Vans returned to sponsoring the US Open of Surfing this week after a hiatus during Covid, and once again the industry turned out for the contest and also the annual festivities such as the Surfing Walk of Fame and Surfers’ Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.
SES spent some time in Huntington Beach this week, and we have photos of the industry folks we saw along the way and a few from the festivities as well.
Many of the major events are focused around three companies – Vans, which sponsors the main contest; Jack’s, which sponsors the Surfing Walk of Fame; and Huntington Surf & Sport, which sponsors the Surfers’ Hall of Fame. But many industry brands and brand leaders also participate in different ways.
One thing we were impressed with: Several top corporate executives at Vans were working shifts at the busy Vans store at the contest.
Outside the Vans store, which is about 50% smaller than the last Vans store at the US Open with more focused stories
The Volcom team at the Jack's lunch
Team Billabong at the Jack's lunch
The O'Neill table at the Jack's lunch
Team Vans at the Jack's lunch
Jack's partners Ron Abdel, second from left, and Bobby Abdel, far right
Walk of Fame Honoree Brett Simpson and Board Member Ron Abdel
Walk of Fame board members, and teams from Sun Diego and Eziekiel
HSS Owner Aaron Pai at the Surfers' Hall of Fame ceremony, which the Pai family organizes and sponsors
Taylor Pai, kneeling on the far left, during the Surfers' Hall of Fame event
Bob Hurley at the Surfers' Hall of Fame ceremony
Pat O'Connell at the Surfers' Hall of Fame ceremony
Vans Americas GM David Tichiaz organizing shirts in the store - several corporate executives helped the retail team in the store
More top Vans executives who pulled shifts at the Vans store: Frank Neumann, who's in charge of Global CLM, Analytics and Loyalty; Sylvia Niles, who runs ecommerce for the Americas; Katie Bongiovanni, who's in charge of Global Digital; and Americas GM David Tichiaz
Vans Kelcie Button, who works in an Austin-area Vans store, Global Chief Marketing Officer Kristin Harrer, Americas GM David Tichiaz, and Jennifer Garcia who works at a Vans store in Los Angeles
The Vans store offered extensive customization options
The shoe offering at the Vans store
The Vans store is stocked with lots of contest merchandise
The store also highlights key product and sustainability stories, such as the first signature shoe from skater Lizzie Armanto
The WSL store at the contest
WSL jerseys - the adult sizes sell for $60
The WSL jerseys in stock at the WSL store on the sand
The Vans store showcased sustainability stories, including this art piece made of objects found on the beach
You see lots of Vans bags at the contest
