Sierra Kerr (AUS) and Jake Marshall (USA) claimed momentous Lexus US Open of Surfing Presented by Pacifico victories to conclude a historic event in Surf City USA. Arguably the best US Open of Surfing held in its history, which spans back to 1959, Stop No. 2 of the 2026/2027 World Surf League (WSL) Challenger Series provided everything the Pacific Ocean could throw at the world’s elite contenders and world’s best longboarders. Kerr and Marshall overcame all the obstacles to join Avalon Gall (USA) and Tommy Coleman (USA) as the 2026 Lexus US Open of Surfing victors. Plus, major runner-up finishes from reigning World Junior Champion Isla Huppatz (AUS) and Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) rounded out big finishes to get their 2027 CT qualification campaigns on track.
“I'm almost numb to winning this right now. It's been the hardest year ever and I never would've expected to be back here, winning this event. There were a lot of times where I didn't know what the future would hold,” said Kerr. “A lot of times that no one saw the tears, the pain, the not being able to get out of bed. Now, I'm just getting chaired up at the most prestigious event in the world, and I'm just so grateful. Just keep getting to tomorrow. No matter if you're going backward at that time, just keep getting to tomorrow. There's always a chance that tomorrow will be better, and it's better right now. Thank you to my family, my mom and dad, who have been there for me at my worst, and sharing this with them is incredible."
A rematch of the 2025 World Junior Championships held earlier this year set the stage for a monumental Final between Isla Huppatz (AUS) and Sierra Kerr (AUS), both in their first-ever Challenger Series Final. The all-Australian bout tested Huppatz and Kerr’s patience, as a heat restart followed 10 minutes without scoring opportunities. Kerr broke the silence to get the Final underway with a minimal score before she found another opportunity to capitalize on an early lead, showcasing her forehand precision and finishing the wave strong right on the sand in front of the Finals Day crowd to post a 4.50 (out of a possible 10). Then, Kerr reinforced her lead under priority to leave Huppatz in a combination situation, meaning she needed two new scores to catch Kerr, after another forehand opportunity earned a 6.50.
Fireworks ensued with Huppatz’s patience paying off to showcase her forehand attack and post the heat’s best of a 7.33, before a quick back-up took her to the lead. But, Kerr wasn’t done, and opened up once more on the first section to collect a 6.00 and overtake the lead, where she held firm until the very end to claim her first US Open of Surfing title.
Marshall Keeps US Open of Surfing Title in Encinitas After Dramatic Finish
A long-awaited major breakthrough win for Jake Marshall (USA) was realized for the Encinitas, Calif., competitor after numerous Final appearances. The 27-year-old, Marshall, has been among the world’s best for five years and awaits his first Final on the CT, but this marks Marshall’s second Final showing on the Challenger Series, following his runner-up here in 2021 behind Griffin Colapinto (USA). Now, Marshall adds back-to-back US Open of Surfing wins to Encinitas and a career milestone to his resume, surrounded by family and friends as he now sits at No. 1 on the Challenger Series rankings.
“I can't believe it. Coming in and having both my brothers on the beach is a dream come true. I never won a WSL event ever, even Pro Junior or QS,” said Marshall. “I just kept grinding and kept trying. I came up short a few times, and I just put my back in and kept going. This year has been one of the hardest competitive years of my life, and to win this event means so much to me. Just to win, I can't even put more words to it. To have my family and friends here, it's the best feeling in the world.”
CT contenders collided in the men’s Final, which featured Jake Marshall (USA) and Kanoa Igarashi (JPN, above), and the pair delivered a battle for the ages. Marshall’s quick start led to a pivotal exchange, witnessing Igarashi post a 6.67 to best Marshall’s 5.00, but Marshall’s heat total held a slim lead. Then, Igarashi found a gem to unleash his two-time US Open of Surfing winning forehand attack that earned a 7.40 and a solid heat lead. Encinitas’ Marshall showed patience with priority and waited for his chance to respond, and the ocean provided. Marshall’s backhand tagged the outside sections before making his way to the inside and smashed the end section with his friends and family, and the masses erupted. Needing a 7.31, the effort earned an 8.00, and it seemed Marshall was well on his way to a maiden win.
But, a buzzer-beating opportunity for Igarashi had the fans holding their breath before the score was revealed just short, crowning Marshall the 2026 Lexus US Open of Surfing victor.
Runner-up Finishes From Isla Huppatz and Kanoa Igarashi Complete Historic US Open of Surfing
The reigning World Junior Champion, Isla Huppatz (AUS), continues to show her CT-caliber potential and adds a maiden Challenger Series Final to her already incredible career resume. Huppatz, 18, had to overcome fellow Australian Sophie McCulloch (AUS) in buzzer-beater fashion all her own, proving she’s going to be a CT qualification threat in 2026/2027 as she now sits at No. 4 on the rankings.
“This was quite unexpected. I was having the worst free-surfs, and just finding waves in each heat to get through. And now just to be in front of this crowd, in a Final with Sierra, hasn't really sunk in it yet,” said Huppatz. “We've got a little break before we start up again in Brazil and Portugal. So, we'll start training and getting ready for those. But I'm really keen for a few more results."
Already cemented in Surf City USA legacy, Kanoa Igarashi (USA) nearly added his name to the record books once again with a third US Open of Surfing title. Igarashi became just the second athlete in the last two decades to go back-to-back at this event, in 2017 and 2018, following fellow Huntington Beach local Brett Simpson’s wins in 2009 and 2010. This marks Igarashi fourth US Open of Surfing Final, following a Quarterfinal victory over Lucca Mesinas (PER) and a CT caliber Semifinal, a rematch of the 2018 Final and 2021 Semifinal, with Griffin Colapinto (USA).
"First off, I just want to thank everyone that came out this week. You guys really brought the energy, and there's something really special about being at the US Open and being able to compete in front of all of you," said Igarashi. "It brings an atmosphere that's nowhere else in the world. I'm not just saying that because I'm biased and from here, I can speak on behalf of all the other surfers. I'm really proud to be from Huntington Beach. This is where I learned how to get barreled, where I'll be doing that next week at 10-foot Teahupo'o. This is a really special wave, and a really special week for me."
Plus, a major result for the likes of Hayden Rodgers (USA) pushed the San Clemente upstart to No. 9 on the rankings, alongside Brazil’s former CTer Deivid Silva (BRA), following their Quarterfinal clash, which moves Silva to No. 7.
Lexus US Open of Surfing Women's Final Results:
1 - Sierra Kerr (AUS) 12.50
2 - Isla Huppatz (AUS) 11.90
Lexus US Open of Surfing Men's Final Results:
1 - Jake Marshall (USA) 14.77
2 - Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 14.07
Lexus US Open of Surfing Women's Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Sierra Kerr (AUS) 11.57 DEF. Johanne Defay (FRA) 9.70
HEAT 2: Isla Huppatz (AUS) 12.67 DEF. Sophie McCulloch (AUS) 11.40
Lexus US Open of Surfing Men's Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Jake Marshall (USA) 12.70 DEF. Hayden Rodgers (USA) 11.27
HEAT 2: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 12.10 DEF. Griffin Colapinto (USA) 11.57
Lexus US Open of Surfing Men's Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Jake Marshall (USA) 14.07 DEF. Gabriel Klaussner (BRA) 12.20
HEAT 2: Hayden Rodgers (USA) 14.34 DEF. Deivid Silva (BRA) 10.60
HEAT 3: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 16.00 DEF. Mateus Herdy (BRA) 14.50
HEAT 4: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 12.34 DEF. Lucca Mesinas (PER) 11.73
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