Hello everyone!

The Oakley Pro Junior in Chiba kicked off last weekend. Dillon Perillo and myself travelled to the land of the sunrise and tried our luck in qualifying for the Oakley Global Challenge (that I competed in last year in Bali).

You may have heard that Dillon won! I was a little unlucky to get 3rd place!! Which is one spot off qualifying for the Global Challenge. I opened up with an 8.5 and needed a 4.00 for 2nd and a 5.25 for 1st. But the waves just weren't on my side.

So the past few days, Dillon and I have just been exploring Japan and having a fun little time together.

Check out some of the shots!

See you soon!

CREWSY

He'll now compete for big money in Bali in October

Hurley's Dillon Perillo got it done. After narrowly missing qualification at Lowers for the $75,000 Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge, he decided to cross the Pacific this past weekend and make it happen at Shidashita Point in Chiba.

Going up against fellow Hurley rider Mitch Crews, Aussie Chris Friend and Japan's Arashi Kato, Dillon came through in the small beachbreak conditions. He'll now join a growing list of Junior heavy hitters for the Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge in Bali in October — the richest Junior event on tour.

Congrats, Dillon!

Local hero Brett Simpson takes home the largest prize purse in surfing history. Check the gallery here. Photos: Michael Lallande and Beau Roulette

Before 150,000 screaming fans, Brett Simpson fulfilled a childhood dream: to win the US Open at his home break. He couldn't have picked a better year to do it, as his main sponsor, Hurley, had an unprecedented $100,000 on offer for the winner. "There's nothing better than sleeping in my bed during the biggest event of my life," said Simpson. "I stuck to the same routine all week, and somehow it all worked out. I can't even begin to describe what I'm feeling right now."

Simpson defeated 2007 world champ Mick Fanning in a final that saw some exciting exchanges in the beginning but lulled out toward the end as the tide increased. But the lull couldn't come soon enough for Simpson, who took the lead from the opening exchange and never gave it up. His best wave, a big hack with an air reverse on the end section, earned a 9.1. “When you’re riding on the ski in front of the crowd and you hear the applause it definitely pumps you up,” Simpson said. “Every time I was feeling a bit tired, the energy level of the crowd would lift me right up. It’s unbelievable to have all the support and my family and friends here with me. This is the best day of my life.”

After a few years of close calls on the World Qualifying Series, Simpson is now in good position for the coveted Top 45. This is by far his biggest win and the most significant result of his career. "I'm really focused on the points right now," he said. "But for Hurley to step up is just so good for the sport. To be the winner of the biggest prize purse ever is just icing on the cake for me."

The Hurley US Open of Surfing will certainly go down as one of the most -- if not the most -- US Opens of all time. So many memorable moments occurred over the nine-day period, it's impossible to list them all here. But a few that will be added to the "50-year timeline": Kelly's perfect 10 in the Round of 16, CJ Hobgood's impossible escape acts, Kai Barger's dominance in the Nike 6.0 Jr. Pro, 16-year-old Courtney Conlogue's gutsy performance, putting together the highest combined heat score for a female in US Open history and, of course, local boy Brett Simpson collecting the record-breaking 100K check.

As longtime observer and former world champ Peter "PT" Townend says, "The ultimate surf stadium is back, and it's bigger and better than ever before."

For full results from today's action, go to: www.usopenofsurfing.com/LIVE.

[Special thanks to the City of Huntington Beach, the HB lifeguards and police department and all the people who helped make this event the best US Open in history.]

Cutting through the fog in the Round of 144. All Photos: Michael Lallande

Huntington woke up with a case of the Mondays today as the weekend's perfect weather transformed to thick, summer fog at dawn. That put the Hurley US Open of Surfing on hold for an hour and a half, but when the mist lifted, we were greeted to fun, shoulder-high peaks and relatively light winds all day.

Nat Young wasted no time in picking up where he left off in the NIke 6.0 Pro Junior when he posted a 9.4 — the day's highest score. Surfing down toward "Machado's Peak," the 17-year-old upstart from Santa Cruz went right and opened up with three vertical hacks. "Definitely liked the rights out there today," said Young. "They're a little bowlier and offer more potential."

Young will now surf against the big boys in the Round of 96, with Damien Hobgood, Sunny Garcia and Tonino Benson filling out his heat. With 100K on the line, you can be sure that the veterans won't go easy on the rookies. "I don't care who I have to paddle over," 2000 world champ Sunny Garcia said. "I'm gonna do everything I can to win this contest."

Other success stories today included fellow up-and-comer Evan Geiselman, who nailed an air reverse for a big win. His older brother, Eric, also came up with a victory, while World Junior Champ Kai Barger marched on with a first-place scalp.

Perhaps South African standout Travis Logie summed up the day best after cracking a left three times for a win. "This place just makes you excited to perform," he said. "It's one of the closest things we have to a stadium."

Tomorrow will finish up the Round of 144 and begin the Round of 96. This is where the top seeds lie in waiting, including nine-time world champ Kelly Slater, three-time world champ Andy Irons and 2007 world champ Mick Fanning. In other words, there's a whole lot of star power about to shine at the Hurley US Open of Surfing.

Stay tuned for regular video updates right here at the Pier.

Stay tuned for more extensive coverage of the US Open of Surfing on www.hurley.com and www.usopenofsurfing.com.

For up-to-the-minute updates, follow us on Twitter@HurleyLive.

For full results from today's action, go to: www.usopenofsurfing.com/LIVE.

Evan Geiselman breaks out. Photos and the full story from the Nike 6.0 Pro Junior. All Photos: Michael Lallande

New Smyrna's Evan Geiselman — a key member of America's big Next Generation push — lived up to his billing today at the Nike 6.0 Pro Junior at Huntington Beach. In wind-hacked, high-tide conditions, EG posted an 8.0 and 9.0, respectively, in the Round of 32, the highest combined heat total of the day. "I've been surfing here a week and haven't made a single reform," said Geiselman, whose 9.0 featured a big air reverse in the shorebreak. "That heat, I made two. Board's feeling great. I'm on old faithful."

Other standouts today included 2009 NSSA Open Mens National Champion, Kolohe Andino. "Fun little peaks out there," said a growth-spurting Andino. "My board's feeling good and I'm having fun. That's all that matters." ISA World Junior Champ Keanu Asing, World Junior Champ Kai Barger, Pro Junior heavy hitter Dillon Perillo and Santa Cruz standout Nat Young also won their Round of 32 heats.

Three Rounds were completed today at the Nike 6.0 Pro Junior, Day One of the Hurley US Open of Surfing. Running all the way through Sunday, July 26, this year is shaping up to be the biggest yet with a large swell forecasted for next weekend and 100K on the line for first place. As Surfline's Sean Collins said, "Prepare for the biggest swell of the summer."

Stay tuned for more extensive coverage of the US Open of Surfing on www.hurley.com and www.usopenofsurfing.com.

For up-to-the-minute updates, follow us on Twitter@HurleyLive.

RESULTS
NIKE 6.0 PRO JUNIOR, HUNTINGTON BEACH
ROUND OF 32
HEAT ONE
1. Dillon Perillo
2. Kaimana Jaquias
3. Fisher Heverly
4. Dane Zaun

HEAT TWO
1. Kolohe Andino
2. Evan Thompson
3. Nick Rupp
4. Tyler Newton

HEAT THREE
1. Stuart Kennedy
2. Cody Thompson
3. Ian Gentil
4. Albee Layer
HEAT FOUR
1. Kai Barger
2. Adam Lambert
3. Spencer Regan
4. Koa Smith

HEAT FIVE
1. Nat Young
2. Matt Pagan
3. Tyler Brothers
4. Dylan Melamed

HEAT SIX
1. Evan Geiselman
2. Charles Martin
3. Brent Reilly
4. Brett Barley

HEAT SEVEN
1. Oliver Kurtz
2. Andrew Doheny
3. Dylan Goodale
4. Luke Davis

HEAT EIGHT
1. Keanu Asing
2. Tonino Benson
3. Michael Dunphy
4. Makai McNamara

In between crews, we offer a photo gallery from the Telos. Photos: D. Hump

All is quiet at the Hurley True Performance House in Bali right now. Quiet, peaceful, like a calm before the next storm. Kekoa Cazimero just left last night. Kalani Robb bailed a couple of days ago. And now video whiz Tom Aiello is there alone, logging all his stellar footage from the first half of the season.

He better work fast, because as we type this, Hurley's best up-and-comers — including Conner Coffin, Evan Geiselman, Christian Saenz and Jake Halstead — are on their way and ready to mix it up. Stay tuned. The final two weeks at the Hurley True Performance House could be ones to remember.