I have heard from several longboard pros that there will be no longboard event in the 2009 US Open now that Hurley has been named the main sponsor for the event. It looks like it has been taken off the schedule on the ASP website too. How can this be happening?? What a shame.

If true, this decision demands an explanation. The longboard division at the US Open has been an integral part of the event for several years and has been a central stage of the competitive longboard scene.

I'll try to get a hold of someone at Hurley and see if the public relations person can establish whether this is true and, if so, why. Financial difficulties in this time of an economic slowdown will likely surface as an explanation, but at least a formal explanation is in order. If anybody has the inside story on this one, please don't be shy to post.

If financial difficulties, this is the time more than ever to keep the longboard division on. It's too bad. I hope to see an explanation.

-hurley does not like lonboarding and he wanted to see it out of the us open- is what i got out of it. after henry fords meeting with the asp and ppl from hurley. so yes longboarding is out this year.

bob hurley is toolbag.

longboarding can make it back to the open if nike (hurley) goes out of business and another company sponsors it. but thats unlikely.

Well,it is one thing to not like longboarding, but to completely boot the event out of the US Open is a bit drastic and not very economically smart in this tight economy. Hurley has certainly lost my business.

Hi All,

Since this post started, we've had a lot of people contacting us and expressing their take on the alleged drop of the longboard division at the US Open 2009 of Surfing as a result of Hurley's take over of the sponsorship. To try to sort this out, I've contacted Hurley and am now waiting for a formal response. Let's give them a chance and see if they give us their side of the story. Below is the email I sent them.

QUOTE:
Hi there,

I work for an action sports media company that runs both a website (http://mylocallineup.com) and a TV show. Many of our users have contacted us (some posted questions and comments on our forum) about the alleged drop of the longboard division as a result of Hurley taking over the sponsorship of the US Open of Surfing 2009. Two questions. First, is it true that you decided to drop the longboard division? And second, if so, can you provide an official explanation? I appreciate your attention and look forward to hearing from you. A formal statement from you will likely help put many taboos to rest, which I fear are now negatively reflecting on Hurley.

Thanks in Advance.

What ever happened with this issue, did Hurley ever reply?

There is an article scheduled to go up on Monday (06.01.09) on this topic. We've contacted both Hurley, the US Open organizers, and talked to several professional and non-professional surfers. The piece will also be included in the newsletter that is scheduled to out the Monday the story goes up.

Hey All,

As scheduled, the story went up on Monday (06.01.09). Here is the link to the Hurley/longboard article.

I've heard that Hurley is having a invitation only noseriding event this year to appease the longboaders. Well, I am sorry, but that is just not enough. There is no reason that they should have dropped longboarding from the US Open in the first place.

Forward from Michelle Connelly:

CORONA NOSERIDING INVITATIONAL


One of the most time-honored and difficult maneuvers in surfing is staying perched on the nose for an extended period of time. As it was 50 years ago, it remains so today, which is why we’re proud to honor that tradition at the Hurley US Open of Surfing with the Corona Noseriding Invitational. “Noseriding is kind of a lost art,” says eight-time US Open Longboarding champ Joel Tudor. “It’s the best thing about longboarding and it’s great that it’s getting recognized in this event.”

Along with Tudor, seven other of the world’s best tipsters will put their toes to the test at the South Side of the Huntington Beach Pier. The list of invitees includes: CJ Nelson, Kevin Connnely, Christian Wach, Harrison Roach, Alex Knost, Tyler Warren and living legend and HB native Herbie Fletcher. Unlike standard longboarding events, the Corona Noseriding Invitational will be all about extended seconds on the front of the board. The event is set to run Saturday and Sunday, so bring down your stopwatches and prepare to be amazed. As Tudor says, “This is a whole different style of surfing. And, with the crew we have, it can be equally as exciting.”

That is cool that KC got in at least somebody from down south can represent. I guess its the US invitational but only 8 are allowed...thats b.s.

I was told Hurley along with other shortboard sponsors are not putting money into longboarding (even though they sell to all surfers) because of the whole thing Joel started back in the early 2000s.(NOT BECAUSE OF JOEL) Black suits, no sponsor stickers showing and to be completely underground created a following of "soul-junkie wanna-be's" and it ended up taking the publicity right out of the sport. Not to say anything bad about him or what he has done for the sport. He has done great things for bringing logging back, and I for one ride a single fin most of the time...probably because of his influence on me.

Unfortunately as a result, the image that longboarding has protrayed to the masses is that we 'longboarders' are too retro and old-school to represent sponsors. When these high profile companies see that longboardings top guys are spray painting over their custom new boards to look like old back yard boards. As well as spray painting wetsuits because its cool to cover logos up. Just proves what these companies have been saying about Longboarding...that longboarders make it a hard market to advertise in.

Any surf mag you look at has the best guys Slater, both Irons, both Lopez, Pancho, etc. Its all the same they have brand new trunks, wetsuits, boards and stickers a blazing. Every page is the same, they are billboards in and out of the water. that is why longboarding will never get the exposure it deserves.

My hat goes off to Billy Harris, he does it right by showing off his sponsors all over himself and his board. He worked hard for them as we all do and they (sponsors) make it possible for us to do what we do. If we want Hurley and Levi and all these other companies to jump on board then we longboarders as a whole community need to be a little more like the shortboarders and maybe with a little help from the big dogs they may make shortboarding a little more like longboarding.

I am pretty bummed about the U.S opens decision I just hope the longboard community realizes that we need flash and in your face surfing just like the shorties if you want the same opportunities. From what I see lboarding has a long ways before people start rep-ping logos like they did in the mid 90's and early 2000's.

As you can see Im pretty P.Oed about this whole thing.
sorry for the rant I just needed to get it out...

Miki Dora used to rail against the commercialization, but he used it like everyone else. Beach blanket movies, sponsored trips to the islands, annuities from Quicksilver. So while he personally hated the labels, he used them to build his own financial security without ever really having to pick up the tab. That's a science in itself. How to ratf__k the system without gettin' any on you. When he died they found about half a million in silver coins, gold, and certificates in his bank accounts. But he never really competed regularly.

I guess we (longboarders) should be happy that there is at least some form of longboarding at the US open but for them to hold it has an invite only is just lame. It is called the US Open for a reason, so that it is open to all not just a select few. Not going to lie, I'm not too excited to watch a nose ridding contest at HB pier. Don't get me wrong South side is a great wave when it's on, but it is a high performace paradise.

I don't think any longboarders should support the event, it is a slap in the face to longboarding. The event is a hand picked eight man noseriding contest, everyone else is out of luck.

Excellent point JRapozo on the event title "US Open of surfing" and Durtywood on longboarder's lack of marketing. Longboarding is so rich and the history behind surfing is in fact longboarding. With Velzy pioneering the surfboard manufacturing scene, surfing derives from that of riding longboards. Why they chose to make it an 8 man invitational I do not know, but I would have to agree with gretchenharris that it's just a slap in the face to this wave riding sport. I shortboard, never picked up the longboard, but i have to say it's amazing to watch guys like micah wood and billy harris do what they do. Hopefully we'll see a change next year.

Isn't it nice that Hurley came out with the headline yesterday "Hurley Announces $100k First Prize for ASP WQS 6-Star Hurley U.S. Open" For anyone wondering if money had anything to do with longboarding being dropped from the US Open, think again. Usually, the longboard division of the US Open only has a 10,000 purse, don't tell me Hurley could not afford to have it in the event. Hurley has slapped longboarders in the face! Anyone who longboards should not support any Hurley events and when you go in to buy that pair of board shorts or bathing suit bypass the Hurley section!

Does anyone know the results of the Corona Nose Riding Invitational? I can't find anything on the internet, no pics, no video, no story, no rsults....Nothing.

Kevin Connelly won -- see results here.

Info is hard to come by, but Fuel TV has a couple videos of the event. http://www.fuel.tv/USOpenofSurfing/videos/view/12826

All the riders are amazing but I'm extra impressed by how Tudor refuses to compromise his form for a second or two on the nose. The dude's got style...

What happened to CJ? I couldn't find any comments or video of him. I figured he was a shoe-in for a podium spot.

Here we go, less talking and more surfing footage from the Corona Noseriding Invitational Final:

http://www.mylocallineup.com/200907291006/videos/contests/corona-noseriding-invitational.html

CJ got injured so they filled the spot with Herbie Fletcher's son Christian who is mainly a shortboarder--what a joke! There are hundreds of great noseriders out there who would have loved that "elite" spot in the "elite" noseriding event!

If Joel Tudor brought logs back to life without corporate sponsors stapled to his forehead like Kelly Slater and all the other rich trolls in professional surfing then he or others like him are not responsible for it being lost due to the lack of logos being seen on their boards or clothing. Basically a new birth of longboarding is coming, it's performance longboarding (which makes me sick). I'm fine with logging not being so popular, if people don't truely love it, then don't do it. Don't go do something just because someone else is in a magazine doing it. You can go to any beach in San Diego and see logging at it's best. Leave it to shortboarders to run out to the nearest surf shop and buy exactly what Parko, Taj or the Iron brothers are wearing and surfing like a bunch of trolls. Then they can slam a red bull or two, go to the beach and all hate each other and longboarders and they can practice their aerial 360's. Surfing has no problem being popular out of the professional/magazine world. Do not worry about sponsors and competive surfing when it comes to soul surfing and logging. It will never die and we won't let it. I will continue to ride my heavy single fin forever. If you ever see me get to the nose and do a karate kick then please throw rock at my head!!