As the three-surfer heat at the U.S. Open of Surfing came to a close Wednesday, about a dozen children inched toward the edge of the water and stared out at the ocean.
When Courtney Conlogue started to paddle in, the small pack of youngsters became a big crowd of people. They abandoned their umbrellas and towels to stand in ankle-high water, holding sharpies in one hand and iPhones in the other.
They wanted autographs, selfies, any small piece of the Santa Ana native and top-ranked female surfer in the world.
Conlogue stepped onto the sand, put on a black hat and disappeared into the wave of fans.
“It’s amazing to have my friends and family here,” she said. “I spend so much of the season traveling around the world. ... To have the hometown support gives you that extra energy.”
She won her heat Wednesday at Huntington Beach, giving her an automatic bye to the quarterfinals of the Championship Tour event at the U.S. Open. There are 12 surfers left, and the eight who didn’t earn byes will likely compete in a head-to-head elimination round on Thursday.
In the men’s Qualifying Series event, a step below the Championship Tour, the third round will wrap up Thursday as the 112-surfer bracket starts to take shape.
And as the fields thin and stakes raise, the 23-year-old Conlogue remains the main attraction as she looks to fortify her place atop the sport.
“I think I’m just representing California a little bit more, I think on a cooler level,” Conlogue said of what her top ranking means this week. “I’m wearing the yellow jersey, I’m bringing it to my hometown, and I’m just trying to surf my very best every time I go out there and give people a good show.”
Conlogue had a relatively slow start this week, finishing second of three surfers in the first round Monday. She rebounded by beating Meah Collins, a 16-year-old from Newport Beach, in a head-to-head elimination round Tuesday and then hit her stride Wednesday.
Surfing alongside Australian Laura Enever and California’s Sage Erickson — who defeated her on Monday — Conlogue scored the best wave of the third round and floated to shore with a smile on her face.
As she zig-zagged up the beach, Conlogue politely repeated the same answer to those looking for more pictures and autographs: “I have an interview at the top, I can see you up there.”
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Filipe Toledo celebrates with fans after winning the men’s title at the 2016 U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntingon Beach on Sunday.
(Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times) 2/44
Brazilian surfer Filipe Toledo, 21, is swarmed by fans after winning the Vans US Open of Surfng title.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 3/44
Fans cheer as Brazilian surfer Filipe Toledo, 21, defeats Ethan Ewing for the Vans US Open of Surfng title.
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Filipe Toledo cuts away from the Huntington Beach pier during the finals of the U.S. Open of Surfing.
(Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times) 5/44
Australian Ethan Ewing, 17, competes against Filipe Toledo in the final round.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 6/44
Tatiana Weston-Webb lets out a victory yell after winning the women’s title at the U.S. Open of Surfing on Sunday in Huntington Beach. (Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times)
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Fans carry American surfer Tatiana Weston-Webb, 20, ashore after she defeated Malia Manuel for the women’s title.
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American surfer Tatiana Weston-Webb, 20, reacts after defeating Malia Manuel for the women’s title.
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Tatiana Weston-Webb competes in the finals of the U.S. Open of Surfing on Sunday in Huntington Beach.
(Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times) 10/44
Hometown surfer Kanoa Igarashi gathers his thoughts before competing in a semifinal round.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 11/44
Thousands of surf fans watch the final day of competition at the 2016 Vans U.S. Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach.
(Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times) 12/44
Adriano De Souza loses control of his board while competing in the semifinals of the US Open of Surfing.
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Ethan Ewing, who would finish second, cuts off the top of a wave during the finals of the U.S. Open of Surfing.
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Torrey Meister during round four of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach. Meister finished first in his heat.
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Josh Davis, 16, of Sacramento keeps cool under the pier while the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing competition takes place in Huntington Beach on Friday.
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Conner Coffin, left, and Matt Banting collide during round four of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach on Friday.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 17/44
Kanoa Igarashi signs an autograph for Kalea Mussack, 2, of Huntington Beach after competing in round four of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 18/44
Brett Simpson cuts back on a wave during round four of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach. The two-time Open champion finished third in heat and failed to advance.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 19/44
Filipe Toledo cuts back on a wave during the fourth round of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach. Toledo finished first in heat seven.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 20/44
A fan carries a shark floatie while the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing competition takes place in Huntington Beach on Friday.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 21/44
Deivid Silva rides a wave near the Huntington Beach pier during the fourth round at the U.S. Open of Surfing on Friday. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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Bino Lopes cuts back atop a wave during round four of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 23/44
Surfer Kanoa Igarashi rides a wave during the US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach on Thursday.
(Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times) 24/44
Surfer Kanoa Igarashi takes a picture with fans after competing in round 3 of the men’s qualifying series during the US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach. Igarashi placed first in his heat.
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Tanner Gudauskas competes during the third round of the U.S. Open of Surfing on Thursday, July 28, 2016.
(Dillon Deaton / Los Angeles Times) 26/44
Brazilian native Bino Lopes rides a wave during the US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach.
(Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times) 27/44
Australian surfer Jack Freestone competes during round 3 of the mens qualifying series during the US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach.
(Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times) 28/44
Surfer Carlos Munoz competes during round 3 of the mens qualifying series during the US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach.
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Brazilian Surfer Michael Rodrigues competes during round 3 of the mens qualifying series during the US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach.
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Surfer Tanner Gudauskas competes during round 3 of the mens qualifying series during the US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach.
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Patrick Gudaukas of La Jolla ompetes in third round of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach on Wednesday.
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Patrick Gudaukas poses for a photo with a fan after competing during the third round of the U.S. Open of Surfing on Wednesday.
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Australian Ethan Ewing competes during the third round of the U.S. Open of Surfing on Wednesday. Ewing, 17, is making his Huntington Beach debut.
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Hawaiian surfer Keanu Asing competes during the third round of the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach on Wednesday.
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Australian Keely Andrew competes during the third round of the U.S. Open of Surfing on Wednesday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 36/44
Courtney Conlogue emerges from the surf after competing in the third round of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing on Wednesday. Conlogue is currently the top-ranked women’s surfer in the world.
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Surfing fans stake out their spots on the sand for the third round of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach on Wednesday.
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Courtney Conlogue of Santa Ana cuts away from the Huntington Beach Pier as she competes in third round of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing on Wednesday.
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Australian Stephanie Gilmore competes during the third round of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing on Wednesday. Gilmore, 28, is a six-time world champion.
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Carissa Kainani of Hawaii cuts off the top of a wave during the third round of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing on Wednesday.
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Lakey Peterson of Santa Barbara cuts back into a wave during the third round of competition at the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach on Wednesday.
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Australian Sally Fitzgibbons turns away from the Huntington Beach Pier as she competes during the third round of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing on Wednesday.
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Australian surfer Sally Fitzgibbons, 25, mingles with fans after competing in third round of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing on Wednesday.
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Huntington Beach’s Kanoa Igarashi rides a wave during the U.S. Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach on Wednesday.
(Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times) They followed, and then a small boy ran up behind her and extended a hat and pen. Conlogue hesitated, her obligations pulling her one way but her heart tugging her the other, and decided the TV cameras could wait.
“You’re too cute,” she said, reaching for the hat. “Walk with me.”
Next up for Conlogue is the head-to-head quarterfinals, where she’ll look to advance to the weekend. She knows it will be hard to please every fan along the way, but has a good idea of how she could accomplish that.
It’s the plan she’s been following since launching her career on these waves. It’s the plan that earned her the top ranking. It’s to win, and in a hectic week it won’t get much simpler than that.
“Winning heats, obviously,” Conlogue said of how she can take the title. “I think right now, hopefully some swell pushes in. But if not, just float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.”
Staff writer Renee Griffin contributed to this article.
jesse.dougherty@latimes.com
Twitter: @dougherty_jesse
