Wet and Wild with Rockin’ Fig -- Rick Fignetti

Rick Fignetti

The California pro surf scene got under way, with the start of the

Foster’s Cup at Lower Trestles, Camp Pendleton in San Clemente earlier

this week. The big-time pros will be hittingthe west coast, along with

some of the nations finest amateurs. Lowers is known for it’s nicely

shaped peaks, when the south west swells roll in. The rights are usually

longer and wrap the point, peeling through the bay. The lefts are

definitely steeper and shorter, but workable and can give a competitor

enough fire power to rack the big scores. It’s no doubt one of the

premier southwest breaks along the coast so, if by chance we get a swell,

it could go off. We did have a couple southwest pulses last week, but

it’s still a little early in the season.

A few top Champion Tour surfers will be in it, like former world champ

Hawaiian Sunny Garcia, who just recently finished second at Bell’s Beach,

Australia. Carlsbad’s Taylor Knox, just off a top 10 world performance

last season, will be there. Laguna Niguel’s Pat O’Connell, a finalist in

this event last year and a few other times over the years, as well as the

hot brother combo of world champ C.J. and Damien Hobgood, who have had

outstanding performances going all the way back to the National

Scholastic Surfing Assn. titles when they were groms. Plus Seal Beach’s

Ryan Simmons, the overall points leader from last years Professional

Surfing Tour of America season, ready to charge another one. Huntington

Beach standout Jeff Deffenbaugh, who’s had some killer heats down there

over the years that I’ve seen, is a big time threat to win there too. The

gals division will feature last year’s overall winner Julia Christian of

Carlsbad who won tons of contests last season. Surfside’s Jodie Nelson

had a great year, last year, an looks to be getting off to a quick start

with a good showing. Also Huntington Beach’s Kim Hamrock, who was a

finalist a few times on the old Shockwave tour, is in it and she’s been

surfing well too. Plus a whole host of other Huntington hotties that

we’ll keep you posted on to see how they did in their different

divisions. Good luck.

A few of Surf City’s own made the long drive up the coastto the chilly

waters of Steamer Lane Santa Cruz for the United States Surfing

Federation’s event there.

The surf was small there over the weekend, running 1 to 3-feet and a

bit on the kelpy side at low tide, according to James Webb who made the

finals in the seniors division. Webb managed to finish up fourth, but had

a couple close encounters with death rock -- that’s the rock reef that

sticks out of the water off the point on the super low tides.

Fortunately, it was his board and not his skin that got scraped on a

couple of those close peelers, as he’s holding down the number three spot

on the coast with just a few contests left. Also a high-five to

Huntington Beach’s Jay Boldt who won the grandmasters division smokin’

everyone on his way to first place. That’s it for now see ya.

* 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.