U.S. Open of Surfing 2009

San Clemente’s Tanner Gudauskas is unable to hold on to his board during an aerial maneuver Thursday at the Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Rob Machado of Cardiff-by-the-Sea slashes from the top of a wave to advance to the next round.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Nine-time world champion Kelly Slater does an aerial 360 as he wins his heat and advances Thursday at Huntington Beach.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Rob Machado of Cardiff-by-the-Sea signs autographs after advancing to the next round.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Surrounded by fans, the famed Kelly Slater of Cocoa Beach, Fla. receives an escort.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Three-time world champion Andy Irons of Hawaii emerges from the surf Thursday. He too advanced to the next round.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Enthusiasts watch rivals from around the world compete Thursday in the Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing at the Huntington Beach Pier.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Venezuela’s Daniel Dhers performs a trick in front of a crowd.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Beneath the Huntington Beach Pier, a surfer watching the competition is silhouetted against lifeguard towers.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Mark Martinson, at the podium at right, is inducted into the Surfing Walk of Fame in front of Jack’s Surfboards. Also inducted: surfing icons Fred Hemmings, Jackie Baxter, Dukey Boyd and Wendy Botha. Martinson won the U.S. Championship in Huntington Beach in 1964.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Corky Carroll inducts Mark Martinson, left, into the Surfing Walk of Fame on Thursday during the Walk’s 50 Years at the Pier Celebration.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Another view of new Surfing Walk of Fame inductee Mark Martinson.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Kelly Slater competes in his heat at the Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing competition in Huntington Beach.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Bethany Hamilton competes in her heat. She finished second at this year’s U.S. Open of Surfing.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

A surfer walks out from backstage to compete at the Huntington Beach contest.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Richard Christie pulls a frontside grab-air maneuver in his second-round heat.  (Victor Decolongon / Getty Images)

Jeffrey Lukasik gets airborne during the Nike 6.0 Pro Junior Men’s Grade 2 event as part of the Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing on July 18 in Huntington Beach.  (Victor Decolongon / Getty Images)

Michael Bailey goes vertical on a backside off-the-lip during the Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing on July 19 in Huntington Beach.  (Victor Decolongon / Getty Images)

Jeffrey Lukasik slashes off the top on his backhand during the Nike 6.0 Pro Junior Men’s Grade 2 event July 18 at the Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach.  (Victor Decolongon / Getty Images)

Rikiya Kitada of Japan attempts an aerial maneuver during the Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing on July 19 in Huntington Beach.  (Victor Decolongon / Getty Images)

Keito Matsuoka of Japan slides off the top in his second-round heat at the Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing on July 19 in Huntington Beach.  (Victor Decolongon / Getty Images)

Kolohe Andino goes for air during a qualifying round of the Nike 6.0 Pro Junior Men’s Grade 2 contest at the Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing on July 18 in Huntington Beach.  (Victor Decolongon / Getty Images)