High School Girl Wins US Open
Monday 27 September 2021 Fifteen-year-old high school student Caitlin Simmers and Griffin Colapinto, who last won a WSL event when he was 16, have claimed the US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach.

SIMMERING ATTACK: Caitlin has a lethal backhand style for someone so young. Photo WSL / Morris
Simmers (USA), who is in Grade 10 at Coastal Academy High School in Oceanside, put on a dynamic display against Gabriela Bryan (HAW) and Colapinto’s (USA) massive triumph over Jake Marshall, from Encinitas in California, gave them the biggest win of their young careers. There's lots more surfing to come - the US Open of Surfing presented by Shiseido is the opening stop on the 2021 World Surf League (WSL) Challenger Series (CS).
Shane Sykes was top South African performer on the men's side. He impressed onlookers and commentators when he was leading his Round 2 heat, after opening with beautiful power surfing and style to score a 7-point ride, putting the pressure on his competitors. It was a nail-biting last few minutes, after Edgard Groggia (BRA) overtook Sykes, but the South African held on to advance to the next round over Joao Chianca (BRA) and Maxine Huscenot (FRA).
Sykes couldn't hold on to this momentum in his Round 3 heat and was ousted by Kade Matson (USA) and Lucas Silveira (BRA). With a 17th place finish, the 2,000 points will give Sykes a good boost heading into the next event in Portugal.

PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN: Sarah Baum finished in 9th place at Huntingtonb Photo WSL / Morris
Other noteworthy performances included Adin Masencamp's impressive Round 1 heat win over Thiago Camarao (BRA), Ian Gouveia (BRA) and Cooper Chapman (AUS). Masencamp fell in Round 2 in one of the biggest heats of the day against Ezekiel Lau (HAW), Kolohe Andino (USA) and Conner Coffin (USA).
Dylan Lightfoot and Slade Prestwich came up against fellow South Africans Matthew McGillivray and Shane Sykes in their Round 1 heats, but unfortunately couldn't continue their US Open fo Surfing Jordy Maree joined McGillivray and Masencamp in Round 2, but all three were eliminated after facing some tough competition and very difficult conditionscampaigns and were eliminated on Day 1. Jordy Maree joined McGillivray and Masencamp in Round 2, but all three were eliminated after facing some tough competition and very difficult conditions.
Sarah Baum got off to a good start winning her Round 1 against CT veteran Pauline Ado (FRA), Holly Wawn (AUS) and Ellie Brooks (AUS). The conditions at Huntington Beach deteriorated for Round 2, but Baum stayed focused and advanced to the next round alongside Sawyer Lindblad (USA), edging out two big names in Keely Andrew (AUS) and Teresa Bonvalot (POR).
In Round 3, Baum was dismissed at the hands of eventual semifinalist Coco Ho (HAW). The South African starts her Challenger Series campaign with 3,500 points on the board and will be determined to finish stronger in Portugal. As one of the lower seeds entering the event, Natasha van Greunen faced an enormous challenge in Round 1 Heat 1 against World Title threat Caroline Marks (USA), The Ultimate Surfer winner Tia Blanco (USA) and Daniella Rosas (PER). Van Greunen struggled to find the better waves and was eliminated, but she walked away with invaluable experience from her first Challenger Series event.

A WINNER: Caitlin Simmers confirmed what her fans have always suspected. Photo WSL / Morris
Back to the finals: Utiling her explosive backhand, Simmers put Bryan on the ropes with a 7.17 at 14 minutes, leaving the surfer from Kauai needing 7.83 in the dying minutes, but no waves came, and the 15-year-old immortalised herself with her first major WSL victory. She goes back-to-back at Huntington after winning the US Open Pro Junior in 2019. Simmers overcame two-time US Open victor and CT veteran Courtney Conlogue (USA) in the semifinals.
It was a phenomenal final between Colapinto and Marshall with San Clemente’s Colapinto taking the lead heading into the final ten minutes courtesy of a critical exchange that went Colapinto’s way with a 7.57 against Marshall’s 7.33. That decisive moment, with Colapinto’s progressive forehand in the dying minutes, proved to be the difference as Colapinto went on to his first-ever US Open victory.
“It’s been a long time, I won my last event in a Pro Junior when I was 16 years old and it’s been like a burden on me,” said Colapinto. “I had this weird intuition from the beginning of this contest that it was all going to come together and everything was feeling good. There’s so many people to thank; my parents are massive, my brother, my friends, my grandparents. I’ve just had such great support my whole life. They helped make me who I am today.”

FLAGGED: This makes a good start for Colapinto's new surfing season. Photo WSL / Morris
Colapinto overcame two big matchups on finals day ahead of his brilliant final that included rematches with both Liam O’Brien (AUS) in the quarterfinals, a rematch of the 2019 US Open semifinals, and semifinal with two-time US Open victor Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) in their grudge match from the 2018 final.
Next event is the MEO Vissla Pro Ericeira held at the iconic Portuguese pointbreak of Ribeira D'Ilhas from October 2 to 13. It's the first of two stops in Europe. The second stop will be the Quiksilver Pro France October 16-24.
Challenger Series surfers are competing for a chance to advance to the elite Championship Tour in 2022. The top three results will be counted at season's end. For the men, that means finishing in the Top 12. For the women, a Top 6 finish in this year's condensed four-event season earns a spot to the CT.
Global partners for the US Open of Surfing Huntington Beach pres. by Shiseido include Michelob Ultra, Jeep, Hydro Flask, Expedia, Red Bull, Oakley Sunglasses, and BFGoodrich join with event partners Frontier, Flying Ember, US Army, Apple Test, Fu Wax, Super73, Regional, DraftKings, and Waterloo along with local sponsor Visit Huntington Beach representing for Surf City USA.
{gallery}SLIDESHOW/2021/september/US-Open-Finals{/gallery}
Women's Final
1 - Caitlin Simmers (USA) 13.90
2 - Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 10.60
Men's Final
1 - Griffin Colapinto (USA) 15.20
2 - Jake Marshall (USA) 12.83
Women's Semifinal
SF 1: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 11.60 DEF. Coco Ho (HAW) 7.94
SF 2: Caitlin Simmers (USA) 14.83 DEF. Courtney Conlogue (USA) 10.34
Men's Semifinal
SF 1: Jake Marshall (USA) 10.37 DEF. Nolan Rapoza (USA) 9.50
SF 2: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 13.27 DEF. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 6.17