What’s up in water

RICK FIGNETTI

The National Scholastic Surfing Assn. held its first event of the

Explorer 2003-04 season right here in Huntington Beach at 9th Street

a couple weekends ago. The surf started out small on Saturday, but by

Sunday the Southern Hemi was booming, bringing some long, lined up

surf, although it had a tendency to wall-up and close-out, too.

Some of our local Huntington Beach, Newport and Seal Beach

residents had some good performances and made the finals. In the

menehune’s, Newport’s Andrew Doheny placed second with some

action-packed moves.

Meanwhile in boy’s, riding that wild airbrushed red and yellow

board, Kyle Kennelly finished up fifth. In juniors Tanner Gudauskas

of San Clemente continued on his winning ways, while his brother Dane

Gudauskas won mens. Making the finals in the mens, placing fifth was

Huntington Beach High School’s Anthony Duarte who had some good rides

as well. Seal Beach’s Chas Wickwire, a two-time national champ, won

seniors on a close tie-break situation on the tally sheets. Super

seniors saw Hermosa Beach’s Scott Daley, a former Bud Surf Tour Top

16 , win with a couple good scoring waves, while Seal Beach’s Scott

Waring took second, Huntington Beach’s Pat Schlick third, and Rick

Fignetti fifth respectively.

In the longboarding, Imperial Beach’s Mike Gillard edged the

national champ from Surf City, Justin Hugron for the win. Leading the

women’s standings with a win, is Huntington Beach’s Alison Arvizu

with local gal Laura Marasco taking third.

Next up is San Onofre, Trail Four, Oct. 18 and 19. Hopefully we don’t see Sparky and Fluffy down there, those two baby Great Whites

that have been seen around the area the last month.

The Foster’s Cup event on the East Coast was canceled due to the

havoc, caused by Hurricane Isabel a few weeks ago -- torn up roads

and structural damage to the Outer Banks in North Carolina were the

prime reasons. There won’t be a rescheduling of it, so that means,

the chilly waters of Steamer Lane, Santa Cruz will be the final event

of the season in the latter part of October.

Huntington’s Timmy Reyes has a shot at the overall Foster’s title

depending on how Cardiff’s, former World Champion Tourer Rob Machado

does up there. I’ve seen Timmy lacerating it this week on the north

side of the pier, along with other Huntington Beach hotties Shawn

Ward, Brett Simpson, Mike Hoisington and Danny Misken to name a few.

The mystery ripping Huntington Beach lifeguard in last week’s

column who won the super heat and masters division at the city

contest was none other than Greg Eisele. I’ve seen a few other

Huntington Beach lifeguards that have been tearing it up, too.

The championships for the H.B. Surf Series are is this weekend at

Del Taco reef., 9th Street. There is a swell rumored to be on the way

for the final showdown. Contest director Jeff Deffenbaugh is looking

for another great contest with “Surf”. Check it.

* 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.