OC surfers sweep longboard titles at US Open of Surfing

Orange County surfers swept the longboard titles at the Lexus US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach on Tuesday, July 28, with Laguna Beach’s Avalon Gall taking her second consecutive win and San Clemente’s Tommy Coleman, who entered the event as a wildcard, earning his first big win.

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The World Longboard Tour action kicked off the nine-day US Open event on Saturday, July 25, with 24 men and 24 women competitors from around the globe battling out the last several days in big surf on the south side of the pier.

Gall, who took the win in small surf last year, faced her opponent Hiroka Yoshikawa on Tuesday in 4- to 6-foot hurricane swell that started to show for the finals day.

“It was just such a good day and so many good waves, I’m just really happy,” Gall said. Gall racked up a 13.83 over her opponent’s 11.50 final score to take the win.

After being carried up onto the sand, she gave praise to her mom and dad, friends and family for their support.

“Everybody contributes so much; I just want to thank everybody,” she said.

When asked if she’s going to try for a world title this year, she said it would be nice — but she’s just trying to have fun.

“I just love surfing, that’s why I do it,” she said.

Coleman, a regular fixture at San Onofre’s iconic longboard wave, went up against Australian surfer Declan Wyton, a firefighter from Sydney, who took an early lead in the final’s heat. Coleman answered back with back-to-back waves to overtake the top spot for the back half of the heat.

Both kept busy finding just the right waves, building on their scores using tactful noserides, cutbacks and graceful maneuvers as they glided on their boards toward shore.

But the ocean was in Coleman’s favor and left Wyton without a final wave to surf.

After the buzzer went off, Coleman was greeted by friends who toppled him into the shallow water, waving the American flag as they hoisted him onto their shoulders.

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Wyton said he was “stoked” to make the finals and had “so much respect” for Coleman.

“His style and flow is something I’m extremely jealous of,” Wyton said on the stage after accepting his second-place trophy. “Mad respect to him.”

Coleman, who entered the event as an underdog and recounted watching the world’s best compete at the US Open in his younger years, said the win was “pretty cool.”

“I don’t really know what to say,” he said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to surf as a wildcard. I’ve been watching all these guys surf my whole life.

“It’s pretty surreal, I’m so grateful.”

Following the longboard finals, the Challenger Series got underway on Tuesday, the women shortboarders taking to the water for their first heats.

It was an early exit in the first heat for skateboarding bronze Olympic medalist and San Clemente resident Sky Brown, who entered the event as a wildcard and was hoping to showcase her surf skills.

Sierra Kerr, who splits time between Australia and San Diego, won her heat to advance to the next round, as did Encinitas surfer Ella McCaffray. San Clemente’s Edan Walla also advanced in the opening round heat.

The action continues on Wednesday with a hurricane swell expected to beef up the surf even more. Watch the event live at worldsurfleague.com 

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