JULY 28 - AUGUST 5, 2012 at Huntington Beach Pier

It's a common scene at U.S. Open of Surfing and Beach Games. Pro surfers carry multiple surfboards under their arms to get the local water conditions down pat with the best tool to ride them, and back ups should something happen to the favorite tool of the trade.

This mega-surfing competition draws surfers from around the globe, thanks to a decent purse for the one big men's winner. The event  is ranked a 6 Star World Qualifying Series (WQS) surfing competition that adds to cumulative points on a season of surfing in the organization and its events hosted around the globe.

Because another event, the Vans Pier Classic at Huntington Beach ranks a 4 Star in the WQS, most surfers agree that the US Open of Surfing and Beach Games in Huntington Beach doesn't really provide the quality of waves that you'd normally find in a 6 star event. However, since the winnings are sizeable and the crowds are the largest of any US Surfing event, the 6 star rating is within the realm of what you'd expect for that kind of purse.