Reports of a 16-year-old boy from Huntington Beach being arrested at his home last Friday following threats he made on a social network have further highlighted security issues at surfing’s most popular get-together of the year.

If you remember, last year the U.S. Open of Surfing was marred when a fight snowballed into a full-blown riot and has led organisers to down-size this year’s edition, at which no live music events have been programmed, yet is still scheduled to last a total of nine days through to August 3rd.

Chris Cote hosts the Vans US of Surfing Kick Off Show last Saturday with special guests Joel Tudor, Nathan Fletcher, Dane Reynolds and more.

Last Friday’s threat, initially detected by the New York Police Department, was first believed to concern the US Open tennis event (hell, Bobby Martinez was right all along!). Following the issue of a warrant, a shotgun and handgun were found at the boy’s home and, although both legally licensed, were subsequently confiscated.

While the boy claims the threats were just meant to be joke photos found of the boy posing with arms have led police to further investigate the matter.

With the trials already underway, with small overlapping swells forecast all week stay tuned for the main event any time soon.

Some footage from last year’s event which escalated into full-blown vandalism.