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The Brief

The most important stories for you to know today
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  • Climate and Environment
    HB surf competition
    Canceled due to ... small waves
    By  Jill Replogle
    Published July 30, 2025 2:28 PM

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    A young woman in a red rash guard riding the nose of a longboard with the pilings of a pier in the background.
    Surfer Avalon Gall won the women's longboard competition at the Lexus U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach held earlier this week.
    (
    Kenny Morris
    /
    World Surf League
    )

    Topline:

    Competition at the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach was canceled today because the waves were too small.

    What tsunami? The teeny tiny waves are the opposite of what some feared would happen after an earthquake struck eastern Russia yesterday, setting off tsunami warning around the Pacific Ocean. The National Weather Services lifted its tsunami warning for Orange County and rest of the Southern California coast this morning.

    The party goes on: Despite the weak waves, the sun is out and the festival on the beach is still going on, with food, music and, of course, lots of U.S. Open of Surfing swag for sale. The actual surfing is slated to resume Thursday, when the waves are supposed to pick up at least a little bit. The competition ends Sunday.

    Competition at the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach was canceled Wednesday — not because of massive tsunami waves and intense currents, but because the waves were too small.

    What tsunami, you say? Exactly.

    How we got here

    The teeny tiny waves are the opposite of what some feared would happen after an earthquake struck eastern Russia on Tuesday, setting off tsunami warning around the Pacific Ocean. The National Weather Services lifted its tsunami warning for Orange County and rest of the Southern California coast Wednesday morning.

    A man in a red rash guard and wetsuit leans back on the nose of a longboard while riding a small wave to shore.
    Surfer John Michael Van Hohenstein competes in Heat 2 of the quarterfinals at the Lexus U.S. Open of Surfing earlier this week.
    (
    Pat Nolan
    /
    World Surf League
    )

    So what happens next?

    Despite the weak waves, the sun is out and the festival on the beach is still going on, with food, music and, of course, lots of surfing swag for sale. The schedule and more information here.

    The actual surfing is slated to resume Thursday, when the waves are supposed to pick up at least a little bit. The competition ends Sunday.
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