NO HODADS! NO SHUBIES! JUST AMPED UP SURF COMPETITION, DUDE!!
Once every year the best surfers in the world gather in Huntington Beach, California for the U.S. Open Championship of Surfing. No wonder they call it Surf City!
Last Saturday while biking down the coast, I had to stop and pay homage to the “Surfer Dudes” in Huntington Beach. Of course, I was carrying my camera and decided to grab a few shots.
The U.S. Open Championship of Surfing returned to Huntington Beach on Saturday, bringing with it an estimated 500,000 spectators.
Sponsored by Hurley, Nike 6.0 and Converse, the nine-day competition will showcase 500 world-class athletes, including Rob Machado, Kelly Slater and Andy Irons, as well as hometown heroes and reining champions Brett Simpson and Courtney Conlogue. Machado, a three-time U.S. Open champion, says competing at Huntington Beach “feels like you’re surfing in the Super Bowl.”
This surfer just completed his first bottom turn.
After the drop, this surfer begins his first carve.
The next three shots demonstrate the perfect bottom turn made by this surfer immediately after the drop. Notice how his body has already made the turn in the first shot. His board will soon follow in the second shot.
This surfer is at the apex of his bottom turn.
This is one of my more interesting shots. Taken from directly over the wave, you can see what the surfer sees as he analyzes the wave.
Needless to say, everyone is amped for the competition.
GLOSSARY OF SURF TERMS USED:
Hodad – A non-surfing beach bum
Shubie – Someone who buys surf gear and clothing, but does not surf
Amped – Getting excited while surfing or really looking forward to a surf
The Drop – The drop is where a surfer first gets up on the waves and drops down the face of the wave. It’s also referred to as “taking the drop.”
Carve – The classic surfing manoeuver, carving/carve is basically what turning on a wave is called.
Bottom Turn – This is the turn made at the base of the wave when coming down off the face. It’s often the first move made after the drop. Get it right for great positioning for your next manoeuver.
Photographyfree4all's Blog 
These are great shots–love the water ones. How did you manage to get so near? Or did you just do a really good job of zooming in? Especially the first and last ones.
Very nice!
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Actually, I captured all of these surfing shots from the pier. The championships are fairly close to the pier. Some surfers come closer than others – it really depends on the way the wave develops. I really didn’t have that powerful of a zoom – 135 mm. thanks for your comment.
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Wow! Excellent action shots! I love that you posted a series of them. Nice work.
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Great shots! Makes me want to get in the water – just to get wet, not kill myself on a skinny board, ha ha! Keep shooting!
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Great capture of the surfer and waves. I almost feel like I am there watching. 🙂
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