Our favorite photo from the Hurley U.S. Open last week. Damien Hobgood rips in Huntington Beach before losing out to winner Brett Simpson.

Slater at the 2009 Hurley US Open.

This week at the Huntington Beach Pier, some of the best surfers in the world are competing in the U.S. Open of Surfing. From Kelly Slater to Rob Machado, the both men and women pros are all there to win one of the most coveted titles in surfing. Sponsored by Hurley, up to 500,000 fans will be there to cheer them on and participate in their late-afternoon concerts, Walk the Walk fashion competition, elite-level BMX courtesy of Nike 6.0 and a swarm of activity, demonstrations and booths surrounding the “50 Years at the Pier” celebration. The first major surfing event in the country was held at the Pier in 1959, making this a historical year for the surfing community.