Surf fans ready for frenzied celebration as Japan’s Kanoa Igarashi draws nearer to joining Tom Curren, Corky Carroll, Rob Machado in “Pantheon of Style Gods” with third U.S. Open win in grasp!

Witness history.

The U.S. Open of Surfing has a long and storied history. First held in 1959 as the “West Coast Surfing Championships” before evolving to the Op Pro on its way to its current U.S. Open moniker, the contest is much loved by both fans and surfers alike, allowing the former to mingle in the “festival-like atmosphere” underneath the pier and the latter to practice their high performance moves on the enviable lumps n bumps of the mighty Pacific.

With such a place in lore, it would be assumed that many fine champions have hoisted the Wallex Cup over their heads, and that expectation is entirely true. Sunny Garcia, March Occhilupo, Richie Collins, Alejo Muniz, CJ Hobgood have all won. The greatest competitor of all-time, Kelly Slater has done it 2.5 times (2011, 1996 and as part of Team USA in 1992), Brett Simpson, growing more stately with age, has won twice but only Tom Curren, Corky Carroll and Rob Machado have the honor of calling themselves Huntington Hat Trickers.

Three wins each.

Alone together in the Pantheon of Style Gods.

And so you can understand the unique thrill being experienced by surf fans at this very moment as Japan’s Kanoa Igarashi has a shot and barging through that alabaster door and pulling up a miniature throne betwixt them all. Corky Carroll nodding his head lightly. Machado raising a bowl of açaí. Curren somewhere out back playing hopscotch with field mice.

Historic.

Igarashi, who is well-known for spontaneous Tourettes-like celebration is set to come up against Australia’s George Pittar in quarterfinal four later today or maybe tomorrow. It will be their first ever meeting. If Carroll, Curren and Machado shine upon him, he will come up against either Jeff Marshall or Eric Hanneman in the semis. Griffin Colapinto lurks on the other side of the draw, if Igarashi makes it that far.

Major.

And we should waste no time in going straight to the action. The women are currently in the water but the men will certainly follow. Surfline is calling for “fun” 2 – 3 foot faces with side shore winds.

Watch here.

Buy Kanoa Igarashi jersey here.

This story number 4996 has been brought to you by LinkedIn which would like to remind you that, over there, Erik Logan is still CEO of the World Surf League.