Heading to the US Open of Surfing? Let us guide you with 13 things you can do

Planning to hit the Lexus US Open of Surfing this week, but not sure where to start?

Of course, you can bring a beach towel or chair and hang out on the sand all day to soak in the world-class surfing competition – with some possible tropical swell on the horizon heading into the final weekend, there should be some fun action to watch in the water.

But there’s so much more to see in the 13-acre festival area created on the south side of the pier, including more than 30 booths and exhibitors. So if you want to cruise around and check out the mega event, we have a few ideas:

X Games skate ramp

There’s a 14-foot vert ramp built on the sand this year, and if you time your visit just right you can watch the skaters fly down the huge ramp, get air and do big spins, turns and tricks.

But the skate exhibition only happens on the weekend. Scheduled for Aug. 10 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. is the women’s final, then from 4 to 5 p.m. will be the men’s final.

On the last day, Aug. 11, there will be a skateboard vert pro demo from 3 to 4 p.m.

Surfing simulator

Want to surf, but don’t want to get wet? One of the fun activities on the sand is at a booth hosted by Hoag, where two surfboards allow festivalgoers to see how it feels to surf, without the waves.

Monitors set up show riders navigating a barrel and cruising on the wave’s face as they balance on the boards. Be warned, there will be a crowd gathered to watch you wipe out.

Grab a drink

The expanded Beach Bar is the perfect place to kick back and take a break from the madness. The lounge area is set up right on the sand with chairs and tables. The 805 Beer patio offers views overlooking the surf action.

Sorry kids, this is a 21-and-over area.

Check out live music, movies

The Hurley stage set up in the Beach Bar area is a great way to be entertained on the south end of the festival area.

On Aug. 7, at 1 p.m., check out StrateJacket, a ’90s and early 2000s nostalgia band.

Save Dark Heavens, a metal/experimental rock, will perform at 1 p.m. on Aug. 8, while SUNBENDR, an indie rock band, performs at 1 p.m. on Aug. 9, followed by Nice & Swell at 4 p.m. on the Hurley Stage.

Wes Chiller, an alt-rock performer, will do a set at 1 p.m. on Aug. 10, for the final performance in the concert series.

Movies will take over at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 8, when sponsor Samsung features its “Open Always Wins” film series, which will showcase “Concrete Dreams” and “The Next Wave,” a pair of skateboarding and surfing films.

The movies will be followed by a Q&A with 1977 World Champion Shaun Tomson and members of the films’ production teams.

There will be a repeat performance of those films at 5 p.m. on Aug. 10.

Chill in the Lexus House

If the Beach Bar is a bit too packed, check out the Lexus House area on the sand.

It’s a VIP experience that doesn’t require you to pay extra, with couches and lounge areas to chill in, small bites from the Lexus Culinary Masters team and daily product giveaways.

There will also be “on-the-sand surf lessons” with A Great Day in the Stoke from noon to 4 p.m. on Aug. 9.

Ride a noodle wave

There’s plenty of fun selfie spots to find, including a custom US Open of Surfing sandcastle greeting beachgoers and a big blue event banner at the entrance of the festival area.

But the best spot may be the noodle wave. Yup, Cup Noodles, an event sponsor, brought the fun installation so visitors can take a photo to share on social media or even use for a holiday card.