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.
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