School’s out, surfs up, so are surfers
RIC FIGNETTI
Summer’s here, so embrace yourself for the next couple months, cause
it’s gonna get pretty crowded in Surf City.
It seems there’s already been less June gloom than usual. I like
that -- its probably because that sea breeze has been holding so
steady. I’d like to see a few glassier days. I can’t believe the
water temperatures. Upper 60s. How nice. I can remember some years at
the start of summer when it was freezing.
Hopefully, I won’t jinx us by saying anything. The local schools
are out this week. The beaches are the place to be, with that, sun
and surf.
The Queen of Surf, all-women surf contest had some pretty fun,
waist-to-head-high-plus waves down at Crystal Pier, Pacific Beach,
San Diego over the weekend. Hot up-and-coming Hawaiian, Melanie
Bartels, was slashing it up on the lefts, with a solid backside
attack to take the win and a check for $3,500 dollars. Close behind
was World Tour veteran Kealla Kennelly of Kaui, who was runner up in
the championship-tour standings last season. Kennelly was ripping it
up, too, but came in a close second, pocketing $2,200 dollars. South
Africa’s Heather Clark caught some nice ones to finish third, and
rounding out the international final, in fourth, was Jessie
Miley-Dyer of Australia. We should see those gals here in Huntington
Beach at the end of July for the U.S. Open on the south side of the
Huntington Beach Pier. In the amateur divisions, Amy Chives took open
shortboard while Kassia Meader won longboarding. In the 13-15 age
group, the Princess Division, it was Co Co Ho winning it and little
Courtney Cenlogue taking the Mermaid, 12-and-under class.
The sport of women’s surfing is growing really fast these days.
The top amateurs in the nation are starting to show up, getting
ready for the National Scholastic Surfing Assn.’s National
Championships coming up next week at Lower’s in San Clemente -- the
prime southwest point break on the California coastline located on
the military base Camp Pendleton. It picks up the south swells that
are starting to rumble this time of year quite well.
Maximum size, drawing the swell and the rock-bottom reef, sets up
for long rippable rights, with speed sections and a shorter, steeper,
hollower left that’s killer, too. It’s a perfect showcase to rack off
the maneuvers with the style and grace that the judges are looking
for.
So, national titles are on the line for all age groups of men and
women. Plus, high schools, colleges and middle schools are looking to
bring home the big trophies. Quite a few of our surfers from right
here, Surf City, have a shot at it. Good luck and have fun! That’s it
for now. See ya.
* RICK FIGNETTI is a nine-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 18 years, doing morning surf
reports. He owns a surf shop on Main Street. You can reach him at
(714) 536-1058.
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