Marshall, Kerr claim emotional victories at 2026 Lexus U.S. Open of Surfing

Sierra Kerr (AUS) and Jake Marshall (USA) claimed momentous breakthrough victories as the U.S. Open concluded a historic 9-day event in Surf City, USA. 

HUNTINGTON BEACH — The 2026 edition of the U.S. Open of Surfing may go down as the best of all-time, which spans back to 1959. Stop No. 2 of the 2026-27 World Surf League (WSL) Challenger Series provided everything the Pacific Ocean could throw at the world’s top contenders and elite long boarders. Hurricane Genevieve made its way north from Mexico and provided some of the best waves Huntington Beach had seen in years.  

The men’s final featured an all-Southern California matchup between Marshall, an Encinitas resident seeking his first Open crown, and Huntington Beach native Kanoa Igarashi, who entered the final looking to win the event for a third time.  

Marshall secured his place in the championship heat with victories over Brazil’s Gabriel Klaussner and San Clemente’s Hayden Rodgers. Igarashi advanced by eliminating Peru’s Lucca Mesinas and fellow SoCal resident, Griffin Colapinto. 

With the title still undecided in the closing minutes, both finalists found opportunities on late waves. Marshall posted a decisive eight-point ride, forcing Igarashi to chase a 7.38 on his final attempt. The two-time champion was unable to find the required score, allowing Marshall to celebrate the biggest victory of his career in front of friends and family. 

“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. “This year has been one of the hardest competitive years of my life, and to win this event means so much to me.”

The 27-year-old, Marshall, has been among the world’s best for five years on the Challenger Series, and was the U.S. Open runner-up in 2021 behind Griffin Colapinto. He now sits at No. 1 in the Challenger Series rankings. 

In the women’s final, Sierra Kerr defeated fellow Australian Isla Huppatz with a late score to secure the championship. Kerr, who splits her time in Encinitas, completed an emotional return to the top of the podium following a recent battle with Lyme disease that left her hospitalized. 

“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.” 

Sunday’s smaller surf created opportunities for aerial maneuvers and technical combinations, a noticeable contrast from the heavier and more powerful conditions competitors faced earlier in the week.

Joining the podium earlier in the week were longboarders Avalon Gall (USA) and Tommy Coleman (USA) as 2026 Lexus U.S. Open victors. Gall added her name to Surf City history, with back-to-back wins, while Coleman’s insane wildcard run took him all the way to the top of the podium against longboarding’s finest in a maiden Longboard Tour debut. 

Gall goes back-to-back to regain No. 1 LT spot 

A historic moment for Avalon Gall was realized with consecutive victories at the U.S. Open of Surfing. Gall, 23, kept the event title in Southern California in 2025 following Rachael Tilly’s (USA) win in 2024, and continued to show she’s a WSL Longboard Title threat with another flawless run in Huntington Beach. Competing out of Laguna Beach, Gall, finished the 2025 season ranked No. 2 after narrowly losing out to three-time WSL Longboard Champion, Tilly.  “I really can’t believe it. It was such a fun day, and so many good waves. I’m just really happy,” said Gall. “I really want to shout out my mom and my dad for everything this week, all my friends, and my family. I have no idea how to celebrate this one.” 

In the longboard final, Hiroka Yoshikawa (Japan) held a slim lead heading into the 20-minute mark before Gall found her opportunity to strike with her signature style on a tricky Huntington wave and posted a 6.00 (out of a possible 10). Then, a priority mistake from Yoshikawa set up Gall with a Huntington gem to lock in a proper noseride, before finding a section to showcase her rail work and post the heat’s best, a 7.83, and all but solidify her back-to-back victory.

Wildcard magic by Coleman completes Southern California sweep  

From a relative unknown to the forefront of the WSL Longboard Tour scene, Tommy Coleman (USA) rattled the world’s best all the way to the top of the podium in his first-ever LT event. Coleman, 22, completed the Southern California sweep following Gall’s victory, as the San Clemente wildcard showed his style and poise, start to finish. One of North America region’s emerging talents, Coleman has competed at the Longboard Regional Qualifying Series (LQS) level since 2022, and showed the world his potential on his own hand-shaped board that he constructed just days before the event started. 

“It’s pretty cool, I don’t really know what to say, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to surf as a wildcard. I’ve been watching all these guys surf my whole life,” said Coleman. “I was here when I was 13 or 14 watching Justin Quintal hang-ten through the pier, so it’s pretty surreal.” 

Coleman had to overcome a world-class field throughout the event, beginning with former World No. 3 John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) in the Elimination Round and reigning WSL Longboard Title runner-up Edouard Delpero (FRA) in the Round of 16, before defeating 2023 event winner Kaniela Stewart (HAW) in the quarterfinals and Jomarie Ebueza (PHL) in an exciting Semifinal matchup. 

Next wave up     

The 2026 season continues this month with the Tahiti Pro. The event window is scheduled for August 8-18.