Simpson, who marched to a dream victory in front of his home crowd last year, surfed consistently throughout the event’s entirety to charge to a nearly unimaginable repeat performance to take his second consecutive US Open of Surfing title and mass of ratings points on offer towards his ASP World Ranking.  “Last year barely sank in and now I won this year,” Simpson said. “It’s so hard to mentally imagine it all over again because you have to stay consistent and surf so many heats. Luckily I zoned everything out and tried not to worry about the points or the money and that’s when I have competed the best. To be at home with so many friends and family, I’ve enjoyed it so much. To win out here two years in a row is unimaginable. ”

Simpson, who is currently competing on his rookie year on the ASP Dream Tour, jumped out to a quick start in his matchup against the South African juggernaut in the Final and built momentum throughout the heat, leaving Smith looking for a near-perfect score in the final moments of the ASP Dream Tour campaigner’s bout.  “Jordy (Smith) has been getting quick starts, so I tried to go out there and get a decent start,” Simpson said. “I got a five, and it was a low scoring heat, but all the waves I caught I maximized. Jordy had that one wave, where if he pulled that air it could have been a different ballgame. That’s the risk you take to be rewarded and with the level these days, that’s where it’s at. I kind of stayed conservative and built my scores, but either way, a win is a win.”

Simpson, who defeated reigning two-time ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS), 29, to win his 2009 US Open of Surfing title, rose to the challenge once again this year, topping a marquee list of surfers including nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (Cocoa Beach ,FL), 38, former ASP World Tour surfer Nathaniel Curran (Oxnard, CA), 26, ASP Dream Tour rookie Adam Melling (AUS), 25, and Australian standout Julian Wilson (AUS), 22, before defeating Smith in the Final.  “It’s amazing to beat those guys,” Simpson said. “I guess this is my best chance to compete against those guys and I know the wave really well and I just go out there and stay confident. I know which waves score the best and that’s all you can do against those guys.”

Smith, who posted the highest scores of the day in the Quarterfinals, ousted dangerous ASP Pro Junior surfer Miguel Pupo (BRA), 18, in the Quarterfinals and reigning two-time ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS), 29, in the Semifinals, but was unable to find a rhythm against Simpson and placed second overall.  “It wasn’t exactly J-Bay, it’s Huntington, it’s never going to be perfect,” Smith said. “You’ve got to kind of adapt to everything and Brett (Simpson) did that the best. It’s a big event and Brett has done it again, congratulations to him.”  Smith has been on an absolute tear throughout the 2010 ASP season and has been a consistent finalist in several events. Although Smith was hungry to clinch the US Open of Surfing title, he was pleased with the result and the ASP PRIME points “It’s still a good result,” Smith said. “We’ll see how the year goes from here. I don’t want to count my chickens before they hatch. I am having a pretty good year. I’m just relaxing and feeling confident.”

US Open of Surfing Men’s Final Results:
1 – Brett Simpson (USA) 13.97 ?
2 – Jordy Smith (ZAF) 8.33

US Open of Surfing Men’s Semifinals Results:
Heat 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 13.00 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 12.80?
Heat 2: Brett Simpson (USA) 13.37 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 13.33

US Open of Surfing Men’s Quarterfinals Results:
Heat 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 17.66 def. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 16.10
Heat 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.26 def. Jadson Andre (BRA) 16.07
Heat 3: Kelly Slater (USA) 13.94 def. Granger Larsen (HAW) 7.43
Heat 4: Brett Simpson (USA) 10.14 def. Nathaniel Curran (USA) 9.74

US Open Pro Junior Men’s Final:
1 – Evan Geiselman (USA) 12.57?
2 – Alejo Muniz (BRA) 12.54?
3 – Kolohe Andino (USA) 8.23?
4 – Miguel Pupo (BRA) 7.67

www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5e3Vm38zH0

Great Music and Surfing as Kelly Slater, Owen Wright, Dane Reynolds, Jordy Smith, Mick Fanning, Cory Lopez Advanced.  A few upsets with Rob Machado, Taj Burrow and Kolohe Andino being defeated. US Open of Surfing presented by Hurley and Nike 6.0 tore through the Round of 48 today with ASP Dream Tour standouts Dane Reynolds (Ventura, CA), 24, and Jadson Andre (BRA), 20, earning the event’s top scores with massive aerial.

Switchfoot Rocks the 2010 US Open

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRCtL9foMtE

Timmy Curran Plays the 2010 US Open

www.youtube.com/watch?v=sl76ympmXNs

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYJElkTDIZ4

What was once known as the infamous OP Pro, the US Open has evolved with Nike and Hurley really turning the entertainment up a few notches with music, skateboarding, BMX and of course world class professional surfing.  A few upsets as Andy Irons, CJ and Damien Hobgood being defeated.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2Z8ISSijsI

Nike and Hurley have really gone the extra mile to make the US Open a great professional surfing event in H/untington Beach once again.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiB8CbFMqVo

Surf Conditions: The current south-southwest swell backed down a bit on Thursday. A new, inconsistent southwest swell will slowly build on Friday and will be strongest over the weekend, although a little smaller and less consistent than the current swell for Huntington Beach. 

Watch Day 1 Highlights 2010 US Open of Surfing

www.youtube.com/watch?v=aV_orUGk_JY

48 Tom Whitaker – 0 Points
47 Mick Campbell – 1 Point
46 Shawn Joubert – 2 Points
45 Patrick Gudauskas – 3 Points
44 Roy Powers – 4 Points
43 Jadson Andre – 5 Points
42 Jeremy Flores – 6 Points
41 Marco Polo – 7 Points
40 Daniel Ross – 8 Points
39 Taylor Knox – 9 Points
38 Blake Thornton – 10 Points
37 Luke Munro – 11 Points
36 Drew Courtney – 12 Points
35 CJ Hobgood – 13 Points
34 Kieren Perrow – 14 Points
33 Dale Staples – 15 Points
32 Fredrick Patacchia – 73 Points
31 Bobby Martinez – 74 Points
20 Tanner Gudauskas – 75 Points
29 Nate Yeomans – 76 Points
28 Jay Thompson – 77 Points
27 Luke Stedman – 78 Points
26 Chris Davidson – 79 Points
25 Joan Duru – 80 Points
24 Ben Dunn – 81 Points
23 Dean Morrison – 82 Points
22 Travis Logie – 83 Points
21 Neco Padaratz – 84 Points
20 Kelly Slater – 85 Points
19 Tim Reyes – 86 Points
18 Kekoa Bacalso – 87 Points
17 Michel Bourez – 88 Points
16 Matt Wilkinson – 97 Points
15 Adrian Buchan – 98 Points
14 Dusty Payne – 99 Points
13 Tiago Pires – 100 Points
12 Mick Fanning – 101 Points
11 Brett Simpson – 102 Points
10 Andy Irons – 103 Points
9 Owen Wright – 104 Points
8 Dane Reynolds – 113 Points
7 Damien Hobgood – 114 Points
6 Adriano de Souza – 115 Points
5 Sean Holmes – 116 Points
4 Taj Burrow – 125 Points
3 Bede Durbidge – 126 Points
2 Adam Melling – 141 Points
1 Jordy Smith – 150 Points

Watch Kelly Slater vs. Sean Holmes in Round 3 of Billabong J-Bay

www.youtube.com/watch?v=afowcrmqck0

Just when I was applauding the judges for rewards those surfers who were doing the most critical turns in the most critical sections, I saw Kelly Slater surf against Sean Holmes in Round 3. What is saw hear was Slater get underscored as he laid his rail in more critical sections on wave after wave.  Sean Holmes caught better waves, but he surfed very conservative.  Holmes is a great surfer with a smooth style but clearly his injury was holding him back from critical turns in the pocket.

Watch Andy Irons vs. Sean Holmes in Round 4 of Billabong J-Bay

www.youtube.com/watch?v=19UrGR9VreI

I saw more beautiful surfing from Sean Holmes in this heat, but he continued to be more conservative.  Any Irons on the other hand laid his board on the rail and pulled some sick snaps.

Watch Bede Durbidge vs. Sean Holmes in Round 4 of Billabong J-Bay

www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8JxGIC5VFE

In this heat, it seemed like the judges got it right.  Watch Holmes first wave in which he scored a 3.67.  The judges would have scored it a 6 in the Slater or Irons heat’s but in this heat they got it right. In retrospect, the judges have over-scored Slater and Irons in heats years ago. Sean Holmes does rip and a little home court advantage should be expected.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqHWDEPT6-s

The most experienced surfer at Jeffreys Bay, Smith left very little to chance in the Final against Melling, opening his account with a blazing 8.90 before backing it up with some scintillating forehand surfing for a 9.03. The combination of scores (17.93 out of a possible 20) proved insurmountable for Melling.  “I knew the swell was dying and I had to take advantage of every wave that came through,” Smith said. “Adam (Melling) is such a dangerous surfer. He’s been in form all day and I knew that if he got the waves, he would get the scores. I went out there knowing I had to open up strong.”

After taking the ratings’ lead over former nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 38, yesterday, Smith solidified his position as the ASP World No. 1 with today’s emphatic victory. “It definitely is a different feeling,” Smith said. “To be chasing the lead and defending the lead are two different things. It’s a long year ahead and you can’t count anyone out until it’s over. I’m going to enjoy this feeling for now.”  Smith’s Final’s berth almost never was, as the big South African was comboed by lethal Australian Bede Durbidge (AUS), 27, with four minutes remaining in their Semifinal clash. Catching two waves in under a minute, Smith unloaded a barrage of aerials and forehand blasts to claw his way back into the lead.  “I’m still not too sure what happened -- it’s all a blur,” Smith said. “I got that first one where I did the little grab air that I didn’t think was good, but the judges scored the whole wave pretty well. Then I backed it up and put everything I had into it.”

Melling’s “Cinderella” climb to the Finals was nothing short of sensational. Rated a lowly 41st on the ASP World Title Race rankings heading into Jeffreys Bay, the 2010 ASP Dream Tour rookie powered his way through five rounds of competition before coming short in the Final. His Runner-Up finish sees him bumped up to ASP World No. 19, well inside the safety zone for the dreaded mid-year field reduction.  “The ocean didn’t cooperate with me in the Final so that’s a shame but I couldn’t be happier,” Melling said. “We had amazing waves and to get the best result of my career is huge. I came into Jeffreys with a long road ahead if I were to make the mid-year cut-off, and now that I’m 19th, I feel like I have a bit of a buffer heading into Tahiti. I worked really hard to get here and I want to stay here.”  For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay Final Results:
1 -- Jordy Smith (ZAF) 17.93
2 -- Adam Melling (AUS) 10.00

Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay Semifinal Results:
SF 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.83 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.40
SF 2: Adam Melling (AUS) 14.00 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 10.67

Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay Quarterfinal Results:
QF 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 16.43 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 9.20
QF 2: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 12.17 def. Sean Holmes (ZAF) 11.83
QF 3: Taj Burrow (AUS) 11.00 def. Dane Reynolds (USA) 3.66
QF 4: Adam Melling (AUS) 16.43 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 5.67

Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay Remaining Round 4 Results:
Heat 8: Adam Melling (AUS) 17.07 def. Dusty Payne (HAW) 11.50