Whatshot
Sage Erickson And Yago Dora VictoriousAt Vans US Open Of Surfing Presented by Swatch
Sage Erickson And Yago Dora VictoriousAt Vans US Open Of Surfing Presented by Swatch
Huntington Beach, California, USA is where the Vans US Open of Surfing presented by Swatch, a World Surf League (WSL) Men's and Women's Qualifying Series (QS) 10,000 event, crowned Sage Erickson (USA) and Yago Dora (BRA) as its respective winners in solid, three-to-five foot swell, with their awe-inspiring performances all week that culminated in massive wins.
The 2019 women's event marked a historic milestone for the QS with the first-ever QS 10,000 and equal prize money at the Vans US Open. Erickson claimed the all-California Final over defending event winner Courtney Conlogue (USA) in incredible fashion with one of the day's best performances -- a 15.43 (out of a possible 20) heat total. The Ojai native's backhand went to work while sitting in second place and smashed an excellent 8.17 (out of a possible 10) to pushherself in the lead and leave Conlogue in need of an 8.90 for the remainder of the Final.
In the men's event, the high-flying antics of Yoga Dora gave him his first win as he came firing right out of the gates on finals day with the day's top single-scoring wave of a near-perfect 9.27 after soaring through the air and landing it smoothly. The Brasilian CT elite had to overcome one of the Vans US Open's most insatiable dark horses to date, Liam O'Brien (AUS). Dora's excellent 8.60 on yet another massive air-reverse before shooting through the pierto finish it off in the Final ultimately sealedhis first-ever QS 10,000 victory.
"It feels so incredible right now and I just want to thank everyone who showed up today -- it's just amazing to surf in front of a huge crowd," Dora said.

