The Lexus US Open of Surfing ended with an all-Southern California showdown as Huntington Beach’s Kanoa Igarashi looked for his third title while Encinitas’ Jake Marshall chased his first championship.
Marshall reached the final after defeating Brazil’s Gabriel Klaussner and San Clemente‘s Hayden Rodgers, while Igarashi advanced by beating Peru’s Lucca Mesinas and fellow Southern Californian Griffin Colapinto.
The men’s final came down to the final minutes, with both surfers finding last-second waves. Igarashi couldn’t earn the 7.38 he needed on his final ride, allowing Marshall to claim his first US Open title.
“I can’t even put it into words, honestly,” Marshall told the OC Register. “It’s a dream come true.”
In the women’s final, Australian Sierra Kerr, who splits her time in Encinitas, defeated fellow Australian Isla Huppatz. The victory was especially emotional after Kerr’s recent battle with Lyme disease, which left her in and out of the hospital.
“No one saw the tears, pain, just not being able to get out of bed all night,” Kerr told the OC Register. “Now I’m getting chaired up at the most prestigious events in the world. I can’t believe it.”
Sunday’s smaller surf provided ideal conditions for aerial maneuvers, a contrast to the powerful waves earlier in the week. Kerr sealed the win with a late score in the final, while Marshall’s decisive 8-point ride held up despite Igarashi’s last attempt.
“Earlier this year, it was one of the hardest competitive years of my life, and to win this event means so much to me, just to win. And all my friends and family are down here, it’s an amazing moment,” Marshall told the paper.
