Surf’s Up!

* What: The G-Shock U.S. Open of Surfing, the fourth stop on the Clarion Surf Tour, will feature six divisions and more than 500 participants--including 36 of the world’s top male and 11 of the top female surfers--in competition for $155,000 in prizes.

* Where: Huntington Beach, south of the pier.

* When: Monday through Sunday, Aug. 10. Competition is 7 a.m.-5 p.m. each day except Aug. 10, when it’s 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

* Who: Returning to defend his 1996 title is Kelly Slater (Florida), who defeated Shane Beschen, formerly of San Clemente, on a controversial judges’ ruling in last year’s final. Beschen (Hawaii) will also be back, along with Sunny Garcia and Kalani Robb (Hawaii), Jeff Booth (Laguna Beach), Jeff Deffenbaugh (Huntington Beach), Shea Lopez (San Clemente), Taylor Knox (Carlsbad) and Rob Machado (Cardiff by the Sea). Florida’s Lisa Andersen, three-time defending world champion and U.S. Open defending champion, will compete in the women’s and men’s divisions. Other women expected to compete include Australians Layne Beachley, Pam Burridge, Pauline Menczer and Serena Brooke and Rochelle Ballard (Hawaii).

* In the water: The men’s U.S. Open is the highest-rated Assn. of Surfing Professionals men’s World Qualifying Series event in the mainland United States. The Kahlua U.S. Open of Women’s Surfing is the sixth leg of the 13-event Coca-Cola/ASP Women’s Championship Tour. Wahine Women’s World Qualifying series, the Billabong/On A Mission Junior pro-am, the BZ U.S. Open of Bodyboarding and the U.S. Open of Longboarding are also scheduled.

* Schedule: Monday--Bodyboarding trials, longboarding trials, Wahine trials, junior pro-am trials; Tuesday--Men’s surfing trials, junior pro-am trials; Wednesday--Men’s surfing trials, Wahine quarterfinals, junior pro-am main event; Thursday--Men’s surfing trials and main event Round 1, bodyboarding quarterfinals and main event, longboarding main event, Wahine quarterfinals and semifinals; Friday--Men’s surfing main event Round 2, women’s surfing, longboarding quarterfinals; Saturday--Women’s surfing quarterfinals, semifinals and finals, men’s surfing main event Round 3, junior pro-am quarterfinals, longboarding semifinals and finals; Sunday--Men’s surfing quarterfinals, semifinals and finals, junior pro-am semifinals and finals, bodyboarding semifinals and finals.

* On the beach: Huntington Beach will host the fourth induction ceremony for the nation’s first Surfing Walk of Fame, 11 a.m.-noon, Aug. 8, at Jack’s Surfboards on the corner of Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway. The honorees and their categories: Dale Velzy (surf pioneer), Shaun Tomson (surf champion), Hobie Alter and Rick Griffin (surfing culture), Gordie Duane (local hero) and Linda Benson (woman of the year). . . . The Surfer Poll, which honors the world’s best male and female surfers as selected by Surfer Magazine readers, will present its 1997 awards beginning at 6:30 p.m., Aug. 9, at the Galaxy Theater in Santa Ana. Three-time winners Kelly Slater and Lisa Andersen will defend their titles at the presentation, which will also pay homage to surfing cinematography. For ticket information, call Surfer Magazine at (714) 496-5922. . . . The three-day U.S. Open Beach Expo will be in operation 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Aug. 8-9 and 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 10. The event, spread over three acres, features a variety of surf, skate and music-related exhibits. It’s open to the public, free of charge.

* Tickets: Free sand and bleacher seating all days of the competition; however, premium stadium seating packages available for Saturday and Sunday.

* Parking: Available at the city parking structure one block in from Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway. However, arrive early as more than 200,000 spectators are expected over the event’s duration.

* Website address: Surflink will provide regular scoring updates and photos during the competition at https://www.surflink.com