GRINDTV NEWSWIRE via Hurley US Open- Carissa Moore (Honolulu, HI), 17, won the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 6-Star Women's US Open of Surfing presented by Hurley and Nike 6.0 in a wave-starved heat over Sally Fitzgibbons(AUS), 19, at South Huntington Beach Pier to take out $50,000, the richest first place prize purse in women's surfing history. Sage Erickson (Ventura, CA), 19, also donated a standout performance today when she claimed the ASP Grade-2 Pro Junior in a stacked Final.

Quarter Finalist were also decided in Men's ASP Prime event while Finalists were determined for the Men's ASP Grade-2 Pro Junior.

Surfers competing in the US Open of Surfing are out to capitalize on the crucial ratings points on offer to either maintain their position on, or qualify for the ASP Dream Tour while surfers on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series are out to finish atop their regional ratings to qualify for the inaugural ASP World Junior Tour.

Moore, who is currently competing in her rookie year on the ASP Women's Dream Tour, started off with two small scores to start the heat, and locked into a left hander in the dying seconds of the heat to capitalize on her priority to clinch the 2010 Women's US Open of Surfing title

"I was pretty nervous because I only had two 4 point scores," Moore said. "Sally (Fitzgibbons) is gnarly and is a great competitor and I knew when that last set came, if I didn't get on it Sally would have gotten the score easily. I'm just so on top of the world right now, I'm so psyched."

The tough victory earned by Moore also saw the young Hawaiian takeout the richest prize purse in women's surfing history and the talentednatural-footer was beyond belief with her accomplishment.

"It is really amazing to win this event," Moore said. "I just can'teven believe it right now. It just seems really surreal. That Finalwent by so fast and I wish I could have done some more surfing, but I'mjust really stoked."

Fitzgibbons, who smashed the highest scores of women's competition throughout the event's entirety, struggled to get a start in the Final and finished runner-up.

"It was a really tough Final and there wasn't much opportunity toopen up," Fitzgibbons said. "I had a really good time here at the US Open and second place is awesome so I'll just take it and move on to the next event."

Fitzgibbons, who has been the runner-up in the last three ASP Women's World Tour events, was disappointed with the loss, but feels she is close to locking down a major victory in the near future.

"My time is obviously around the corner," Fitzgibbons said. "I wanted to win that one, but there are more events and it's great that Nike put up the extra money. It really added to the excitement and hopefully next time I catch a few more waves."

Erickson, who was the runner-up in last year's Women's US Open Pro Junior, jumped out to an early lead in the stacked heat and led the field throughout its entirety to clinch her first ASP victory over last year's winner Malia Manuel (Kauai, HI), 16, ASP Women's World Tour campaigner Coco Ho (North Shore, HI), 19, and reigning ASP Women's World Junior Champion Laura Enever (AUS), 18.

"I came in second last year with Malia (Manuel) getting the score inthe last couple of seconds," Erickson said. "It was hard. I'm just glad to come out this year and win a Junior with such a prestigious Final.This is pretty much my best win because it's the US Open. It feels great to win in front of all of these people."

Brett Simpson (Huntington Beach, CA), 25, who is the defending US Open of Surfing champion, tore through the Round of 16 today while unleashing the day's top scores. The local standout blasted a 9.37 out of 10 with an impressive backside air and followed with a series of impressive turns before snatching a 17.17 heat total, the day's highest, to eliminate current ASP Dream Tour No. 4 Dane Reynolds to advance to the Quarterfinals.

"I think that in the beginning we were both going for big maneuvers," Simpson said. "I fell on a good wave and he tried a big air and I think I had to shake the jitters out. I know that Dane (Reynolds)is going to go for big maneuvers, he never surfs safe and I was trying to match it. I got the good air and was in rhythm with the waves and I think that's half of the battle. I'm stoked to be in the Quarters."

Simpson will compete against 2008 US Open of Surfing Champion Nathaniel Curran (Oxnard, CA), 26, in Quarterfinal Heat 4.

Granger Larsen (Lahaina, HI), 20, issued the upset of the day in themen's ASP PRIME main event when the young Hawaiian eliminated current ASP World Title event No. 5 Adriano de Souza (BRA), 23, with a last minute exchange to advance to the Quarterfinals.

"I knew going into that heat it was going to be hard," Larsen said."They had to restart the heat because no waves came. That actually made me relax a little bit. Then that first set came and I got the better of the exchange. I felt good and had a feeling that I could beat him. I had priority at the end and knew I only needed a small score. That perfect left came and I got the score, I'm stoked."

Larsen will tackle nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (Cocoa Beach, FL), 38, in Quarterfinal Heat 3.

Men's US Open of Surfing Pro Junior Finalists were also decidedtoday, with current ASP North America Pro Junior Series ratings leader Evan Geiselman (New Smyrna Beach, FL), 17, Kolohe Andino (San Clemente,CA), 16, and Brazilians Alejo Muniz (BRA), 20, and Miguel Pupo (BRA),20, earning the right to battle for this year's US Open Pro Junior title tomorrow.

Saturday also saw record crowds and all sorts of action at the HBPier. The Converse Coastal Carnage Skate contest got started, the BMX event kept on rolling and there was a live concert courtesy of Hot Hot Heat and Weezer. Both bands played in front of a packed crowd estimated at more than 50,000 at the music stage. Check back for video highlights and photos from all the day's events.

US Open of Surfing Women's Final:
1 - Carissa Moore (HAW) 12.50?
2 - Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 3.83

US Open of Surfing Women's Semifinals:
Heat 1: Carissa Moore (USA) 13.27 def. Lakey Peterson (USA) 6.27?
Heat 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 13.33 def. Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 10.70

US Open of Surfing Pro Junior Women's Final:
1 - Sage Erickson (USA) 10.20?
2 - Malia Manuel (HAW) 6.56?
3 - Coco Ho (HAW) 7.00?
4 - Laura Enever (AUS) 6.67

US Open of Surfing Men's Round of 16 Results:
Heat 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 11.17 def. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 7.24?
Heat 2: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 14.33 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 13.00?
Heat 3: Jadson Andre (BRA) 9.50 def. Nic Muscroft (AUS) 8.00
Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 14.93 def. Cory Lopez (USA) 13.93?
Heat 5: Granger Larsen (HAW) 14.10 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.00?
Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA) 14.77 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 11.44?
Heat 7: Nathaniel Curran (USA) 16.27 def. Patrick Guduaskas (USA) 10.73
Heat 8: Brett Simpson (USA) 17.14 def. Dane Reynolds (USA) 7.23

Courtney Conlogue Photo Courtesy of US Open Of Surfing

GrindTV Newswire, Via US Open Of Surfing: HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA (Monday, August 2, 2010) The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Women's 6-Star US Open of Surfing presented by Hurley and Nike 6.0 saw reigning three-time ASP Women's World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 22, and defending event champion Courtney Conlogue (Santa Ana, CA), 17, fall in Round 3 of competition today with Carissa Moore (Honolulu, HI), 17, and Laura Enever (AUS), 18, advancing through the stacked heat in tricky two-to-four foot (1 metre) South Huntington Beach Pier conditions.

Surfers competing at the ASP 6-Star US Open of Surfing are out to claim the priceless ratings points towards qualification for the ASP Women's Dream Tour. Accompanying the ratings points this year will be a groundbreaking $50,000 for the 2010 Women's US Open of Surfing Champion.

Moore emerged victorious in the paramount heat, which split first and third places by less than one point to advance through to the Round of 12 by capitalizing on the Huntington Beach right-handers. The Hawaiian prodigy unleashed flashy tail-drifting turns while finishing strong on the inside to take out the win.

"It was a Round 3 heat with Steph (Gilmore), Laura (Enever) and Courtney (Conlogue)," Moore said. "That could have very well been a Final. You have the World Champion and defending event champion, so it was just crazy. Every one of those girls just rips and especially with the conditions out here, it's a little random, so everyone can do anything at anytime."

Moore's massive heat victory also keeps her in the running for the historic $50,000 prize-purse in place for this year's Women's US Open of Surfing winner, the largest in women's professional surfing history.

"It's pretty crazy that Nike decided to step up and decided to put fifty grand for first place for the girls," Moore said. "I think it's awesome. There's a lot more on the line and a lot more excitement and I think it's great to have them support us like that."

Enever, who is the reigning ASP Women's World Junior Champion, escaped the heavy heat over Conlogue by three 10ths of a point to advance to the Round of 12 and after an impressive run in yesterday's ASP Grade-2 Pro Junior event, the young Australian is hoping to build momentum in an attempt to take out the monumental prize purse.

"I had some good heats yesterday in the Pro Junior and then to come back today and make it through that heat, it's been a really amazing contest so far and it's only been the first two days," Enever said. "I'm stoked and hopefully I can just make it as far as I can. It'd be great to take the 50 grand, but I guess anything is possible now after that heat."

Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 19, current ASP Women's Dream Tour No. 2, detonated the event's highest scores in her Round of 24 heat, blasting a near perfect 9.00 out of 10 while accumulating the highest heat total of 17.17 out of 20.
"It's good to get two rounds out of the way," Fitzgibbons said. "I was feeling really good out there and in rhythm of the sets. It was fun out there."

Fitzgibbons, who has three consecutive runner-up finishes in the last three ASP Women's World Title events and was the winner of the Portuguese based ASP 6-Star event earlier this season, also has her eye on the landmark $50,000 prize purse but knows there is still a long road ahead.

"It's super early days, but it's fantastic that Nike has put up the money," Fitzgibbons said. "It makes it all the more exciting. There is a long way to go yet, but it'd be a nice incentive."

Lakey Peterson (Santa Barbara, CA), 15, who is an event wildcard, smashed some of the day's top scores in her opening heat. The young Californian put on an impressive first showing on the international stage to eliminate current ASP Dream Tour campaigners Paige Hareb (NZL), 20, and Bruna Schmitz (BRA), 20, and is now only one of 12 competitors remaining in the event.

"The waves were really tricky and it could have gone either way in all of them," Peterson said. "I felt really good in my first heat and my second heat was kind of just whoever got the best waves really. I'm just really excited to make it to the Round before the Quarterfinals."

Peterson, who is competing in her first ever ASP Star rated event, was thrilled to capitalize on the ever-important ratings points at the ASP 6-Star event while being a part of women's surfing history with Nike 6.0's donation of the increased prize purse.

"This is my first ASP Star event," Peterson said. "Today gives me a lot of confidence and to be a part of this event with the biggest prize purse in women's history is a big honor."

Tomorrow, the Mens ASP Prime event will begin directly following the Womens WQS Six-Star Round of 12. Day Four action of the US Open of Surfing will feature the start of its LIVE webcasting [via www.usopenofsurfing.com], heats on demand and FREE live music.

Performing will be Soft Pack and Cold War Kids. Music starts at 4:00 PM.

For complimentary high-res photos and video downloads log on to http://usopenofsurfing.com/downloads.
For additional ASP information log on to www.aspworldtour.com or www.aspnorthamerica.org.

US Open of Surfing Women's Round of 24 Results:


Heat 1: Carissa Moore (HAW) 14.94, Laura Enever (AUS) 14.67, Courtney Conlogue (USA) 14.37, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 10.30


Heat 2: Lakey Peterson (USA) 9.50, Tyler Wright (AUS) 9.07, Sayuri Hashimoto (JPN) 10.10, Paige Hareb (NZL) 4.00


Heat 3: Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 7.33, Chantelle Rautenbach (ZAF) 6.66, Malia Manuel (HAW) 6.40, Felicity Palmateer (AUS) 4.87


Heat 4: Justine Dupont (FRA) 11.83, Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 8.50, Sage Erickson (USA) 7.73, Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 4.43


Heat 5: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 17.17, Sarah Baum (ZAF) 13.60, Cannelle Bulard (REU) 7.70, Karina Petroni (USA) 6.17


Heat 6: Alana Blanchard (HAW) 11.57, Nicola Atherton (AUS) 8.93, Claudia Goncalves (BRA) 5.07, Mizuki Hagiwara (JPN) 3.95

US Open of Surfing Women's Round of 48 Results:


Heat 1: Carissa Moore (HAW) 14.07, Tyler Wright (AUS) 12.93, Pauline Ado (FRA) 11.87, Arini Mason (NZL) 5.93


Heat 2: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 15.34, Paige Hareb (NZL) 9.13, Valaria Sole (PER) 5.50, Gabi Cope (HAW) 3.17


Heat 3: Lakey Peterson (USA) 15.50, Laura Enever (AUS) 11.74, Bruna Schmitz (BRA) 6.26, Natalie Anzavino (USA) 6.06


Heat 4: Sayuri Hashimoto (JPN) 10.10, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 8.57, Laurina McGrath (AUS) 5.47, Francisca Santos (PRT) 4.43


Heat 5: Felicity Palmateer (AUS) 8.06, Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 7.23, Anastasia Ashley (USA) 3.93, Ornella Pellizzari (ARG) 2.53


Heat 6: Malia Manuel (HAW) 13.84, Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 12.03, Leila Hurst (HAW) 9.93, Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 8.73


Heat 7: Sage Erickson (USA) 11.73, Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 8.90, Keleigh Gilchrist (USA) 8.53, Nage Melamed (HAW) 5.20


Heat 8: Justine Dupont (FRA) 10.00, Chantelle Rautenbach (ZAF) 8.23, Silvana Lima (BRA) 7.47, Joana Rocha (PRT) 2.64


Heat 9: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 12.60, Claudia Goncalves (BRA) 7.73, Freya Prumm (AUS) 7.43, Erica Hosseini (USA) 6.73


Heat 10: Canelle Bulard (REU) 6.16, Alana Blanchard (HAW) 5.17, Lee Ann Curren (FRA) 4.13, Shelby Detmers (USA) 2.86


Heat 11: Nicola Atherton (AUS) 12.00, Karina Petroni (USA) 10.77, Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 9.40, Leilani Gryde (HAW) 5.94


Heat 12: Mizuki Hagiwara (JPN) 7.93, Sarah Baum (ZAF) 7.26, Bethany Hamilton (HAW) 5.87, Coco Ho (HAW) 4.84



US Open of Surfing Women's Round of 60 Results:


Heat 1: Tyler Wright (AUS) 6.50, Valeria Sole (PER) 6.44, Alessa Quizon (HAW) 5.07, Amy Nicholl (USA) 3.50


Heat 2: Natalie Anvizino (USA) 10.76, Laurina McGrath (AUS) 5.07, Jessica Santorik (NZL) 4.60, Louisa Noble (GBR) 1.64


Heat 3: Felicity Palmateer (AUS) 10.33, Leila Hurst (HAW) 8.14, Bailey Nagy (HAW) 8.07, Amy Stewart (AUS) 4.37


Heat 4: Nage Melamed (HAW) 12.90, Chantelle Rautenbach (ZAF) 8.25, Monyca Byrne-Wickey (HAW) 7.04, Mackenzie Kissler (USA) 0.50


Heat 5: Freya Prumm (AUS) 8.53, Cannelle Bulard (REU) 7.77, Dimity Stoyle (AUS) 7.60, Quincy Davis (USA) 6.27


Heat 6: Karina Petroni (USA) 10.34, Sarah Baum (ZAF) 9.24, Brittani Nicholl (AUS) 7.20, Bo Stanley (USA) 4.13

PICK SIX: TUESDAY

Day four action

The Men's ASP Prime event begins tomorrow morning, Aug 3. Women's Round 4 will start at 8:00 AM, followed directly by the Men's Main Event at 9:15 AM, where $100,000 is up for grabs. Here's what to watch for.

1. Women's 6-Star - Round 4 - Heat 1
Carissa Moore (HAW)
Lakey Peterson (USA)
Chantelle Rautenbach (ZAF)

World Tour standout, Carissa Moore will take on top Junior surfer, Lakey Peterson as well as South Africa's Chantelle Rautenbach. Two quarterfinal spots are up for grabs.

2. Women's 6-Star - Round 4 - Heat 2
Laura Enever (AUS)
Tyler Wright (AUS)
Claire Bevilacqua (AUS)

An all-Australian affair - the Round four match up will see Laura Enever and Tyler Wright battle against World Tour surfer Claire Bevilacqua. Expect to see a highly competitive heat as a $50,000 first place prize is on the line.

3. Men's Prime - Round 1 - Heat 5
Cory Lopez (USA)
Miguel Pupo (BRA)
Torrey Meister (HAW)
Tom Curren (USA)

The heat-of-the-contest thus far: three-time World Champion Tom Curren takes on former World Tour surfer Cory Lopez, junior standout Miguel Pupo and Hawaiian ripper Torrey Mesiter.

4. Men's Prime - Round 1 - Heat 12
Yadin Nicol (AUS)
Jonathan Gonzales (CNY)
Paulo Moura (BRA)
Dane Gudauskas (USA)

Yadin Nicol, one of the most exciting surfers in the world, is up against local Dane Gudauskas, Paulo Moura and Jonathan Gonzales, who made the trip over from the Canaray Islands.

5. Men's Prime - Round 1 - Heat 15
Lincoln Taylor (AUS)
Julian Wilson (AUS)
Kai Barger (HAW)
Brent Dorrington (AUS)

Julian Wilson, voted to surf in the WPS All-Star event later this week, gets started in the Men's Prime event. Standing in his way are Kai Barger, Lincoln Taylor and Brent Dorrington.

6. Concert Stage - 4-7 PM - Cold War Kids and Soft Pack

The largest free music festival in the world starts Tuesday afternoon with the Soft Pack taking the stage at 4 PM, followed by the Cold War Kids. Come enjoy the free music on the sand at the HB Pier.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's Pick Six as Men's Round 2 starts Wednesday's action at 7:30 AM.

Editors Note: Dear & Yonder directors Tiffany Campbell and Andrea Lessler were awarded the Breakthrough Filmmaker of the Year Award at this year's Surfer Poll gala last week. We hope that very worthy honor will convince you to go check this film out. When you do I think you'll fall pretty hard for Lizzy Clark, one of today's most hardcore adventurist. In fact, you can read a lot more about Clark in the current issue of Surfer Magazine. We'll take this moment to congratulate Campbell and Lessler on a job well done. The text below is my reaction to the film after a screening in July. -- PG

When I was a grom, I had wonderful dreams about Paradise Island, which is not be confused with Fantasy Island, y'know, where Ricardo Montalban (RIP) and that little Tatoo guy (RIP) who used to always be searching for planes circling overhead. Anyway, Paradise Island is where Wonder Woman comes from. And well, as far as I was concerned back then, she was the hottest chick alive. Paradise Island is inhabited and ruled entirely by women. Incredible Amazon warrior women who were smart, beautiful, athletic, and yeah, really frickin' sexy. It was a lot for a 14-year old kid to handle. Go ahead, see for yourself.


Thing is, I'm pretty sure Paradise Island actually exist out there somewhere, and not just in the form of some Vegas strip club. When I saw a preview of the new chick flick, Dear and Yonder, which stars some of the hottest female surfers in the world, including Sofia Mulanovich, Stephanie Gilmore, Coco Ho, Kassia Meadore, Malia Manuel and the queen of wanderlust, Lizzy Clark, my faith in that belief was restored.

That this movie even exists is a bit of a dream come true for that kid in me. Packs of talented girls having fun together in bikinis while demonstrating their talent in perfect surf? Really, what's not to love? Yes, the whole thing is eye-candy, it's beautifully shot by Thomas and Tiffany Campbell, Sonny Miller, Dave Homcy and Scott Soens, and then put together nicely by Tiffany and Andria Lessler, utilizing some compelling hooks, from odes to the pioneers of women's surfing to modern day world champs, groovy artists, and exotic adventurist like Elizabeth "Lizzy" Clark, who has been sailing across the Pacific for the past couple of years in her 40' boat searching for waves. She will flat-out steal your heart in this film, and you'll wish you could jump on board with her.



Granted, it's a chick flick, but any theater showing this film stands a good chance of becoming its own little Paradise Island. And these aren't your average girls. These are Wonder Women. Do what you have to to get there.