Whereas the 60th U.S. Open of Surfing will take place from July 27 to August 4, 2019, in Huntington Beach, California; Whereas the surfing competition has taken place annually in Huntington Beach since 1959; Whereas the U.S. Open of Surfing attracts hundreds of thousands of people to Huntington Beach every year; Whereas Huntington Beach is known as Surf City USA ; Whereas the competition, formerly called the West Coast Surfing Championship, the United States Surfing Championships, and Ocean Pacific Pro, established its current name in 1994; Whereas the U.S. Open of Surfing awards a $10,000 first place prize, one of the largest prize purses in the industry; Whereas the competition serves as a World Surf League qualifier; Whereas the entire event is free and open to the public and includes activities such as customization workshops, onsite surfboard shaping, art installations, and more; Whereas the event was extended to include other action sports, including skateboarding and BMX; Whereas Jack Haley and Linda Benson were the first champions of the competition in 1959, in the male and female categories, respectively; Whereas Corky Carroll won the competition in 1966, 1967, and 1969, and later became the first professional surfer as well as the first surfer offered paid endorsements; Whereas Joyce Hoffman, after winning the U.S. Open of Surfing four times, became the first internationally recognized female surfer; Whereas notable surfers are inducted into the Surfing Walk of Fame and to the Surfers’ Hall of Fame as part of the event; Whereas the local hero award is presented to a surfer who has resided in Huntington Beach for at least 10 years or has graduated from the Huntington Union School District, has contributed to Huntington surfing culture, and has been a finalist in surfing competitions