Local surfers hope to hit world tour

RICK FIGNETTI

The start of the yearlong Assn. of Surfing Professionals World

Qualifying Series surf circuit has already begun.

Two four-star events have run in Brazil, and top surfers are back

in the states, on the north shore of Hawaii, for the $75,000 Hansen’s

Energy Pro at Banzai Pipeline. The waiting period started on Tuesday

and can go as far as March 1 to look for the best days to surf that

hollow, barreling break over the shallow reef, known for it’s deep

tube rides. It’s a four-star-rated event, so valuable ratings points

are at stake for those trying to qualify for the big show, the World

Championship Tour next year.

One former winner is Kauai’s Bruce Irons, brother of world champ

Andy Irons, who’s about to make his debut on the tour here in 2004.

It’s a great opportunity for up-and-coming pros to get a jump on the

tour with a good placing. There’s a local contingent ready to do it

there too!

The National Scholastic Surfing Assn. ran its eighth event of the

open season down at Ponto in Carlsbad the first weekend of February.

In boys’, ripping it up was Newport’s Andrew Doheny, who won his

incredible sixth event of the season. Andrew is holding a commanding

lead in the overall standings. Surf City’s Jessie Steelman also made

the final, finishing fifth, while juniors saw Huntington’s Logan

Strook also take fifth with some nice rides.

In men’s, San Clemente’s Patrick Gudauskas was on fire, winning

another one, with Seal Beach’s Chris Waring pulling into second and

Huntington’s Chase Newsom placing fifth in a tough division. In

women’s, Newport Beach’s Erica Hosseini, last year’s Governor’s Cup

winner, placed second with some good rides.

Industry notes: Shaun Ward, the Huntington Beach resident and top

100 World Qualifying Series ripper, is now surfing for Quiksilver, a

big-time clothing company that also sponsors six-time world champ

Kelly Slater. Wardo made the final of the Cold Water Classic at

Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz, where he was killing it, heat after heat,

and this could be his big year. Ward and another local, big Willie

Safreed, both have signed with Axion footwear, along with Cordell

Miller, the surfer and shaper from Newport Beach. We’re stoked to see

M.C.D.’s hot team rider, Flynn Novak, get the cover shot of the new

Surfing Magazine, with a deep heavy barrel at, you got it, Pipeline.

It seems like it’s been a little more crowded at our local beaches

with all the three-day weekends lately.

Groundhog Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, I

don’t remember having so many holidays when I was a kid.

See ya in the lineup. Fig over and out.

* RICK FIGNETTI is an eight-time West Coast champion 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.