Wet n’ Wild with Rockin’ Fig

Spring is here, and we’re finally outta winter, as the official

Vernnal Equinox took place last week.

It’s time to turn it up temperature-wise at the beaches, as we hope

it’ll be warmin’ up a tad bit, which it has, except for the water --

burr.

The break is on for some of the colleges and most of the high schools

in the area will be getting out next week. Our Surf City beaches, no

doubt will be filling up too, with our locals, L.A. and Orange County

visitors and tourists from all around the nation ready to enjoy the

scenery.

Part of what makes people come down here is our killer beaches, good

surf and laid-back beach community atmosphere. It’s nice to see there’s

an end to the concrete somewhere, and not to forget those beautiful

sunrises and sunsets we’ve seen over the years.

It’s been brought to my attention, and it’s hard to believe, that

240-million gallons of treated sewage goes right into our ocean waters

off Huntington each day. The pipe that takes it out is five miles out,

but that still seems too close for me.

Half of the sewage gets secondary treatment, with beneficial microbes,

or good bugs, that remove carbon based compounds, coliform and other

fecal bacteria. But the other half gets just primary treatment, sitting

in a tank for a couple hours with chemicals, and then its discharged out

to sea.

The fecal bacteria is not removed from this sewage and could be the

cause behind our high bacteria levels and beach closures. All the sewage

should get 100% secondary treatment.

Now here’s the big deal. I guess the 1972 Clean Water Act required all

sewage districts to move to secondary treatment by 1985. Orange County

got a temporary waiver allowing them to postpone treatment. The waiver

has been extended a number of times, and will expire in 2003. It won’t be

cheap, it’ll cost a lot to switch over, but other big districts like Los

Angeles have.

If we expect to have some of the finest beaches on the coast, you

definitely would want to be able to swim and surf in them. So in my view,

drop the waiver, and let’s get the upgraded treatment facility’s going.

Not just for me, but the kids of the future and the fish too.

On a better note, the National Scholastic Surfing Assn. held its

Explorer season event No. 8 at El Porto in Manhattan Beach. The surf was

a consistent, 3- to 5-plus, kinda broken up and walled, with a few

corners and sections to work.

In menehunes, little Surf City shred master Tommy Steury took second

place honors. Juniors saw Brett Simpson ripping it up, getting first, and

holding down first overall in the points race while Huntington Beach High

teammate Brad Ettinger finished fifth.

In mens, it was Huntington’s Todd Hutton fourth and Dan Fennell sixth.

In masters, local South Bay surfer Greg Browning won hands down with

some big explosive floaters in one of the most action packed finals.

Huntington’s Barry Deffenbaugh pulled into fifth with some nice ones,

too.

Seniors saw Seal Beach’s Chas Wickwire taking second while Surf City

Pier regular Phill Lockman was fourth. Lockie had some great heats on the

way, too.

In super seniors Pat Schlick second, while a pumped-up Darren Moody

won bodyboarding and Heidi Tschauner was fifth in the gals.

The NSSA is heading back to Florida’s Sebastion Inlet next for the

eastern championships. It will qualify surfers from the eastern

conference for the Nationals at Lowers in June.

The scary news is Mike “Morganator” Morgan, announcer and judge, and

Barry Deffenbaugh, surfer, shaper, judge and coach, are driving all the

way there, claiming it’s the “Monkey across America Tour.” The monkey is

the logo for B.D., who plans on shooting an ad at the Alamo. 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.