100,000 people were in Huntington Beach, CA, for the 1986 Ocean Pacific Pro Surfing Championship. Then things started getting out of hand. Let's look back at the world's first — and maybe only — surf riot.
American Photo has an incredible photo set from Nick Waplington's new book, Surf Riot. What the hell happened here?
According to an LA Times article from the day after:
The disturbance broke out about 2 p.m. behind bleachers being used for the final day of the Ocean Pacific Pro Surfing Championships, which drew a crowd estimated at 100,000 people.Witnesses said the melee had no direct connection to the surfing contest but instead was triggered by two or more men behind the bleachers immediately south of the Huntington Beach Pier who were trying to take off the bathing suits of two young women.
