WET AND WILD WITH ROCKIN FIG:U.S. Open kicks off

Friday is the kick-off of the $175,000 U.S. Open of Surfing, presented by O’Neill at the Huntington Beach Pier.

The trials will start in some small-scale combo surf in double areas through the weekend. The big heats are scheduled for later next week when the big-rated guns will come out of the woodwork.

Meanwhile, former winner and world champ Sunny Garcia got a wild card entry in, and as for the local crew, last year’s No. 11 in the world, Timmy Reyes, is looking like he’s ready for action, after coming back from a knee injury. I saw the winner of the International Surfing Assn.’s World Games at the H.B. pier a few months back: South Africa’s Jordy Smith, practicing busting a bunch of airs. H.B’s “Air Bust’n” Brett Simpson was blowing up a couple day’s ago at the pier and is hungry for some six-star points to boost him up in the ASP qualifying series’ ratings.

Other local hotties to watch for in the mens’ surfing rounds include Shaun Ward, Chris Waring, Teddy Navarro, and Micah Byrne -- all ready to do some damage. So check it out!

Coming up July 26th at 10 a.m. is the 14th annual Walk of Fame inductions, hosted by Peter Townend, in front of Jacks surf shop at Pacific Coast Highway and Main Street.

The list includes another legendary crew, which includes Surf Pioneer of surf shapes George Greenough; Australian Surf Champ Midget Farrelly; Woman of the Year, East Coaster Mimi Munro; Surf Culture and wetsuit innovators Bob and Bill Meistrell; and Local Hero, former world amateur champ Scott Farnsworth.

This year’s ceremony is dedicated to the 1955 H.B. Surf Club.

Then on July 27 at Huntington Surf and Sport will be the Surfers Hall of Fame inductions. Included will be the 2004 world champ Sofia Mulanovich; classic shaper Al Merrick; Pipe charger Bruce Irons and former world champ Martin “Potts” Potter.

Some of the speakers at the event include four-time world champ Lisa Anderson, another former world champ Shaun Tomson, and Volcom founder Richard Woolcott. So some big stuff coming up next week — don’t miss it!

Some of the Assn. of Surfing Professionals World Championship Tour stars are still surfing at J-Bay in South Africa, like No. 2 in the world Damien Hobgood, Hawaiian ripper Freddy Boy Patacchia, and Aussie Luke Stedman.

The event has been on hold due to small surf.

Figster over and out.