With one of the best performances of the competition, Kelly Slater advanced into the men?s final at the Nike U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach.
The 10-time world champion used a backside rotation with big hang time to post an astronomical 9.77 on one of his last waves. It took the judges less than a minute to score his run, and shortly thereafter, Slater had blown away Dusty Pain in the semifinals.
In the other men?s semifinal, San Clemente?s Kolohe Andino narrowly missed a comeback victory over Yadin Nicol when his second-to-last run came up a fraction of a point short of vaulting him into the lead. Nicol won with a two-wave total of 13.44, slipping past Andino, who had 12.87. The men?s final will take place at 2:11 p.m.
The women?s final is now set to begin with Santa Barbara native Lakey Peterson ready to face Australian Sally Fitzgibbons. Fitzgibbons is the second-ranked women's surfer in the world, but Peterson knocked out No. 1 Carissa Moore in the semis. ?
Also across the beach, Tony Hawk is preparing to compete in the Converse Costal Carnage skateboarding finals. The event will allow 15 skaters to show off their stuff in a giant blue bowl.
RELATED:
Filipe Toledo captures the U.S. Open of Surfing men's junior championship
Lakey Peterson of Santa Barbara is the junior women's surfing champ
Photos: The Nike U.S. Open of Surfing in Surf City USA
--Matt Stevens
Photo: Yadin Nicol cuts off the top of a wave during the men's competition at the U.S. Open of Surfing on Sunday at Huntington Beach. Credit: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times
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