US OPEN SURF

Don't forget to go to the Huntington Beach Pier to support the City of Huntington Beach in a KTLA morning broadcast. The US Open of Surfing competition in Huntington Beach is part of the Bank of the West Games. This is one of the largest live-action sports events in North America, featuring the Honda US Open of Surfing, plus skateboarding, BMX, and freestyle motocross. Other entertainment at the Games includes volleyball competitions and concerts at the Bank of the West Concert Stage. The Bank of the West Games begin on Friday, July 22 and conclude on Sunday, July 31.

The Honda US Open of Surfing, presented by O'Neil, will take place from July 22-31 with pretrial rounds held July 22-24. Top surfers from around the world will compete in this event, which is North America's highest rated qualifying event and the world's largest surfing competition. Some of the surfers that will be competing for the prize purse of over $125,000 include Taj Burrow, Kelly Slater, Cory Lopez, Andy Irons, Rochelle Ballard and Chelsea Georgeson. Other divisions also include the Lost Pro Junior, the Target Women's Junior Pro, and the O'Neill US Open of Longboarding.

The Soul Bowl, another featured event at the Bank of the West Beach Games, will be held from July 28-31, and will showcase sports super stars of skateboarding and freestyle BMX competing to take home the top prizes. A highlight of the Soul Bowl will be the Arrowhead it's Better Up Here Contest, a competition for the highest air for skate and BMX. From July 29-31, spectators can enjoy one of the three freestyle motocross demos that will be taking place every day. Featured athletes may include Jeff 'Full Tilt' Tilton, Tommy 'Tom Cat' Clowers, Ronnie Renner, Mike Mason, and Taylor Sterner.

The Karch Kiraly Invitational, a 4-man Pro Beach Shootout, will also be taking place on the beach during the Bank of the West Games. This four on four volleyball competition includes nine total matches, 11 men and 4 women. This event will take place on July 30, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on July 31, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

From July 29-31, the Bank of the West Festival Pavilion will be set up on the beach. This interactive festival area will include the Honda Base Camp and the TransWorld Village, a gaming lounge, and more than 70 sponsor displays and vendor booths, and will keep everyone entertained in between the sporting events.

KTLA will be broadcasting live from Huntington Beach at the US Open of Surfing on Thursday, July 28. In addition to showing the action live at the Bank of the West Games, KTLA will also showcase Huntington Beach with stories on its history, local businesses, schools, and other special interests in the area.

The public is encouraged to come down to Pier Plaza by 7 a.m. to see the filming of the KTLA Morning News: First Edition, co-anchored by Emmet Miller and Michaela Pereira

Don't forget to visit www.bankofthewestbeachgames.com for more up-to-date information on any of the sporting events and to get a list of the artists who will be performing this year on the Bank of the West Concert Stage on July 30-31.