Brett Simpson Goes for three-peat at US Open of Surfing

Sunny Magdaug’s interview with Brett Simpson:

Brett Simpson, two-time US Open of Surfing Champion (2009 and 2010), brings 15 years of surfing experience to this year’s competition. When I talked to Brett on Saturday June 19^th at the International Surfing Day in Huntington Beach he told me that one of the reasons he’s been so successful at the US Open is “Huntington Beach is my home and every year I compete out here I feel comfortable, and I think that kinda shows within our sport.”


Simpson was with his buddy Jeff Deffenbaugh (Surfrider Foundation's Huntington Beach/Seal Beach Chapter's new Community Ambassador) at the ISD event when I spoke to him. Surfwriter Girls will have an upcoming story on Deffenbaugh soon. 

Since his first years as a competitive surfer Simpson says, “It has been my addiction. I put everything else on the backburner.”  He added that it’s exciting to see how surfing has developed into such a popular sport with people all around the world learning how to surf. “Since when I started surfing it has turned into an international sport. It’s amazing! A lot of people are doing it.”

Even though he’s the defending champion at the US Open, Simpson portrays himself as the underdog this year partly because he is recovering from a knee injury. He tore his medial collateral ligament, suffering a grade 2 injury, and hopes his knee will hold up this week.


The MCL is one of the four major ligaments of the knee. An MCL injury can be very painful especially when the knees bend or are subjected to high impact. Recovery time for a grade 2 injury is hard to predict and can take weeks to several months.


Despite Simpson’s injury and his modesty about his chances, one of his strengths is that he always finds a way to position himself to win…a sure sign of a champion. 


P.S. Brett Simpson's run for a three-peat at the US Open of Surfing came to an end on Wednesday, August 4th, when he was eliminated in his heat. Simpson said that he had opportunities, but didn't capitalize on them. Despite the set-back, the surfing champion was upbeat, thanked his supporters, and said that he would be back next year.


Even though he doesn't have a third Open Championship yet, Simpson was recently named Male O.C. Surfer of the Year for the fourth time in a row.