2010 U.S. Open champion Carissa Moore
Lakey Peterson shows her disappointment following her semifinal heat.
HUNTINGTON BEACH – Santa Barbara’s Lakey Peterson navigated through a field of the world’s best women’s surfers this week at the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, surviving all the way through to the semifinals. Peterson’s run finally ended on Saturday when eventual champion Carissa Moore claimed their two-person semifinal heat.
Peterson’s showing was impressive in that it was the 15-year-old’s first U.S. Open.
It was a big stage to step on Saturday, with thousands packing the beach and the Huntington Beach Pier. At stake was a record cash prize for women’s surfing, including $50,000 for the women’s champion.
Moore won both of her heats on Saturday, starting with a 13.27-6.27 win over Peterson. Moore, from Hawaii, dominated the final against Australia’s Sally Fitzgibbons 12.50-3.83.
