Huntington Beach — Surfer Kelly Slater is carried through the crowd after winning the U.S. Open of Surfing.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38710

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Huntington Beach — Surfer Kelly Slater celebrates after besting Yadin Nicol to take the U.S. Open of Surfing.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38711

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Huntington Beach — Surfer Kelly Slater shows his winning form at the U.S. Open of Surfing. Slater bested Yadin Nicol to take the title.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38718

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Huntington Beach — Surfer Coco Ho competes in the women's quarterfinals of the U.S. Open of Surfing.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38712

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Huntington Beach — Surfer Yadin Nicol competes in the finals of the U.S. Open of Surfing on Sunday. Nicol lost the title to Kelly Slater.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38713

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Huntington Beach — Surfer Lakey Peterson competes in the semifinals of the U.S. Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach on Sunday, Aug. 7, 2011.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38717

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Huntington Beach — Surfer Royden Bryson gets airborne in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open of Surfing.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38722

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Huntington Beach — Surfer Sally Fitzgibbons show winning form in the finals of the U.S. Open of Surfing. Fitzgibbons of Australia edged American Lakey Peterson for the women's title.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38715

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Huntington Beach — A huge crowd gathers near the Huntington Beach Pier for the final rounds of the U.S. Open of Surfing.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38716

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Huntington Beach — Dane Reynolds wipes out during the All-Stars exhibition at the U.S. Open on Saturday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38677

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Huntington Beach — Kelly Slater rides through a tube during the All-Stars exhibition at the U.S. Open on Saturday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

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Huntington Beach — Julian Wilson gets air during the All-Stars exhibition Saturday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38679

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Huntington Beach — Kelly Slater bails out during his ride in the All-Stars exhibition at the U.S. Open of Surfing on Saturday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38680

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Huntington Beach — A broken board becomes a souvenir for spectators during the All-Stars exhibition at the U.S. Open of Surfing on Saturday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38681

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Huntington Beach — Spectators go into the water for pieces of a broken board during the All-Stars exhibition at the U.S. Open of Surfing on Saturday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38682

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Huntington Beach — Surfer Julian Wilson, center without hat, is mobbed by fans after coming ashore during the All-Stars exhibition at the U.S. Open of Surfing on Saturday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38683

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Huntington Beach — Carissa Moore competes in the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open of Surfing on Saturday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38684

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Huntington Beach — Lakey Peterson catches a wave during the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open of Surfing on Saturday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38685

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Huntington Beach — Kelly Slater earns a score of 9.6 as he flies over a wave in a qualifying round for the quarterfinals of the Nike US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38634

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Huntington Beach — Thiago Camarao loses control during a qualifying round for the quarterfinals of the Nike US Open of Surfing.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38635

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Huntington Beach — Evan Geiselman twists off the lip of a wave in a qualifier for the quarterfinals of the Nike US Open of Surfing.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38636

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Huntington Beach — Tanner Gudauskas cuts off the lip of a wave in a qualifier for the quarterfinals of the Nike US Open of Surfing.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38637

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Huntington Beach — Kolohe Andino fights to stay on his board after twisting 360 degrees during a qualifier for the quarterfinals of the Nike US Open of Surfing.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38638

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Huntington Beach — A dolphin swims near Kelly Slater as he lines up in a qualifier for the quarterfinals of the Nike US Open of Surfing.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

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Huntington Beach — People promoting Volcom products stroll along the Huntington Beach pier Friday during the Nike US Open of Surfing.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

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Huntington Beach — Thousands enjoyed the surf and sand in Huntington Beach during the Nike US Open of Surfing on Friday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

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Huntington Beach — Two-time defending U.S. Open of Surfing Champion Brett Simpson of Huntington Beach couldn't keep his feet on the board during this turn. He ended up losing his heat as well as his chance for a third championship.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38329

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Huntington Beach — Two-time defending U.S. Open of Surfing champion Brett Simpson shows his disappointment over losing his heat and chances of a third championship.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38330

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Huntington Beach — Huntington Beach Junior Lifeguards take their morning run to the pier as a surfer tries to see through the thick fog, which temporarily delayed the men's first round of 96 at the U.S. Open of Surfing.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38331

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Huntington Beach — A fan favorite, Rob Machado of Cardiff by the Sea shows nice form as he turns off a small wave. He ended up failing to advance to the next round during the men's first round of 96 at the U.S. Open of Surfing.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38332

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Huntington Beach — A sailboat is viewed between the pier pilings as a surfer waits for a wave in the men's first round of 96 at the U.S. Open of Surfing.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38333

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Huntington Beach — Zane Covenhoven, 14 months, takes in his first view of the ocean and the surf contest from the shoulders of his father, Seth Covenhoven of Minneapolis.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38334

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Huntington Beach — BMX rider Jeremiah Smith jumps off his bike high over a jump as a videographer captures the trick in preparation for the Nike BMX Pro at the U.S. Open of Surfing.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38335

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Huntington Beach — Spectators watch as a skateboarder soars over the bowl during the Skate International Jam in Stake Stadium at the U.S. Open of Surfing.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38336

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Huntington Beach — A crowd gathers as two men dressed as aliens try to high-five 10-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater as he arrives to surf in the men's first round of 96 at the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38258

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Huntington Beach — Ten-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater turns his board off the top of a wave amid small surf to take first place in the men's first round of the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38259

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Huntington Beach — Ann'e and J.P. Palmer from Arizona come to watch the U.S. Open of surfing every year with their "Woody" doll.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38237

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Huntington Beach — Gabriel Medina of Brazil wins his heat Tuesday at the 2011 Nike U.S. Open of Surfing.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38236

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Huntington Beach — With the pilings of the pier reflected in the wet sand, Australian surfer Matt Wilkinson walks along the water line Tuesday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38238

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Huntington Beach — American surfer C.J. Hobgood (holding surfboard) greets his fans after his Tuesday morning heat at the Nike U.S. Open of Surfing.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38239

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Huntington Beach — The grandstands at the 2011 Nike U.S. Open of Surfing begin to fill up for one of the skateboard competitions.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38240

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Huntington Beach — Spectators get an elevated view of the 2011 Nike U.S. Open of Surfing.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

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Huntington Beach — American surfer Chris Davidson competes in a heat Tuesday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38242

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Huntington Beach — Surf photographers from around the world wait, tripods and long lenses at the ready, on the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38243

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Huntington Beach — Spectators take in the Nike U.S. Open of Surfing on Tuesday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38244

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