The Vans US Open of Surfing is the largest surf contest in the mainland United States. When it comes to butts-on-the-beach attendance, it’s the big daddy. No two ways around it. Annually, droves of (surf) fans turn up on the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier under an unrelenting Southern California sun to catch a piece of the action in the water and on the sand – with skate and BMX events, music, and vendors, there’s no shortage of things competing for your eyeballs. For spectators, heading down to the US Open comes with its fair share of givens: it will be dusty, it will be hot and sweaty, and it will be crowded. Period.
But, this year Michelob Ultra Pure Gold carved out a tiny slice of relief from all of those things on the far south end of the event scaffolding – a little oasis from which to escape rubbing shoulders with the hoi polloi. Not to mention, it was the only place on the beach where you could legally grab a USDA certified organic light lager. That’s right, folks. We’re talking 2.5 carbs and 85 calories, Pure Gold is triple-filtered and brewed free of artificial colors and flavors. We appreciate that. The Michelob Ultra Team offered us something of a perma-spot on their Surf Deck last week, which proved to be an elevated experience. And between the Adirondacks, bar stools, and fake foliage, watching Yago Dora and Sage Erickson triumph over the weekend, cold one in hand, felt downright refined.
On Saturday night, Michelob Ultra Pure Gold also hosted a friendly VIP gathering across the street at the Pasea Hotel featuring a live performance by Donna Missal to bookend an epic summer weekend. Here are some of the finest moments from a week well spent.
Editor’s Note: This feature is supported by our friends at Michelob Ultra Pure Gold.
