Time for the U.S. Open

WET AND WILD WITH ROCKIN FIG

It’s that time of year again, when Surf City plays host to the

biggest surf event in the world. The Phillips Fusion beach games will

have the Honda Element U.S. Open of Surfing presented by O’Neill

right here in beautiful Huntington Beach. The south side of the pier

will be the showcase for some of the world’s best surfers over a

nine-day spread, starting Saturday with the trials of the men’s

shortboard and going until Aug. 3 for the finals. Some of the big

guns scheduled to surf are Florida’s six-time world champ Kelly

Slater, just off the big win at Jeffries Bay in South Africa earlier

this week, former world champ Hawaiian Sunny Garcia, past U.S. Open

winners Rob Machado and Kalani Robb, and top 10 world tour stand-out

Corey Lopez.

In the women’s, top five WCT stand-out and former U.S. Open winner

Rochelle Ballard is entered, as are West Coast shredders Julia

Christian, Holly Beck and Hawaiian Melanie Bartels.

The U.S. Open is a six-star world qualifying series event with

highest point total for the mainland this year. It is a critical stop

on the Foster’s Pro Surfing Tour series. More than 500 surfers will

compete for the crown in the Huntington surf.

There have been some south swells, and it looks like there are

some waves on the way.

The local talent is stacked up with a chance to do well in its own

back yard. Some to watch for are Huntington’s new WQS hot-shot, Timmy

Reyes, and Jeff Deffenbaugh, a former top 30 in the world who got

his start at the open a few years back.

Professional Surfing Tour of America U.S. champ Ryan Simmons knows

the waters and is a competitor in any size surf. Danny Nichols has

been turning heads and has the moves to compete with the big boys.

“Late Nite” Jay Larson has world-class maneuvers that can push him

threw many a heat. And we can’t forget Ryan Turner, who has been

busting some mean airs and ripping hard, while Micah Byrne, Mike

Hoisington and Danny Misken have been dominating the pier area of

late. Brandon Gilmette has been on fire the last couple of swells,

and new-school hotties Shawn Ward and Brett Simpson have been doing

some insane futuristic stuff out there. Also, veterans such as Wyatt

Simmons and Tom Rezvan are looking to roll a few heats. Bud Llamas is

in the wildcard slot -- I don’t know if there’ll be an opening this

year, even though he’s got some of the sickest barrels I’ve ever seen

on south side.

In women’s, Surfside’s Jodie Nelson has the moves to make it to

top.

In longboarding, watch for the style master Josh Mohr to make a

possible final, too.

And toes on the nose world champ from the 1960s David Nuuhiwa will

be adding to the color of the event, with legends hanging out, surf

heroes, surf fans and groms alike coming to check it out. There is

also the Soul Bowl for you skaters and BMXers, not to mention top

bands and a bunch of booths right on the sand to see, too. See ya

there.

* RICK FIGNETTI is an eight-time West Coast champion, has

announced the U.S. Open of Surfing the last nine years and has been

the KROQ-FM surfologist for the last 17 years, doing morning surf

reports. He owns a surf shop on Main Street. You can reach him at

(714) 536-1058.