Wet and Wild with Rockin Fig

The Huntington Beach Surf Series completed its finalchampionship tour

event this last weekend at FirstStreet, southside of the Pier.

The double-ratedcontest and season went excellent, said

contestdirector Seth Matson. Big trips to Cabo and Indo weregiven away at

the awards banquet at Dukes.

Next season promises to go even bigger, as they are looking to make

the Pro-Am series a 1-star, Assn. of Surfing Professionals’ World

Qualifying Series event. That in itself should bring even more top named

pros to check it out.

East coaster Asher Nolan took first-place honors in the big show,

Pro-Am division, cashing in on the $2,000 first-place prize. Second was

David Pinto who had some solid rides, too. Pulling into third was Jeff

Deffenbaugh, who placed No. 1 overall, and grabbed a trip to Indo and

$750 bucks for his great season. Rounding out the top four was

SanClemente ripper Chris Drummy.

In an all-Huntington Beach final in the masters, 29 and up, John

Wildfong was first, Mark Austin second, JasonHaughey third -- and first

overall, with another freetrip to Cabo -- and fourth was “Lockie,” Phill

Lockman.

In mens, Branden Long took first in the final and in theoverall

points, too. Jeff Barnette was second, SouthAfrican Greg Emisele was

third and Johnathan Atchelyplaced fourth.

Junior rippers saw Branden Guilmette takefirst in both stats, too,

with Chase Newsom in second.

In the Boys’ Division, Seal Beach’s Chris Waring took it and was the

overall champ, too. Dominic Defoe wassecond, Ian Eckberg third and Truman

Wills fourth.

In super groms, brothers Brian and Andrew Doheny were first andsecond,

third was Tommy Hennekan, who was overall champ,and fourth was Jessie

Steelman.

One of the favorites ofthe contest was the Air final, and bustin’ big

on thebackside, scoring an 8.5 and winning, was Malibu’s AdamVirs. Local

air man Branden Tipton was going big, too,and got second, third was

Newport’s Jeff Hurley and fourthwas Carlsbad’s Donavan Stapleton.

Longboarding saw pierregular Rocky McKinnon tear it up for the win and

theoverall, too.

And in women, Newport’s Erica Hosseini wasfirst. Surf City’s Liz

Kampen was second and the overallwinner in the total points race.

Congratulations tothe overall champs, have a fun time in Cabo!

The Professional Surfing Tour of America isdown to its championship

tour event this week inVentura at California Street.

There’ve been events at Trestles, Oceanside, San Clemente Pier,

Newport Beach and Morro Bay Rock.

Seal Beach’s Ryan Simmons is in first and Jeff Deffenbaugh is up there

in the standingstoo.

In longboarding, Josh Mohr is looking for a title, but U.S. Open

winner Josh Baxter is in theoverall hunt as well. Their paths just might

cross onthe way to the final.

Julia Christian of Carlsbad isholding down first with a few wins this

season in the women’s competition. Lookfor local gal Jodie Nelson of

Surfside to have a shotat the big win, too.

Could be some chilly morningsthere.

Speaking of the chill, the United States SurfingFederation’s next

contest is at Pleasure Point, SantaCruz this weekend, water probably in

the mid 50’s,ouch.

* 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.