Wet and Wild with Rockin’ Fig -- Rick Fignetti

The Professional Surfing Tour of America took over the shores of

Lowers point last week. Some of the nations finest surfers took advantage

of only four surfers in the lineup at one time. It is usually packed with

longboard and shortboard regulars as well as visitors on a daily basis.

There are usually 50 to 100 surfers out there trying to lay claim to

the title of “ripper of the day.” The break saw some sizzling action in

the 2- to 5-foot plus zone we had out of the southwest and west as of

late. The world champ, from Florida, C.J. Hobgood continued on his

winning ways with a victory, ripping up a few lefts with some solid hits

and finding some open-faced rightys too. C.J. picked up $4,000 for the

win while he’s on a break from the world tour.

In second was Laguna Beach’s Mike Todd who had some outstanding moves,

busting big time. Third was West Coast transplant, the explosive, Dean

Randazzo who slashed a few. And rounding out the top four was Damien

Hobgood, C.J’s brother who had some good waves too. Losing out in the

semis were Carlsbad’s Taylor Knox and Anaheim’s David Pinto. Huntington

Beach’s Jeff Deffenbaugh did well, finishing up equal seventh, ripping up

a lot of heats, along with Capo’s Chris Drummy. Other notables were

Hawaiian former world champ Sunny Garcia losing out in the quarterfinals

-- that’s equal 13th -- the same place as Huntington’s Sean Ward, who I

heard shredded up a few heats through the event. And also Champion Tour

surfer, Shea Lopez lost in the quarters due to an interference call. Surf

City’s Jay Larson, “the Larcenator” placed equal 25th, and Danny Nichols

equal 33rd.

In the women’s Hawaiian Melanie Bartels claimed first with an

assortment of moves. But the big news is that 14-year-old Erica Hosseini

of Newport Beach came in second. No other grom that old has made a World

Qualifying Series final before. Third was last year’s reigning PSTA

overall points leader, Julia Christian and fourth was another Hawaiian,

Yevette Bertleman.

In longboarding Huntington Beach’s Josh Mohr was busting big. And when

he pulled the eight-plus ride, it was enough to turn the tide against the

world champ Colin McPhillips. Josh was mixing it up doing old-school and

new-school progressive moves, to win the seesaw battle against

McPhillips, who’s known for his big slicing roundhouse cutbacks. In third

was nose-ride ripper Josh Baxter of San Clemente and fourth from Oz,

Heath Norrish who had some stylish rides.

The last National Scholastic Surfing Assn. Open season event was held

at Huntington Beach’s 9th Street over the weekend. Huntington Beach High

School standout Brett Simpson took the win on home ground and also picked

up the Most Improved Award for the 2001-02 season. Huntington’s Jessie

Steelman was second in the minigroms and Newport’s Ford Archibald equal

fifth.

In juniors, equal fifths went to Marty Weinstein and Chris Waring of

Seal Beach who almost won the overall this season. In bodyboarding

Edison’s Chris Espinoza took first in the contest and in the season

ratings, while Darren Moody came in second.

At the NSSA Explorer season contest at San Clemente Pier, Huntington’s

Phill Lockman was going off in the seniors division to lay claim to the

win.

Lockman has been turning it up, trying to lock into a Nationals slot.

In mens, Dan Fennell caught some nice ones on his way to second place.

The boys division saw Chris Waring get third. In super seniors, the

Figster got lucky and pulled into second, Pat Schlick finished fourth.

In women’s Heidi Tschauner placed third, and in bodyboarding Darren Moody

took second to wrap it up. Coming up quickly the last explorer season

meet is at Salt Creek this weekend.

* 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-FM) 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.