Wet and Wild with Rockin Fig

Rick Fignetti

Spring break is here, although the weather and the surf have not

really been cooperating for it. It has been a bit on the cloudy side,

with a partial afternoon clearing, kinda cooland the surf has been small

time. This year’s Easter vacation for the groms seems like it was earlier

than the past and maybe that’s part of the reason. Although I’ve been

seein’ people from all over the United States in town, and some say

you’re lucky it ain’t snowin’, like back east. And I’d say, by golly

you’re right.

About a week and a half ago, Saturday, Surf City’s Main Street was

shut down, and the Wavecrest Beach Cruisers Vintage Car Show was held on

it. Let me tell ya -- there were some classics out there that day. It was

a showcase of pre-1968 beach cruisin’ vehicles. Tons of old classic

Woodies from the ‘40s and ‘50s and some with old-school nostalgic

surfboards hanging out the back. Parked right in front of my shop were

some fine ‘55s, a couple Chevy Nomads and a Bel Air station wagon that

were all immaculate. The all-black Nomad with the license “Mad Wagon” was

pretty stylin’ and seemed like that would be the perfect surfing safari

wagon. Not only did a lot of the cars have insane paint jobs, some

$10,000 plus, but the engines were super tight too. A couple of early

‘60s V.W.s were part of it -- a bug and camper van that were a flash back

to yesteryear. Can’t wait till next year to see it again.

Oh yeah, speaking of nice ones, Black Flys owner Jack Martinez, pulled

his killer peach metal flake, lowered, Riveria in front of the Fly Gals

Shop to join in with the festivities, and wasgetting some big looks, too.

Over in Oz, Australia, the women’s world championship tour started

with the first event, the Gold Coast Roxy Pro, held at Surfers Paradise,

Burliegh Heads, and the final eventuallyheld in excellent 3- to 4-foot

Snapper Rocks. Taking the win was Aussie veteran Lynette Mackenzie

winning $10,000, while Brazilian ripper Jaqueline Silva took home $6,000

for second. The U.S’s four-time world champ, 1994-97, Lisa Andersen

placed equal fifth in her opening debut as a wild-card seed. While

current four-time world champ Layne Beachley came in equalninth, the same

place as last years runner-up in the world standings Hawaiian Megan

Abubo. So the gals are off and running. Next up is the Roxy Pro at

Tavarua in Fiji April 27 through May 4.

Currently, the men are at Bells Beach for the Rip Curl Pro, the second

event on the World Championship Tour. Already transferring to round

three, were U.S’s Taylor Knox, world champ C.J. Hobgood, Corey Lopez,

Hawaiians Sunny Garcia, Kalani Robb, Andy Irons and Aussies Mick Fanning,

Occy and Taj Burrow. Right now they’re on hold, waiting for some good

surf to finish it up. Thats it for now. Fig over and out.

* 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.