Kelly Slater, Taj Burrow to meet in U.S. Open of Surfing quarterfinals

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Sunday’s surfing is set in Huntington Beach.

Kelly Slater, ranked No. 3 in the world, qualified Friday for the U.S. Open of Surfing quarterfinals, and Saturday morning No. 4-ranked Taj Burrow posted a winning score to join him. The matchup between two of the world’s top 10 will highlight the final three rounds of the men’s surfing competition, which is set to run all day Sunday.

Hours later Saturday, the women took to the water in a battle of champions for a spot in the semifinals. Freshly crowned ASP world champion Carissa Moore narrowly knocked out Santa Ana native Courtney Conlogue in what is becoming a budding rivalry. Moore will face Santa Barbara’s Lakey Peterson in the semifinals while No. 6-ranked Coco Ho will battle No. 2-ranked Sally Fitzgibbons.

Ho pulled an upset over four-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore to advance. Gilmore, Fitzgibbons and Moore were all semifinalists in the Roxy Pro Biarritz competition in July, where Moore emerged as world champion based on accumulated points.

Men’s quarterfinals

Dusty Payne vs. Tanner Gudauskas

Kelly Slater vs. Taj Burrow

Dane Reynolds vs. Kolohe Andino

Royden Bryson vs. Yadin Nicol

Women’s semifinals

Lakey Peterson vs. Carissa Moore

Sally Fitzgibbons vs. Coco Ho

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Framework: Images from the U.S. Open of Surfing

It’s not all about surfing this weekend

It’s all in the names at the U.S. Open

--Matt Stevens