Wet and wild with Rockin’ Fig -- Rick Fignetti

Finally, a few days of waves have been rolling in -- just in time for

a surf contest weekend extravaganza. The south swell combo with a bit-a

west, gave Surf City residents a treat. The water temps have been up and

down though, 57 to 60, but things seem to be tuning up as we head toward

summer. Over the weekend the Huntington Beach Pro-Am Surf Series held its

opening event on the south side of the Huntington Pier. The surf was

pretty good at times. In the pro junior division Laguna Beach’s Mike Todd

was shralping it up and took first place honors and $2,000. Ventura’s

Dane Reynolds took second with some nice rides too, while third was

Carlsbad’s Dane Johnson and fourth Huntington Beach ripper Brett Simpson.

In the Macho Air Show, Adam Virs was busting big time and won it, but up

and coming Huntington shredder Chase Newsom finished fourth in the air

busters competition, and second in juniors behind Gabriel Garcia. The

locals did well with pier regular Mike Mattison winning mens, Mark Austin

taking masters, shaper Jon Wildfong hot on his heels placing second.

Meanwhile former world champ, the style master, Joey Hawkins took

longboards. Seal Beach’s Chad Compton won boys, and Jessie Steelman with

a victory in the groms. Contest director Seth Matson is happy with his

new blanket sponsor Del Taco stepping up and helping out with this year’s

2002 series.

The National Scholastic Surfing Assn. completed its 10 event, regular

season Explorer contest over the weekend at Salt Creek Beach Park. The

waves there were happening with some dredging overhead lefts on the sets

off the point. Seal Beach’s Chris Waring had a great season in boys,

capping it off with a win and the overall title. Ian Ekberg tore it up

getting second. In juniors, Huntington Beach’s Cory Lapoint finished up

fourth, and masters saw Seal Beach ripper Chad Wells get third. In

seniors the world champ C.J. Hobgood’s shaper, Bill Johnson took the win

on one of his own models. While Seal Beach’s Chas Wickwire finished up

second having some mean lip bashes out there, and Phill Lockman rounding

out the top five. In super seniors, Pat Schlick came from behind in the

standings to win and took top dog honors overall in the points race,

edging former Surf City resident John Silver. In longboarding

JustinHugron placed third and in bodyboarding Darren Moody finished

second. And a hopeful speedy recovery to mini shralper Tommy Steury who

missed this event. Next up, Southwest Conference, Western Championships

at the Huntington Beach Pier May 16-19th.

At the United States Surfing Federation’s surf contest at the

Oceanside Pier, which saw some fun surf Huntington’s James Webb made

another final in the seniors division, placing fourth. In the

grandmaster’s Jay Boldt lost a close decision to San Clemente shaper

Midget Smith. Two finals in a row for Boldt though who’s been on a roll.

See ya in the lineup.

* RICK FIGNETTI is a six-time West Coast champion, has announced the

U.S. Open of Surfing the last eight years and has been the KROQ-FM

(106.7) surfologist for the last 15 years where he’s done morning surf

reports. He owns a surf shop on Main Street. You can reach him at (714)

536-1058.