago Dominguez (EUK) vs. Ryan Huckabee (USA) vs. Justin Becret (FRA)
• Heat 5: Kauli Vaast (FRA) vs. Dylan Moffat (AUS) vs. Luke Tema (HAW) vs. Julian Wilson (AUS)

Women’s Round of 48 Highlights:

• Heat 2: Sierra Kerr (AUS) vs. Sarah Baum (RSA) vs. Sanoa Dempfle-Olin (CAN) vs. Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK)
• Heat 7: Sol Aguirre (PER) vs. Zoe Benedetto (USA) vs. Mirai Ikeda (JPN) vs. Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK)
• Heat 8: Laura Raupp (BRA) vs. Reid Van Wagoner (USA) vs. Jahly Stokes (AUS) vs. Talia Swindal (USA)

Looking Ahead

While Wednesday’s conditions proved challenging, the slight improvement forecasted for Thursday offers hope for the start of what promises to be an exciting Challenger Series competition. The combination of international talent, rising stars, and the iconic Huntington Beach venue sets the stage for compelling surfing once conditions cooperate.

The event continues to demonstrate the WSL’s commitment to developing the next generation through initiatives like Rising Tides while honoring the cultural heritage and environmental stewardship that make surfing possible.

For complete heat matchups, live coverage details, and updates, visit WorldSurfLeague.com.