Recap of a rockin’ week

RICK FIGNETTI

It was a big week in Surf City, with the U.S. Open in full swing and

the hottest surfers in the world slashin’ it up at the pier.

The beach games, featured skating, BMX and even freestyle

motocross jumping going large. The concert stage was rockin’ too,

with Chronic Future and the Alien Ant Farm.

The week featured a combination of swells out of the southwest and

west, and even pulled some tropical waves from Hurricane Darby off

Mexico to keep it rolling into the weekend, in the 2- to 4-foot zone,

with some sunny skies and actually pretty light winds, throughout the

week, for the thousands that came to watch.

The hardest thing to find was a parking spot!

In the men’s final, Australian Taj Burrow, who was the crowd

favorite, came back on his last wave, with a floater, combo straight

up re-entry, to score in the seven-plus range to edge out fellow

Aussie Trent Munroe, who led most of the time.

Burrow claimed the victory and first place prize of $15,000.

Last year’s winner, Corey Lopez, started strong with some rad

slashes, but couldn’t find many good ones in the later goings, to

place third. The Flyin’ Hawaiian, “Freddy Boy” Pattachia, rounded out

the top four.

Huntington Beach’s Timmy Reyes earned cult-hero status. He made it

all the way to the semis, placing equal seventh, before being

stopped. He even beat world champ Andy Irons twice and the legendary

Tom Curren in a heat on the way.

Former winner Kalani Robb lost in the quarters as did Laguna’s Pat

O’Connell. Shredders Kelly Slater, A.I., Occy and Shane Beschen lost

in the round of 32 while Huntington’s rippin’ Shaun Ward, Sunny

Garcia and Bruce Irons lost in the round of 64.

Huntington’s Brett Simpson made it to the round of 96. Mike

Hoisington and Mikey Mattison made it to the round of 128 while local

rippers Danny Nichols, Brandon Tipton and Seal Beach’s Ryan Simmons

made it to the round of 160.

In the LOST Pro Junior final, the world amateur champ from Brazil,

Adriano De Souza blew up, surfing lightning fast and winning by a

large margin. Hawaii’s ‘Bustin’ Dustin Cuizon was second, fellow

Hawaiian Kekoa Bacalso third and Brazilian Jean Da Silva fourth. Seal

Beach’s Chris Waring made the quarters, having a huge run. Surf

City’s Brett Simpson, Brad Ettinger, Chase Newsom, Willie Safreed,

and Ian Eckberg made it to the round of 32 with some pretty good

heats too.

In the longboard final, San Clemente’s Brendan White got some

insane nose rides, upsetting three-time world champ Colin McPhillips,

who was hot on his heels, but placed second. With South Africa’s

Matthew Moir third and Australian Josh Constable fourth both doing

some fancy foot work. Huntington’s Josh Mohr lost a close one in the

quarters, and world champ Joel TudorJoey Hawkins, Dodger Kremel,

Mike Jorgensen and Justin Hugron all lost out in the round of 32.

In the women’s final, last year’s winner Chelsea Georgeson was on

fire again making it two in a row. While No. 1 on the . Assn. of

Surfing Professionals Championship Tour, Peruvian Sofia Mulanovich

was a close second. Australian Melanie Redman placed third and

Brazilian Jacqueline Silva was fourth. Newport’s hot amateur Erica

Hosseini, and top pros, Hawaiian’s Keala Kennelly, Rochele Ballard

and Palos Verdes’ Holly Beck lost out in the round of 32. Local

Allison Arvizu and Surfside’s Jodie Nelson made it to the round of

48.

Another spectacular year at the U.S. Open, which drew some heavy

crowds and business to the Downtown area. It was the biggest field of

competitors -- more than 700 -- from more than 21 countries. Wow!

Hope ya had fun, I did.

X-Games this Saturday at the pier again. Fig, over and out.

See ya!

* RICK FIGNETTI is an 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.