See the Riot that Broke out in Calif. Following ... a Surfing Competition?

Just when you thought that the surfing crowd was generally a laid back one, a riot broke out in Huntington Beach, Calif., Sunday evening following the close of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing contest. And there's video showing the chaos.

It took local law enforcement officials a few hours to put the riot down, according to KTLA-TV.

“The unrest occurred while officers were attempting to disperse crowds following the close of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing,” the report notes.

Lt. Mitchell O’Brien told KTLA5.com the Huntington Beach Police Department was forced to request backup from other law-enforcement agencies.

“The area was declared an unlawful assembly and police moved in to make arrests,” a Huntington Beach Police Department press release notes.

One witness said the unrest led to property damage, including several overturned portable toilets and damaged police cruisers.

Officers dispersed crowds with pepper spray, the witness said.

Here’s footage of the portable toilet-destruction and fighting:

Law enforcement officials were able to regain control of the area by around 10:00 pm.

“Several police cruisers were damaged and windows were broken along Main Street,” the report notes. “A number of people were arrested.”

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Featured image screen grab.

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