SoCal surfers dominate at US Open of Surfing

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) – Southern California talent took center stage at the US Open of Surfing on Sunday in Huntington Beach. 

Thousands packed the beach and pier for the final day of the World Surf League event, a nine-day surf festival held on the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier. Three-to-five foot sets, with occasional six-foot waves, powered standout performances that earned two Southern Californians a place in US Open history.

Encinitas surfer Levi Slawson and San Clemente’s Sawyer Lindblad won the men’s and women’s divisions of the WSL Challenger Series (CS) event, the ultimate proving ground for surfers aiming to qualify for the 2026 Championship Tour (CT).

Slawson, 21, earned his first CS title with a narrow win over Brazil’s Mateus Herdy, posting a 13.50 heat total in the final. The North County native now sits fourth in the Challenger rankings, keeping his CT hopes alive.

“I’ve worked so hard for these kinds of moments through my career," he said. “I’ve watched the US Open my whole life, and I’ve never even dreamt of being here.”

In the women’s final, 19-year-old Lindblad claimed her second US Open title, outscoring French standout Tya Zebrowski with a strong 13.17 total in a high-scoring heat.

“All year I worked really hard, and it felt deflating when it wasn’t playing out in the competitions, just not hitting in the heats,” she said. “But this feels really good and like it pays off. Thank you to everyone for watching and supporting me, and thank you to my family for coming down with me every day.” 

Lindblad’s 2023 US Open victory helped launch her CT career, where she earned Rookie of the Year. She now awaits her 2026 CT season, having already requalified earlier this year. This weekend’s victory solidifies her status as one of the sport’s rising stars. 

The US Open results shook up the leaderboard, with runner-ups Tya Zebrowski (FRA) and Mateus Herdy (BRA) emerging as new CT qualification frontrunners. Zebrowski now leads the rankings at No. 1, and Herdy jumped to the No. 2 spot. 

The 2025 Challenger Series continues with the Ericeira Pro, which holds a competition window from Sept. 29 to Oct. 5. 

In addition to the CS event, the US Open served as the opening stop of the 2025 Longboard Tour.

Laguna Beach’s Avalon Gall proved she’s worthy of the 2025 Season Wildcard with a Finals Day victory over fellow Californian and three-time World Longboard Champion Soleil Errico.

On the men’s side, Kai Ellice-Flint claimed another US Open title for Australia, overcoming four-time World Longboard Champion Taylor Jensen of Oceanside in the men’s final. 

Watch CS and Longboard Tour events live at worldsurfleague.com or on the free WSL app. 

Here are the US Open Finals Day results for the CS and Longboard Tour: 

Lexus US Open of Surfing Women's Final Results:

1 - Sawyer Lindblad (USA) 13.17

2 - Tya Zebrowski (FRA) 12.57

Lexus US Open of Surfing Men's Final Results:

1 - Levi Slawson (USA) 13.50

2 - Mateus Herdy (BRA) 13.27

Lexus US Open of Surfing Women's Semifinal Results:

HEAT 1: Sawyer Lindblad (USA) 10.07 DEF. Brisa Hennessy (CRC) 9.50

HEAT 2: Tya Zebrowski (FRA) 12.40 DEF. Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) 11.16

Lexus US Open of Surfing Men's Semifinal Results:

HEAT 1: Mateus Herdy (BRA) 13.04 DEF. Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 11.56

HEAT 2: Levi Slawson (USA) 13.43 DEF. Hiroto Ohhara (JPN) 11.93

Lexus US Open of Surfing Women's Quarterfinal Results:

HEAT 1: Brisa Hennessy (CRC) 12.53 DEF. Vahine Fierro (FRA) 10.33

HEAT 2: Sawyer Lindblad (USA) 12.00 DEF. Sophie McCulloch (AUS) 9.84

HEAT 3: Tya Zebrowski (FRA) 15.10 DEF. Nadia Erostarbe (ESP) 13.50

HEAT 4: Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) 12.93 DEF. Yolanda Hopkins (POR) 12.50

Lexus US Open of Surfing Men's Quarterfinal Results:

HEAT 1: Mateus Herdy (BRA) 16.33 DEF. Dimitri Poulos (USA) 14.57

HEAT 2: Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 12.76 DEF. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 12.37

HEAT 3: Hiroto Ohhara (JPN) 12.20 DEF. Taro Watanabe (USA) 10.07

HEAT 4: Levi Slawson (USA) 15.33 DEF. Kade Matson (USA) 14.20

Lexus US Open of Surfing Women's Longboard Final Results:

1 - Avalon Gall (USA) 13.50

2 - Soleil Errico (USA) 6.87

Lexus US Open of Surfing Men's Longboard Final Results:

1 - Kai Ellice-Flint (AUS) 13.83

2 - Taylor Jensen (USA) 12.06

Lexus US Open of Surfing Women's Longboard Semifinal Results:

HEAT 1: Soleil Errico (USA) 13.23 DEF. Chloe Calmon (BRA) 11.20

HEAT 2: Avalon Gall (USA) 9.83 DEF. Malia Ilagan (USA) 9.43

Lexus US Open of Surfing Men's Longboard Semifinal Results:

HEAT 1: Kai Ellice-Flint (AUS) 11.83 DEF. John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) 11.33

HEAT 2: Taylor Jensen (USA) 13.84 DEF. Rogelio Jr Esquievel (PHL) 12.77

Lexus US Open of Surfing Women's Longboard Quarterfinal Results:

HEAT 1: Soleil Errico (USA) 9.20 DEF. Natalia Wunderlich (HAW) 8.84

HEAT 2: Chloe Calmon (BRA) 15.00 DEF. Sophia Culhane (HAW) 8.83

HEAT 3: Malia Ilagan (USA) 12.60 DEF. Rachael Tilly (USA) 12.20

HEAT 4: Avalon Gall (USA) 12.63 DEF. Kelis Kaleopaa (HAW) 7.60

Lexus US Open of Surfing Men's Longboard Quarterfinal Results:

HEAT 1: Kai Ellice-Flint (AUS) 13.97 DEF. Steven Sawyer (RSA) 13.67

HEAT 2: John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) 16.33 DEF. Cole Robbins (USA) 14.47

HEAT 3: Taylor Jensen (USA) 11.27 DEF. Declan Wyton (AUS) 10.73

HEAT 4: Rogelio Jr Esquievel (PHL) 15.63 DEF. Kaniela Stewart (HAW) 12.67