US Open of Surfing canceled over coronavirus

HUNTINGTON BEACH (AP) - The Vans U.S. Open of Surfing, a summer competition that draws thousands each year to Southern California's Huntington Beach, has been canceled because of the coronavirus.

Organizers announced the cancellation on Monday, citing "continued health concerns and current guidelines surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic." The event will return in 2021, organizers said.

The surfing tournament is also a nine-day festival that packs the sand on the south side of the famed Huntington Beach Pier.

It features skateboarders and BMX bike riders who show off their skills in front of big crowds.

Since Vans took over sponsorship in 2013, the event has been more family-focused, offering movie nights and games for youngsters, the Orange County Register reported.

The event coincides with inductions into the city's Surfers' Hall of Fame and the Surfing Walk of Fame.

Last year Sage Erickson of Ojai, California, and Yago Dora of Brazil won the women's and men's divisions of the US Open of Surfing.

It was the first time the event paid equal prize money, with Erickson and Dora each receiving $30,000.