Sofia Mulanovich

The U.S. Open of Surfing, the world's largest professional surfing competition, begins its nine-day run Saturday in Huntington Beach, where top surfers will compete for a piece of the $350,000 purse, including the $100,000 first prize in the men's division. Huntington Beach native Brett Simpson, who last year became the first Surf City USA native to win the Open, is back. He faces heavyweights Mick Fanning ( Australia), Taj Burrow (Australia), Andy Irons ( Hawaii), C.J. Hobgood ( Florida)

The U.S. Open of Surfing, the world's largest professional surfing competition, begins its nine-day run Saturday in Huntington Beach, where top surfers will compete for a piece of the $350,000 purse, including the $100,000 first prize in the men's division. Huntington Beach native Brett Simpson, who last year became the first Surf City USA native to win the Open, is back. He faces heavyweights Mick Fanning ( Australia), Taj Burrow (Australia), Andy Irons ( Hawaii), C.J. Hobgood ( Florida)

When Sofia Mulanovich returned home to Peru in late December, having fulfilled a dream that had been her obsession for 10 years, she discovered that dreams can develop a life of their own. At the airport were hundreds of admirers, cheering her arrival, waving banners and flying balloons. Reporters wanted her story, and photographers, cameras flashing, wanted to capture the moment, such as it was, with the humble young surfer looking more astonished than anything else.

When Sofia Mulanovich returned home to Peru in late December, having fulfilled a dream that had been her obsession for 10 years, she discovered that dreams can develop a life of their own. At the airport were hundreds of admirers, cheering her arrival, waving banners and flying balloons. Reporters wanted her story, and photographers, cameras flashing, wanted to capture the moment, such as it was, with the humble young surfer looking more astonished than anything else.

Brett Simpson of Huntington Beach put his local knowledge to use in winning his heat Friday in the round of 48 at the Honda U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach. Simpson, 23, produced the third-best wave score of the event, a 9.87 out of a possible 10, and later tacked on a 9.00, giving him the third-best heat score of the event (18.87).

Pro surfing's men's Body Glove Surfbout begins today, and the women's SG Lowers Pro starts Thursday at Lower Trestles near San Clemente. Both Assn. of Surfing Professionals' World Qualifying Series contests have a four-star rating, attracting international surfers hoping to earn points to qualify or requalify for next year's elite World Championship Tour. Included in the men's field of 208 are twins and perennial WCT standouts C.J.

Peru's Sofia Mulanovich won her first world surfing championship on Saturday, but she also put an end to the six-year reign of Australia's Layne Beachley and became the first surfer from South America to claim the title. "All I want to do right now is go out with the girls and party," she said in a telephone interview. Mulanovich, 21, was declared champion after finishing second in the Roxy Pro Haleiwa on the North Shore of Oahu.

Stephanie Gilmore may yet make history by becoming the first rookie -- male or female -- to win a world surfing championship. But the stylish Australian will have to wait until next month's season finale to see whether she has what it takes. Gilmore, 19, is the ASP Women's World Tour points leader and considered a dynasty in the making. She could have clinched the title with a victory Thursday at the Roxy Pro Sunset Beach on Oahu's North Shore.

One is from Australia, the other from Peru. One is a natural, her moves powerful and flowing; the other more a technician, her moves learned and polished. Chelsea Georgeson was the new-age surfer many believed would end the dominance of Layne Beachley, another Australian, who won six consecutive world titles from 1998 to 2003. But then came the 5-foot-3 Sofia Mulanovich, who won the world title last year and became famous beyond her dreams.

For opposing coaches, it was a familiar story. All Lisa Andersen had to do was show up to beat Layne Beachley. But a resumption of that once-fierce rivalry among surfing's greatest female champions was far overshadowed by the performances of today's brightest stars in treacherous surf at Puerto Escondido, Mexico. On a steamy Wednesday morning at Zicatela Beach, the United States, buoyed by the tube-riding expertise of Hawaii's Melanie Bartels, posted a 55-52 victory over a stacked "World" squad.

When Sofia Mulanovich won her first world title in 2004, she became a superstar in her native Peru. She was named that country's most popular person, her likeness appeared on billboards and endorsement offers poured in, transforming her into a big-money athlete. But her smile couldn't have been any bigger than it was Saturday, after Mulanovich out-witted and out-surfed Australia's Jessi Miley-Dyer to win the Honda U.S. Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach.

Like most 14-year-olds, Courtney Conlogue enjoys simple pleasures, such as playing with her dog, listening to music, going to school and participating in team sports. But the cheery-eyed blond from Santa Ana is not a typical ninth-grader. She's a top-tier amateur surfer, an aspiring pro with superstar potential, and a proud representative of her country.